Students and staff of St Mary’s College expressed pride after placing fourth in the first OECS robotics competition in St Kitts.
The competition, held on March 21, focused on waste disposal. Teams were challenged to design and build robots that addressed environmental issues.
Kyle Gajadhar, a science and business student representing the St. Lucian team, explained SMC’s approach. He told St. Lucia Times, “The competition was centred around waste disposal, and we built a robot to fit this theme.”
The robot, named “Helenite Prime”, was designed to collect and sort items efficiently.
Gajadhar spoke enthusiastically about the robot’s design. Not only was it built to be flexible, but it also demonstrated precise mechanics and creative engineering. The robot could pick up balls and place them in specific containers.
Despite facing technical challenges, the team remained happy with their performance. They felt it worked out fairly well and were eager to highlight what they learned in the process.
IT teacher Jahim Malcolm highlighted the broader value of the competition, noting the exposure and collaboration opportunities as key benefits. “We got to see different designs,” he said, and “we got to interact with our brother and sister islands.”
He added that students were able to “make new friends” and “learn new tricks and new skills”, reinforcing the lasting educational impact of the event and expressing optimism for St Mary’s College’s continued participation in future competitions.
Gajadhar echoed this sentiment, describing the competition as “a fairly large event” and “very unique.” He highlighted the practical knowledge gained, particularly in assembling components and developing problem-solving skills. He also expressed appreciation for regional support, noting that the assistance received was “much appreciated.”
Gajadhar further spoke candidly about the personal fulfillment derived from the experience. While joking about winning, he clarified that “the real reason why I like is because of the accomplishment,” adding that seeing their creation come to life was deeply rewarding.
Gajadhar also expressed strong determination to return, stating, “I do, in fact, have many plans to take on that trophy.” He added that the team has already “cleared the space on our shelf,” signalling their ambition for future victories.
The student remains open-minded about his future, indicating an interest in both animation and computer science suggesting that he may ultimately combine both fields.
Malcolm confirmed that SMC intends to build on this initial success, with plans to participate in future competitions and that the team now feels more prepared for what lies ahead.
The robotics programme at St Mary’s College continues to grow, with Malcolm emphasising its broader mission. “We’re trying to create something revolutionary. We’re trying to make a difference,” he said, calling on individuals and organisations to support the initiative.
Both speakers extended gratitude to those who contributed to the team’s journey and to Matthew George who was the second representative on the team.
