Harrison College walked away with the top award from the Science and Technology Festival’s Secondary Schools Speak-Off Competition during the festival’s closing and prize-giving ceremony at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, St. Michael, on Saturday.
The Crumpton Street school took the first and third spots in the team category of the competition, while The St. Michael School placed second.
The Speak-Off Competition is one of the anticipated features of the annual Science and Technology Festival which challenges students to choose current and relevant topics in the areas of science and technology and debate them among their peers. Its aim is to get them to sharpen their debating and research skills.
Coordinator of the festival, Arlene Weekes, said one of the most rewarding aspects of the event, which ran from March 16 to 18, was the public engagement.
“We’ve seen thousands of students and people from all walks of life come together to experience the joy and wonders of all science and technology had to offer. The Speak-Off competition, which featured students from secondary schools across Barbados, was a testament to the enthusiasm and curiosity of our younger generation.
It is through events like this that we can ignite the spark of interest and create the next generation of innovators, scientists, and technology leaders,” she said, adding that this year’s festival was a “resounding success”.
Ms. Weekes further noted that she was inspired by the ingenuity and creativity displayed by those who participated. She said digital technologies were a focus of the festival and it was “exciting to witness the latest advancements in this field from virtual reality and artificial intelligence to robotics….These innovations have the power to eshape our world and improve the way we live, work, and communicate”.
The festival, she pointed out, showcased the vital role that technology plays in people’s daily lives, and how it could be harnessed to create a more equitable future for all.
The awardees in the Speak-Off Competition are as follows:
Team Awards
- First place: Emmanuel Sealy and Leah Persaud, Harrison College.
- Second place: Sariyah Bailey and Ava Haynes, The St. Michael School.
- Third place: Daniella Clarke and Jordan Gregg, Harrison College.
The winners were awarded a trip to a science and technology centre overseas, accompanied by their teacher.
Individual Awards
- Most Commendable: Angilique Yearwood and Leonardo Azimuth, Princess Margaret Secondary School.
- Most Outstanding Speaker (Impromptu Speech): Daniella Clarke, Harrison College.
- Most Outstanding Speaker (Prepared Speech): Ava Haynes, The St. Michael School.
- Stepping Stones to Excellence Award: Antoine Williams, The Lodge School.
The awardees in this category received cash prizes and tablets.