The LEGOLAND School Challenge 2024 concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort (LMR), which recognised 16 winning school groups for their amazing LEGO creations.
The third year of the highly anticipated annual challenge built on the previous years’ excellent performance, receiving a positive response as it expanded to include schools around Asia for the first time. Over 3,700 children from across the region participated in the competition, creating a new record of 554 applications, which was 50% higher than the previous year. The challenge, in particular, continues to attract worldwide attention, with contributions from three new countries; China, Thailand, and Laos.
This year, LMR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri (JPN), donated 50 LEGO sets to schools across Malaysia that might not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate. With the Ministry’s support in identifying and reaching these schools, more students were empowered to bring their creative visions to life and take part in the challenge.
These efforts to expand the challenge to reach diverse and international backgrounds further amplified the cross-cultural potential set by the theme for this year’s challenge, “World of Fantasy”. From fantastical and colourful landscapes to dazzling mythical creatures, the young builders weaved immersive storylines in their LEGO creations inspired by global and local folklore.
The 16 best LEGO creations stood out from the rest. They displayed a wealth of creativity, imagination, innovation, and technical skill that impressed the panel of judges, who comprised expert LEGO builders, designers, and dedicated lifelong fans. This year saw a high level of international participation, making the competition tougher than ever. Notably, the winning teams, all from Malaysia, rose above the strong international field with their truly outstanding and remarkable builds.
“We are incredibly proud that Johor is the home of both LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort and the LEGOLAND School Challenge. This event not only showcases the creativity and talent of our youth but also aligns perfectly with our state’s commitment to promoting STEM education. I am especially pleased to see such strong participation from schools across Johor, reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication of our students to engaging in innovative and creative endeavors. As we continue to foster innovation and learning in our schools, events like this play a crucial role in preparing our next generation of leaders,” said Dato’ Onn Hafiz Bin Ghazi, Menteri Besar Johor.
“As a strategic partner, we are glad to support LMR in their ongoing drive to empower teachers and students alike with a positive avenue for hands-on learning, where our young ones can develop more STEM-based skills as well as learn to collaborate with others in a fun and engaging environment. We are also very proud of the LEGOLAND School Challenge winners, as they represent the incredible potential of our next generation of leaders, thinkers, and builders in Malaysia. The entries we’ve witnessed from the students are truly inspiring, and we hope to continue supporting initiatives of this nature in the future,” said Zainal Bin Abas, Deputy Director General of Education Malaysia
“As an initiative that embodies the essence of our LEGO DNA, learning through play, the LEGOLAND School Challenge is something very close to our hearts. We are delighted to have achieved several new milestones this year, from reaching a record-breaking number of submissions to welcoming new teams from countries across Asia, and most importantly, being able to make the challenge even more accessible to underprivileged students nationwide. We are grateful for the support from the Malaysian government in making this success possible and we hope to continue working together to enhance education in the nation. We are more committed than ever to reaching new heights through this program and look forward to seeing even more international teams participating next year,” said CS Lim, Divisional Director at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort.
The 16 winning teams were awarded a collective prize pool worth RM100,000+, including iconic LEGO trophies, LEGO Play Sets, and the opportunity to attend an exclusive LEGO Building Workshop with a LEGO Expert Model Builder. This special workshop allowed all winners to learn directly from the masters, honing their creativity and LEGO-building skills.
“Being part of the LEGOLAND School Challenge has been one of the best experiences for me. I’ve loved LEGOLAND since I was a SEA LIFE Junior Ranger at the age of 10, and getting to participate in this challenge three years in a row has been incredible. It’s not just about building LEGO creations—it’s about having fun, meeting new friends, and challenging myself. I’ve gone from following instructions to creating my own designs, which has been awesomes. This challenge has made me realize that I want to do something creative in the future, like maybe even become a LEGOLAND Master Model Builder! It’s shown me that if you have passion and imagination, you can really do anything,” said Nathanael Yap, Grand Prize Winner, Secondary School Category, Campus Rangers International School.
The LEGOLAND School Challenge is an annual competition designed to inspire creativity and innovation among students aged 7 to 17. Participants are tasked with building LEGO creations that align with a specific theme—in this year’s case, “World of Fantasy.” The challenge encourages students to think critically and work collaboratively, providing a hands-on learning experience that integrates STEM concepts and creative storytelling. The competition is open to schools from across Asia, making it a platform for cultural exchange and educational growth.
The winning LEGO models will be displayed at MINILAND in LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort until 31st December 2024, recognising the teams’ incredible talent and hard work.
Parents, educators, and students can find out more on the official website about the LEGOLAND School Challenge Initiative and education programmes available at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort.
