diff --git a/01/loukaja/wordvalue.py b/01/loukaja/wordvalue.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa580f77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/01/loukaja/wordvalue.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+from data import DICTIONARY, LETTER_SCORES
+
+def load_words():
+    """Load dictionary into a list and return list"""
+    with open(DICTIONARY) as f:
+        return (f.read().split())
+
+def calc_word_value(word):
+    """Calculate the value of the word entered into function
+    using imported constant mapping LETTER_SCORES"""
+    value = 0
+    for char in word:
+        if char.isalpha():
+            value += LETTER_SCORES[char.upper()]
+    
+    return value
+
+def max_word_value(word_list=None):
+    """Calculate the word with the max value, can receive a list
+    of words as arg, if none provided uses default DICTIONARY"""
+    if word_list is None:
+        word_list = load_words()
+
+    max_value = 0
+    max_word = ''
+
+    for word in word_list:
+        if len(word) * 10 < max_value:
+            continue # no point in calculating if the value can't reach above current max
+        value = calc_word_value(word)
+        if value > max_value:
+            max_word = word
+            max_value = value
+    
+    return max_word
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    pass # run unittests to validate