The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is celebrating an extraordinary achievement by Naina Patel, a student at Rosedale Public School, who has earned second place in the world in the prestigious Fiero Code Light Quest Competition. Competing against students from across the globe, Naina’s project stood out for its creativity, technical skill, and compelling storytelling.
When she first learned the results, Naina admits she could hardly believe it. She reread the announcement just to make sure it was real before the excitement set in. “I got super excited — like, ‘Whoa… I did it!’” she said.
Her award‑winning project was a story‑driven adventure game she built from the ground up. For Naina, the joy was in the process: experimenting with ideas, watching the game evolve, and solving challenges along the way. “The part I enjoyed most was just getting to code the game,” she explained. “I had a lot of fun seeing everything slowly come together.”
Naina has been interested in coding since Grade 1, when she first began experimenting with Scratch Jr. She says she loves how coding blends creativity with logic — the ability to imagine something and then figure out how to make it work. Throughout the competition, she taught herself new ways to organize her code and gained confidence in debugging. Her advice to anyone who thinks coding sounds difficult is simple: “It only seems hard until you try it. Once you start, it’s like solving fun little puzzles.”
Her success reflects not only her personal dedication but also the LKDSB’s commitment to providing students with meaningful digital learning opportunities. Coding programs, technology‑rich classrooms, and access to platforms that help students explore STEM pathways and develop real‑world problem‑solving skills.
Naina encourages other students to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. “Go for it,” she said. “You never know what you might end up loving or what you might be really good at.”
This achievement has also helped shape her vision for the future. Naina has long imagined herself working in the technology field, and placing second in the world has strengthened that goal. She hopes to continue learning new programming languages and dreams of one day creating a large‑scale adventure game where player choices shape the story. She credits her father as a major inspiration, noting that he keeps her updated on new technologies and innovations around the world.
Outside of coding, Naina enjoys drawing, gaming, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family — a reminder that behind this global accomplishment is a well‑rounded student with a bright future ahead.
The Lambton Kent District School Board congratulates Naina on her remarkable achievement and celebrates the dedication, curiosity, and creativity she brings to her learning.
Her success is a testament to the talent within LKDSB schools and the supportive environments that help students thrive.
Naina Patel receives special congratulations from MPP Bob Bailey as Rosedale Public School recognized Naina’s achievement during a school-wide assembly.