EC$30,000 Boost Sends Antigua and Barbuda’s First All-Girls Robotics Team to Global Competition
Five students will represent the country at the FIRST Global Challenge in South Korea, where they will put their robot to work in a wildfire-themed challenge.
Antigua and Barbuda’s first all-girls robotics team has received EC$30,000 from the Board of Education to help it compete at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from October 7 to 10.
The five students, who also have the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, demonstrated their robot for Education Minister Daryll Matthew at the ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday. They are still testing and modifying it ahead of the competition.
“This team shows the talent we have in our schools and why we must continue investing in STEM education,” Matthew said. “We are proud to support you and hope others will be encouraged to pursue science and technology.”
Teams from more than 190 countries are expected to take part in this year’s challenge, themed “Igniting Innovation.” Students will build and operate robots in a simulated task involving wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery. They will also collaborate with teams from other countries.
Board of Education Executive Financial Administrator Chet Jacobs said the sponsorship would give the students a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom.
“We are pleased to help these girls test their skills and learn from others,” he said.
The team includes leader Hannah Masson, 16, an aspiring forensic pathologist; engineer Audella-Mae James, 15, who hopes to become an astrophysicist; coder Gyanna Ryan, 16, an aspiring architect; robot driver Sidea Ambrose, 14, who hopes to become an interior designer; and Neola Noronha, 14, who manages inventory and aspires to become a biomedical engineer.
Selected through the TechByte summer STEM camp, the students are supported by mentor Asanti Bacchus. They are documenting their robot’s development in an engineering notebook as they prepare for Incheon.
“This gives us the chance to represent Antigua and Barbuda,” Masson said.
“We hope other girls will see us and want to get involved in robotics too.”
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