In just its second year competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge Jamaica, St Mary Technical High School has made itself known as a rising contender with its robot, Small Fry. 

For a school traditionally known for its technical and vocational focus, participation in a national robotics competition marked new territory for its students. This season, the team returned to the competition, demonstrating stronger fundamentals, clearer strategy and greater confidence in the robotics arena.

The name Small Fry began as an inside joke. During their debut season, the team was unaware that robots were typically named. Theirs happened to be one of the smallest in the field. Instead of discarding the nickname, they embraced it as a symbol of progress, marking both their modest start and expanding ambition.

Rather than discard the nickname, the students adopted it. This year, it became a badge of identity, representing both their humble start and their.

Constructed entirely from the standard kits provided through funding from NCB Foundation, Small Fry’s design is a lesson in disciplined engineering and resourceful design. The team worked within the prescribed components, focusing on mechanical precision, iterative testing and strategic refinement rather than specialised enhancements.

“We worked with the resources we had available to us,” said team captain Romario Lindo. “The constraints strengthened our approach. We had to get creative and understand how to get the best out of each piece. It pushed us to plan carefully and to solve problems together. We have improved a lot since our first year.”

That growth has not gone unnoticed. Gavin Samuels, affiliate partner representative at FIRST Tech Challenge Jamaica, noted that meaningful growth is often most evident in returning teams. “For schools that are new to robotics, the second year is critical. You see greater confidence, better application of engineering concepts and stronger teamwork. St Mary Technical has made that shift, and I’m proud to see that growth in our students each year.”

The NCB Foundation’s sustained investment has helped make that shift possible. Since 2019, the foundation has committed J$48.5 million to robotics initiatives across Jamaica, reaching 2,750 students. The support includes equipment, teacher training, mentorship and structured competition opportunities, ensuring that schools outside the traditional STEM strongholds can participate meaningfully on the local and international stages of the competition. 

Perrin Gayle emphasised the broader significance of widening participation.

“Access matters,” stated Gayle, chief executive of the NCB Foundation. “When we support programmes like the FIRST Tech Challenge, we are equipping students with practical problem-solving skills, technical competence and exposure to fields shaping Jamaica’s future workforce. Talent exists everywhere. Opportunity must as well.” 

While Small Fry may not have been the largest robot on the field, it represented something larger: a school expanding its horizons, students strengthening their capabilities and a growing culture of innovation taking root in St Mary.