Team all set and ready for competition in South Korea
The Board of Education has contributed EC$30,000 to help Antigua and Barbuda’s first all-girls robotics team compete at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from October 7 to 10. The five students also have the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
The Executive Financial Administrator at the Board of Education, Mr. Chet Jacobs, said the sponsorship would help the students develop their skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“Students need opportunities to put what they learn in the classroom into practice. We are pleased to help these girls test their skills and learn from others,” he said.
The competition, themed “Igniting Innovation,” is expected to draw teams from more than 190 countries. Students will build and operate robots in a simulated challenge involving wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery. They will also work alongside teams from other countries, sharing ideas and coordinating their robots’ performance.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, The Hon. Daryll Matthew met with the students at the ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday for a demonstration of their robot.
“This team shows the talent we have in our schools and why we must continue investing in STEM education. We are proud to support you and hope others will be encouraged to pursue science and technology,” he said.
The team comprises Hannah Masson, 16, team leader and aspiring forensic pathologist; Audella-Mae James, 15, engineer and aspiring astrophysicist; Gyanna Ryan, 16, coder and aspiring architect; Sidea Ambrose, 14, robot driver and aspiring interior designer; and Neola Noronha, 14, who handles inventory and hopes to become a biomedical engineer. The students were selected through the TechByte summer STEM camp and are supported by their mentor Ms. Asanti Bacchus.
The students are continuing to test and modify their robot, recording its development in an engineering notebook. Masson thanked the Board of Education and The Ministry for their support.
“This gives us the chance to represent Antigua and Barbuda. We hope other girls will see us and want to get involved in robotics too,” she said.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Board of Education contributes EC$30,000 to all-girls robotics team for South Korea competition.