REACH Academy’s robotics team, ‘The Crud Busters,’ has achieved an historic milestone by earning first place in the Innovators section at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held this year in Brescia, Italy. Competing against 47 countries, including formidable teams from Canada, Germany, and Croatia, the young champions have proven that innovation, teamwork, and determination know no boundaries.

The team, comprised of three talented students — Jaxen Mitchell (age 11), Jacob Wong (age 10), and Gia Wyms-Stone (age nine), and guided by their coach, Krystan Hunter — entered the world stage for the first time and took the competition by storm. Their invention, a robot designed to clean the hulls of ships, reduces drag and minimises environmental harm, showcasing their remarkable creativity and commitment to solving real-world problems.

Principal Vanessa Khouri Salazar expressed her immense pride at the team’s accomplishment.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ and coach’s achievement in earning first place at the World Robot Olympiad. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication to innovation have truly paid off. This success is a testament to the power of collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance, which are core values we nurture at our school. Our students have shown that they are ready to lead in the future of technology and engineering.”

The World Robot Olympiad, which focuses on invention and coding, provided a platform for The Crud Busters to break barriers, forge new friendships, and demonstrate their abilities on a global stage. Their victory not only brings immense pride to Reach Academy, but also shines a spotlight on the incredible talent of Jamaica’s youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

“Reach Academy remains committed to fostering an environment of innovation, creativity, and academic excellence, and we look forward to witnessing many more outstanding achievements from students,” shared Salazar.