SHANGHAI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship, five students from Concordia International School Shanghai finished 3rd in the world in the VEX V5 Skills Challenge, marking a major milestone for Concordia's robotics program.
Each year, only around 6% of qualified high school VEX V5 teams worldwide make it to the Worlds, the pinnacle of VEX robotics competition. The Concordia team not only qualified but placed among the global top.
Their achievement came from months of disciplined engineering. The team rebuilt, retested, coded, drove, broke parts, fixed them, and ran the cycle again. The pressure ran higher than usual because they had also won the APAC Championship just weeks before Worlds, leaving little time to reset before St. Louis. At Worlds, that work held up against some of the most experienced robotics programs in the world. For one stretch of the competition, Concordia sat at No. 1 in the world.
Beyond the leaderboard, Worlds was an opportunity to exchange ideas. In the pit aisles, Concordia students connected with teams from other schools, studying drive bases, intake systems, autonomous logic, and match strategy. They asked questions and shared their own insights.
Behind this moment is a team of dedicated educators who have steadily built and supported Concordia's robotics program. From establishing a K–12 pathway to coaching through countless cycles of design, testing, and refinement, their work creates the conditions for students to thrive at the highest levels. This result is not just a win on the field, but a testament to the strength of the program and the people who make it possible.
About Concordia International School Shanghai
Founded in 1998, Concordia International School Shanghai is a co-educational day school that offers a comprehensive American-style education to students from Preschool through High School. Located in Jinqiao, an international community in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, Concordia is dedicated to cultivating the unique gifts and passions of its students. Concordia's approach focuses on nurturing every student through a journey of personal and academic growth, offering innovative academic programs, enriching extracurricular activities, and instilling strong character and values. The school is dedicated to helping each student achieve a bright and prosperous future of personal excellence.
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Concordia Shanghai's Robotics Team Cracks the Global Top 3 at VEX Worlds
ABU DHABI, UAE, GENEVA and SINGAPORE, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's watch collecting community is poised for a special sale this week, as once-in-a-lifetime timepieces go up for auction with FutureGrail. The renowned auction house is anticipating a bidding frenzy for extremely rare vintage timepieces. The sale features 'one-of-one' Patek Philippe references, exquisite pendant watches from Vacheron Constantin, rare Audemars Piguet pocket watches and sought-after Rolex models.
Rolex by George Daniels
Enthusiasts will be drawn to Lot 33, a special Oyster Perpetual 'Datejust' reference by George Daniels, the famed English horologist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest watchmakers of all time.
Ultra-rare Audemars Piguet pocket watch
One stunning item is a 'Triple Complication' Art Deco pocket watch, made by Audemars Piguet for retailer E. Gübelin in 1911. There are only ten known examples, with the only other 18-carat white gold reference last appearing at auction in 1990. Bids could go higher than the conservative range of $200,000 - $400,000.
Unique, exquisite Patek Philippe timepieces
Potentially the biggest draw is an extremely rare 1954 Patek Philippe 'Turtle Lugs' (Ref. 2549/1J), with silver guilloché (decoratively engraved) dial with 'tropical' patina. This is one of only eight known examples, with a beautiful case manufactured by Markowski. Its 'Turtle Lugs' refers to curved extensions that resemble flippers. It represents a true 'Grail' for collectors.
Other Patek Philippe highlights:
- Unique Patek Philippe Ref. 3589/90G 'Ellipse d'Or' (Golden Ellipse) in 18-carat white gold, with diamonds and a black onyx dial
- The world's only 1995 Patek Philippe Ref. 4700/160J with yellow gold vertical 'tramé' (ribbed dial), with diamond and ruby setting
- A 1955 Reference 2526 G HB (2nd series) white-gold and diamond round wristwatch with silver 'tropical' dial
- A limited-edition 'World Time Moon' (Reference 5575 G – 001) made for the watchmaker's 175th anniversary.
"Our May auction represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to own some of the world's rarest timepieces. Many of these watches may not be seen at auction again for a generation," said Ali Nael, FutureGrail CEO.
Several auction timepieces feature in Nael's book 'My Dream Collection'.
FutureGrail is one of the world's leading auction houses for exceptional timepieces, with a museum in Singapore and expanding global presence in Switzerland and the UAE.
FutureGrail's May Online Auction runs 9th to 12th May at www.futuregrail.com/auctions. Buyer and seller premiums - 6% of the hammer.
Jon Ivan-Duke , +971 58 285 7333, jon@dukemir.com
Jay Kau, +6017-9088 978 , jay@futuregrail.com
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Rare Watches Spark Frenzied Interest in FutureGrail's May Auction
Rare Watches Spark Frenzied Interest in FutureGrail's May Auction
