Sat | Oct 19, 2024

GoodHeart |Reach Academy wins first place at World Robot Olympiad

Published:Saturday | October 19, 2024 | 12:07 AM
Gia Whyms-Stone and Jacob Wong are all smiles following their win at this year’s World Robot Olympiad.
Gia Whyms-Stone and Jacob Wong are all smiles following their win at this year’s World Robot Olympiad.
Coach Krystan Hunter smiles proudly alongside his winning students, Gia Whyms-Stone and Jacob Wong.
Coach Krystan Hunter smiles proudly alongside his winning students, Gia Whyms-Stone and Jacob Wong.
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Reach Academy’s robotics team, ‘The Crud Busters’, has achieved a historic milestone by earning first place in the Innovators section at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held this year in Brescia, Italy. Competing against 47 countries, including formidable teams from Canada, Germany, and Croatia, our young champions have proven that innovation, teamwork, and determination know no boundaries.

The team, composed of three talented students– Jaxen Mitchell (age 11), Jacob Wong (age 10), and Gia Whyms-Stone (age 9), and guided by their exceptional coach, Krystan Hunter, entered the worldstage for the first time and took the competition by storm. Their invention, a robot designed to clean the hulls of ships, reduces drag and minimises environmental harm, showcasing their remarkable creativity and commitment to solving real-world problems.

Principal Vanessa Khouri Salazar expressed her immense pride. “We are incredibly proud of our students’ and coach’s achievement in earning first place at the World Robot Olympiad. Their hardwork, creativity, and dedication to innovation have truly paid off. This success is a testament to the power of collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance, which are core values we nurture at our school. Our students have shown that they are ready to lead in the future of technology and engineering.”

The World Robot Olympiad, which focuses on invention and coding, provided a platform for The Crud Busters to break barriers, forge new friendships, and demonstrate their abilities on a global stage. Their victory not only brings immense pride to Reach Academy, but also shines a spotlight on the incredible talent of Jamaica’s youth in STEM education.

goodheart@gleanerjm.com