Beyond the Competition: Key Takeaways & Reflections from ICIA 2026 Awardees
- ICIA Global
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
At ICIA 2026, the journey extends far beyond winning trophies or standing on stage. The true essence of this event lies in personal growth, international collaboration, leading from the heart, and creating social impact.
Here is what our distinguished Awardees had to say about their journey:
💬 Lessons in Resilience & Teamwork
"This experience taught me that difficulties or challenges aren't a way to give up, but a motivation to continue learning and developing my talents.""Throughout the entire journey, we learned that success does not come easily, but requires perseverance, collaboration, and the spirit to never give up.""Success does not come instantly. It comes from teamwork, perseverance, courage, and believing in ourselves even during difficult moments."— A Hands-on Approach to Statistic (Innovation Challenge – Grand Awardee)
❤️ Leading with Heart & True Innovation
"I learned that true innovation isn't defined by the perfection of language or facilities, but by the passion to solve community challenges, like the plastic crisis, and the sincerity to lead from the heart.Returning from Cambodia, I have committed myself to a lifelong journey of learning and seeking new STEAM references."— Zelia Alves Da Cruz (TeachMe Award – Top 3 Awardee)
🤝 Technical Skill Meets Social Empathy & Confidence
"Through this experience, I learned that true progress lies at the intersection of technical skill and social empathy, particularly when addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.""Participating in this competition also helped me become more confident in presenting our work and communicating our ideas to others. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent our school, meet new people, and gain valuable experiences and lessons that I will continue to carry with me in the future."— Steavenford Louie E. Estrella & Patrick March
🌿 Driving Global Impact & Environmental Care
"Focusing a science fair on environmental care motivates young people to develop their STEM skills toward solving real-world problems that affect our ecosystems. Additionally, working alongside international delegations allows us to understand that we share similar challenges on a global scale and that, by working together, we can create solutions to address these issues."— Jose Leonardo Macias Diaz (TeachMe Award – Top 3 Awardee)
🚀 Continuous Improvement & Mentorship
"During the programme, we received mentoring from experts in their respective fields, as well as business insights from the company that won the grand award the previous year. This helped us realise that there is much room for development and improvement in both our products and our business operations."— Duluin (Startup Innovation Weekend – Grand Awardee)
The ICIA community continues to empower minds to push boundaries, innovate for good, and learn beyond the competition! 🌟
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