Robotics team heads to US competition

Jamaica College is hoping to take home the winning trophy in this year’s US FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition, after finishing third last year out of 72 teams entered.

Being the only high school from the Caribbean to participate in the United States-based 24-year-old competition, Jamaica College has been competing for the past four years.

Dubbed the Golden Griffins, the Jamaica College team is now preparing to leave the island for the Javit’s Convention Centre in New York to participate in the March 7-8 event.

Established in 2009 by the New York Chapter of the school’s old boys association, the Jamaica College Robotics Club aims to inspire the young men and stir their interest in the field of technology, from as young as first form.

The hope is that the robotics team will open the minds of the students to the many possibilities in the use of technology, using information relayed in the classroom, mostly focusing around science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

Greater expectations

The new year has brought greater expectations from the club, as the world moves towards greater technological advancement. However, the boys are confident they will continue to demonstrate that a small country like Jamaica is capable of producing persons  competent in the field of engineering and technology.

“We all hope that the robotics programme will inspire the new generation of students to venture into the field of science and technology since this is the backbone of the society,” said Gavin Samuels, club president and school captain.

Paul Pounall, the club’s chief engineer, had high commendation for the robotics programme. He noted that “the challenges, long nights and constant bruising” were more than worth it since he has the opportunity to represent his country and school internationally, and leads what he considers to be the most important functionary group, the engineers.

Chief programmer Antonio Fearon shared similar sentiments, stating that the programme has developed his skills in programming and has better prepared him for university-level studies.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by American inventor Dean Kamen to assist young people in discovering the excitement and rewards of science and technology.

Jamaica College placed 65th when it first entered in 2010, moving up to 12th place the following year, before taking third last year.