Five schools get UJAA sponsorship for robotics competition in Panama

A team of high school students from five Jamaican schools will represent the country at the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge, an international robotics competition set for October 29 to November 1 in Panama City, Panama.

Students from Campion College, Hillel Academy, Immaculate Conception High School, Kingston College, and Manning’s School have been preparing since June for the event, which brings together teams from more than 190 countries. The Jamaican delegation will also include two coaches, one chaperone, and two representatives from the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA), known as UJAA.

Often dubbed the ‘Robotics Olympics’, the FIRST Global Challenge promotes innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving as student teams build robots from a standardised kit to complete engineering-themed challenges.

This year’s theme, ‘Eco Equilibrium’, challenges participants to develop solutions using emerging technologies to explore, understand, and preserve biodiversity in their home countries.

UJAA President Donovan Wilson said the event provides a unique opportunity for Jamaican students to engage with their international peers, gain global exposure, and showcase their talents on the world stage.

“The competition is designed to inspire students to apply creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking as they design and build a robot from a standard kit of parts,” Wilson said. “It’s a chance to collaborate with peers from around the world and represent Jamaica with pride.”

Since Team Jamaica Robotics’ debut in 2017, the team has been fully supported by UJAA and its member alumni associations across the diaspora. As the event has expanded and travelled globally, associated costs—including registration, airfare, visas, meals, accommodations, and uniforms—have increased.

Wilson said donations remain critical to help offset expenses, and for the past three years, individual alumni associations have also provided student stipends to cover incidental costs.

The competition awards 19 prizes annually for excellence in engineering, teamwork, innovation, and global impact. Team Jamaica has consistently aimed to return home with at least one of those honours, according to Wilson.