ROBOTICS
Understandably, the members have found it challenging to, on their own, complete their internal assessments as sixth-form students, as well as manage and execute financial planning and fundraising, coupled with carrying out the technical work to refine their robot.
The ‘Blue Bots’ team will only be able to send seven of its 12 members to Missouri based on its budget. According to senior engineer Shumba Brown, “In anything you do, there has to be some measure, and with our robotics team our best measure is the success we have had. Based on this success, it should influence Jamaica, and in particular corporate Jamaica, to get behind us because this not only puts JC on the map, but it puts Jamaica and the Caribbean on the map. To know that a team of 13 young men from JC, after being self-taught, designed and constructed a functional robot, is impressive.”
Team president Gavin Smith was on hand to bolster his engineer. “I was surprised when we won the Motivator Award because you have a lingering shadow of doubt, knowing the other teams are likely to be better resourced. At the same time, we have to keep our composure and be confident. We will definitely leave a mark at the World Championships and our aim is to win, while enhancing our professionalism, and represent Jamaica well, as our team motto is ‘One Team, One Dream’.”
Surrounded by robot parts and tools, Spaulding, the team’s public relations officer, remarked, “We have been doing this well without the assistance of teachers; we have hunted our own sponsorship.” The young men have certainly taken a positive outlook, despite their challenges, and they have had to stand tall in spite of being labelled as nerds.
Peart outlined the team’s desire to cop the top award. “We have been nominated for the top Inspire Award, twice, out of all three competitions: the Euro Qualifiers, the Manhattan Regionals and the Super Regionals. I believe we need that extra push to win. Everyone on this team is yearning for that award because we will outclass India, Asia, the United States and Denmark, and little Jamaica, we believe, can step up and push them all away. The April 27 to 30 finals will be our time to shine, but it can only happen if Jamaica stands ready to support us,” he declared.
Jamaica Broilers Group recently committed and presented the team with $250,000, which will play a major role in ensuring their presence at the competition. This sponsorship came as a result of a presentation by Smith and Peart. They left an indelible mark on the mind of Jamaica Broilers’ public relations and training officer, Danah Cameron. Cameron recalled the phone call which impressed her when she first heard from Peart, who made it clear that he was both a student and full-time robotics manager.
“It was the ‘Blue Bots’ interest in Jamaica Broilers which led to this partnership; our focus is education and our youth. Knowing what their success would do for their school, and Jamaica at large, we said it was a definite success that we had to be part of. We were impressed with the young men, so much so that even though we had agreed on a figure, initially, we had to increase it to $250,000. Now that we have heard that they have matriculated to the World Finals, we have started discussing how well we can support the young men, because they have all stood tall and represented themselves, their school and the Jamaican brand.”
“As an administration, we are elated and we have put our full support behind the young men. The robotics programme has developed the young men, not just sixth-formers but throughout the school. It is a value-added product which has developed their marketing skills, their soft interpersonal skills, and we will seek to help them financially as much as possible, but we call on as many as possible who would like to support such a tremendous venture,” acting principal Rohan Wong stated.