NEW YORK – Jamaica College took third place at the recently held USFIRST Robotics Tech Challenge at The Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
A large and enthusiastic crowd including the alumni community was on hand to cheer on the Jamaica College Robotics team, The Gold Griffins. They were the only Caribbean high school team participating in the NY/NJ tournament.
In only their third year of competition, the Gold Griffins battled 71 US high schools to emerge bronze medalists. The team consisted of 13 students ranging from first through sixth form and three faculty advisors. The JC Robotics Club labored for months, focusing on designing, constructing, and testing their robot. They aimed to meet the demanding standards of the game developed by US FIRST.
Team members had to become proficient in software programming, electrical, electronic & mechanical design, and construction. The team received technical assistance from students at the University of Technology – Faculty of Engineering & Computing. This was under an agreement arranged by the Digital Yard Innovation Project.
The robotics initiative was conceived in 2009 by the JC Old Boys Association of New York Inc. The objective was to excite students at JC and in Jamaica about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Team sponsors included Dennis Shipping, Mother’s, and Wisynco Group through its WATA brand.
