In the information technology room at Elmore Stoutt High School, the air buzzed with concentration.
Small screws, wheels and metal shafts lay scattered across a long table where five students worked on a machine about the size of a toddler.
“Try the spacer there,” said Denae Scatliffe-Chalwell, holding a metal rod steady while checking the dimensions. “We need to make sure it’s within regulation.”
Across the table, Eleazar Brooks and Jayron Gibson tightened wheels into place.
“These help with traction,” Mr. Gibson explained. “If it’s off by even a little, the ball won’t roll properly.”
As the group debated minor adjustments, Mr. Gibson urged his teammates to experiment.
“You can’t just stick to the limits in your head,” he said with a grin. “What if it actually works?”
Watching nearby, information technology teacher Andre Roberts nodded approvingly but added a quiet reminder.
“Experimenting is good,” he said, “but planning is just as important. You can’t build just for the sake of trying something: You’ve got to think about how it performs in the environment.”
The students — who also included Keyara Smith and Judiah Case — were finalising their creation, named Artemis, before boarding a plane to Panama City for the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge.
The competition, held from Oct. 29 through Saturday, brought together teams from more than 190 countries under the theme “Eco Equilibrium.”
The challenge: design a robot that could perform tasks simulating ecosystem restoration and environmental balance.
For the Virgin Islands, it marked the territory’s third consecutive year on the global robotics stage. Since debuting in Singapore in 2023 and competing in Greece in 2024, the team had steadily climbed the international rankings — from 143rd out of 191 teams to 111th out of 180.
Confidence and creativity
The students had named their robot Artemis — after the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt — to balance last year’s Norse-themed Odin. This time, they wanted a name that reflected both strength and grace.
“We figured we’d go with a female name this year,” explained Ms. Smith. “Last year was Odin, so we wanted something different — something that felt powerful but calm.”
Her teammate added that the choice carried personal meaning. “One of us is an archer, and Artemis was the goddess of the hunt,” said Ms. Scatliffe-Chalwell. “It just fit perfectly.”
Careen Cuffy-Jules, another IT teacher at ESHS and one of the team’s coaches, watched proudly as the students adjusted cables and gears.
“It’s another exciting opportunity to showcase how far they’ve come,” she said. “They’re building more complex robots now, and you can see the confidence rising. We’ve got a great mix this year — students from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Bregado Flax Secondary, and ESHS — some who have competed before and some newcomers. Everyone’s hands-on and excited.”
Partnerships and purpose
The territory’s growing robotics success didn’t happen by chance. Key public-private partnerships — including major contributions from Exness and Unite BVI — have strengthened the national programme, enhancing classroom delivery and expanding opportunities for students across the islands.
“The interest has been huge,” Ms. Cuffy-Jules said. “The students show up excited every day. Robotics is something that needs to stay.”
Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro echoed that sentiment before the team’s departure, calling the competition a milestone for education in the Virgin Islands.
“Robotics is far more than the assembly of parts or the writing of code,” she said. “It is the cultivation of critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators who are prepared to design, adapt and lead.”
Prepping for Panama
By the time Artemis rolled out of the school workshop, the students’ teamwork resembled a well-oiled mechanism of its own.
Each had a defined role: Mr. Gibson led mechanical adjustments, Ms. Case handled programming logic, Ms. Smith organised parts, Ms. Scatliffe-Chalwell focused on design balance, and Mr. Brooks managed testing and calibration.
Their collective excitement filled the final days before departure.
“We learned from last year’s mistakes,” Ms. Case said, referring to the 2024 Greece competition where their robot’s arm broke mid-match. “This time, we built it properly and strong before we go.”
The competition
In Panama City, the FIRST Global Challenge transformed the Panama Convention Centre into a world of colour and noise — teams waving flags, singing and even parading their robots through the aisles.
“There was music everywhere,” recalled Ms. Scatliffe-Chalwell. “Venezuela had a whole parade with their robot, and other countries made songs about theirs. It was amazing to see how everyone brought their culture into it.”
Ms. Case nodded.
“It was interesting seeing how different teams expressed themselves,” she said. “Some sang, some danced — but everyone was proud of where they came from. You could feel that energy the whole time.”
The VI team worked alongside groups from Kazakhstan, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam. Mr. Gibson said those collaborations were both challenging and rewarding.
“Some teams changed strategies mid-match, which threw us off,” he said. “But we talked it through and adjusted. Being a small country, it meant a lot that others listened to our ideas.”
By the end of the four-day event, Team BVI finished much stronger than in the past — ranking 42 out of 181 teams globally.
“Artemis performed like a champion,” Mr. Gibson said proudly. “She started a little out of regulation — we were two centimetres over the size limit — but we fixed her onsite. Watching her come together and perform under pressure was incredible.”
Beyond the match
Now back home, the team continues to refine Artemis for classroom demonstrations.
As Mr. Gibson adjusted a wheel in the lab, he reflected on what the experience meant.
“It’s not just about the robot,” he said. “It’s about teamwork and respect. We proved that even a small country can make a big impact when we show up prepared.”
He looked down at the machine that carried their flag on the global stage.
“Artemis came there not so ready,” he said, tightening a bolt on the robot’s frame. “But she held her own. We took her apart, fixed what we had to, and by the end she was performing better than we imagined.”
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