UJAA marks 10 years of supporting Jamaica’s Global Robotics team
NY Carib News reported on 23 September 2026, and Caribbean National Weekly on 24 September 2026, that the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations is marking 10 years of sponsoring Team Jamaica Robotics. Both reports say the delegation includes students from Wolmer’s Boys School. Neither report names a student.
NY Carib News
NY Carib News
September 23, 2026
The 10th staging of the FIRST® Global Robotics Olympics will take place in Incheon, South Korea, from October 7 to 10, bringing together young innovators from around the world. For the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. UJAA, the event also marks 10 years of sponsoring Jamaica’s team and supporting students as they compete on a global stage.
Jamaica will be represented by Team Jamaica Robotics at the FIRST® Global Challenge 2026, continuing the country’s growing presence in international youth robotics competition.
Last October, Team Jamaica overcame significant travel delays caused by Hurricane Melissa and still made it to Panama to compete. After two days of alliance-based competition with teams from around the world, Team JA demonstrated courage, resilience, and skill, ultimately earning a third-place finish.
The local nine-member, co-ed delegation includes students, coaches, and a chaperone representing American International School of Kingston, Immaculate Conception High School, Knox College, St. Andrew High School for Girls, and Wolmer’s Boys School.
The coaching team is led by Marc-Anthony Eaton and Orville Daley of Jamaica College. They believe the selected team is strong, confident, and ready to represent Jamaica while upholding the FIRST® spirit of gracious professionalism.
As sponsors, UJAA continues to work toward providing Jamaica’s high school students with a unique opportunity to learn, compete, and represent the island internationally. Support from alumni members connected to the participating schools helps to make this opportunity possible for the team. However, financial support remains a challenge.
The tournament draws on the 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering identified by the National Academies of Engineering in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. This year’s Incheon theme, “Igniting Innovation,” focuses on wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery.
UJAA President Donovan Wilson firmly believes that “ the organization’s commitment is rooted in the belief that this experience can be life-changing for students, giving them exposure to real-world challenges and the opportunity to help shape solutions for the future.”
NY Carib News published the flyer above inside the report. Caribbean National Weekly published the same team photograph.
Source: NY Carib News, 23 September 2026. Republished for the Wolmer’s Trust community with attribution.
Caribbean National Weekly
September 24, 2026
The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. (UJAA) is marking 10 years of sponsoring Jamaica’s participation in the FIRST® Global Robotics competition as Team Jamaica Robotics prepares to compete in the 2026 FIRST® Global Challenge in Incheon, South Korea, from Oct. 7–10.
The 10th staging of the international competition will bring together young innovators from around the world, with Jamaica continuing its participation in the global youth robotics event.
Team Jamaica’s nine-member, co-ed delegation includes students, coaches and a chaperone representing the American International School of Kingston, Immaculate Conception High School, Knox College, St. Andrew High School for Girls and Wolmer’s Boys School.
The coaching team is led by Marc-Anthony Eaton and Orville Daley of Jamaica College, who said the selected students are confident and prepared to represent Jamaica while embracing the FIRST® spirit of gracious professionalism.
Last year, Team Jamaica faced significant travel delays after Hurricane Melissa. Despite the challenges, the team reached Panama and competed against teams from around the world, eventually securing third place after two days of alliance-based competition.
UJAA, which has sponsored Jamaica’s participation for a decade, continues to provide high school students with opportunities to learn, compete and represent Jamaica on the international stage.
Support from UJAA members and alumni associated with the participating schools has helped make the program possible. However, the organization said financial support remains an ongoing challenge.
The FIRST® Global Challenge draws on the 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering identified by the National Academies of Engineering in the United States, the United Kingdom and China. This year’s theme, “Igniting Innovation,” focuses on wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery.
UJAA President Donovan Wilson said the organization’s commitment is rooted in the belief that the experience can have a lasting impact on students by exposing them to real-world challenges and giving them opportunities to contribute to future solutions.
UJAA is an umbrella organization of Jamaican alumni associations committed to supporting education, service and community development initiatives that benefit Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora.
Source: Caribbean National Weekly, 24 September 2026. Republished for the Wolmer’s Trust community with attribution.
