Antiguan Students – By Jeressa Jeremy
Antiguan Students Place 3Rd
Two young students from Antigua and Barbuda have made a mark at the Caribbean Regional Robotics Competition held in St Kitts, taking third place despite facing significant technical challenges in the competition which took place from March 16-20 2026.
Micah Matthew, 15, and Michael Harvey, 14, both third form students, represented A&B with skill and determination. The team faced hurdles in building and programming their robot.
“One of the hardest parts was building the robot at first, but everything got smoother as we went on,” Harvey said.
Matthew added, “Creating a functioning blueprint and navigating technical issues really pushed our problem-solving skills.”
Their similar names became a point of camaraderie. Matthew said their closeness even helped their teamwork:
“It was easy to work together, especially with our names being so close,” he explained.
If they were to give their robot a name, Matthew said he would call it Bobcat, “because it moves like a bobcat, quick and precise.” Harvey would choose Irene, following a previous design.
The students’ coach, Tijah Myers, praised their efforts.
“Watching them figure out solutions and bring the robot to life, even under pressure, was impressive. They approached every challenge with teamwork and determination.”
Matthew and Harvey also praised their coach, highlighting his guidance on coding, design, and problem-solving.
“Our coach has been amazing, guiding us through every challenge,” Matthew said.
“We couldn’t have done this without his support,” Harvey added.
Looking ahead, the students plan to continue building and refining their robotics projects. Matthew shared that they are designing a robot to help clean local beaches and assist with environmental monitoring, while Harvey is developing designs for a buoy to track wave and wind conditions. Myers emphasized the broader lessons of the experience.
“They’ve been learning not just technical skills, but teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving — lessons that will take them far in life.”
Despite being younger than many competitors, Matthew and Harvey’s performance demonstrates the growing abilities of young innovators in Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on learning in STEAM education.
