YC PLACES 3RD, HILDA’S GIRL ON DEAN’S LIST
BROWN’S TOWN, St Ann; March 13, 2005
St Ann-based schools, York Castle High and St Hilda’s Diocesan High delivered strong performances at the annual First TECH Challenge Jamaica National Championship, though neither team will advance to the international finals later this year.
York Castle High secured third place overall, and won a sectional award, while the joint team of American International School and Hillel Academy emerged as champions. The combined team of Knox College and Creative Kids placed second.
(York Castle High team members with the sectional Connect award)
Although St Hilda’s (Lady Bots) did not rank in the top ten, team member Mariesha Gayle earned a spot on the prestigious Dean’s List and is expected to travel to the Tech Challenge Finals in Texas. Lady Bots was also runner-up for the Connect Award, which recognizes teams for their outreach and engagement with the community.
(Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, engages with members of St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School Robotics Club at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Jamaica National Robotics Championship on Saturday, March 8, at Jamaica College, St Andrew. )
COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
The competition tested teams on their ability to programme and manoeuvre robots to complete various tasks. The primary challenge involved designing robots capable of picking up and depositing game pieces or attaching a clip to hang them on a railing.
In the autonomous segment, teams programmed their robots to execute specific tasks without manual control, with performance scores based on precision and efficiency.
York Castle’s two teams were led by:
- Raleel Johnson (Senior) – Captain, Head Engineer, and Driver
- Jordan Soares (Junior) – Captain, Head Engineer, and Driver
Despite past championship wins in 2019, 2022, and 2024, the team finished third this year, which coach Derron Johnson considered a commendable performance.
“This season has been our best so far,” Johnson said. “We executed an excellent autonomous presentation, and our gameplay was strong. Unfortunately, we encountered mechanical issues during a semi-final match, which affected our results.”
He praised the team’s confidence and determination, noting that their performance drew admiration from competitors.
“We didn’t come to play—everyone could see that! So many teams came to congratulate us,” he added.
No International Travel This Year
Despite their strong showing, York Castle will not be travelling to the international finals.
“We didn’t win, so we won’t be traveling,” Johnson confirmed. “We also didn’t win the award that grants travel to the finals.”
Nonetheless, the York Castle and St Hilda’s teams demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience, solidifying their reputation as strong contenders in Jamaica’s robotics landscape.
A peek at York Castle. Watch
