Haiti Students Compete In First Global Robot Olympics In DC

Haiti is participating in the first-ever Robot Olympics July 16 – 18. The event, hosted by FIRST Global Challenge in Washington, DC. features teams from over 160 countries at the DAR Constitution Hall. As of this morning Haiti is ranked #10 after Round 4, each team will play 6 total.

Three Haitian students competing are from “Institution Nouvelle Source” (Team Haiti-First Global Robot Challenge).  The team led by Francois Joseph Berwith, 16-Year-Old François Carl Lovensky, Alex Abigaël ALCEUS and  Wilford Guensly Perceval spent the last few months learning about programming and engineering with the goal of building a robot that will compete in the FIRST Global Challenge.

Participating teams are composed of students – aged 15 through 18 years old– with the common goal of increasing their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics so that they can become the next generation of scientific leaders who will work together to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems from food security and access to clean water, to finding better medicines and securing cyberspace.

The International FIRST Committee Association (FIRST Global) was founded by philanthropic inventor Dean Kamen, and is headed by former U.S. Navy Admiral and Congressman Joe Sestak.

“By engaging the students of the world in a collaborative competition to help solve the world’s most pressing problems, FIRST Global inspires students to learn the skills they will need to make the discoveries their parents and grandparents would consider miracles, fantasies, or just plain science fiction,” said FIRST Global Founder Dean Kamen.

Opening Ceremony July 16th:

Caribbean students from the following countries participating: 

Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Team #Haiti came out on the field and one whole section went wild. They must have brought lots of fans! #fgc2017 #teamlove #STEM pic.twitter.com/7jejqyuf5Y

— FIRST Global (@F1RSTglobal) July 16, 2017

Announcing team Hope Refugees @F1RSTglobal #FGC2017 pic.twitter.com/UvIPrFtxum

— FTC Team 4924 (@TuxedoPandas) July 16, 2017

Here are the current rank standings after Round 4. #fgc2017 pic.twitter.com/9HApiMyRys

— FIRST Global (@F1RSTglobal) July 18, 2017

TEAM HAITI 

Joseph Berwith François

Completed his high school at “Institution Nouvelle Source. After a brilliant course at “Ecole Supérieure d’Infotronique d’Haïti (ESIH)”, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in Networks and Telecommunications, he was awarded a scholarship from the “Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)” to pursue his studies in France. There, he obtained his master’s degree in IT security at “University de Rennes 1”. He worked as a trainee researcher at INRIA, the French national research institute dedicated to digital technology. He has dedicated himself to security and privacy.

Back in Haiti in 2013, he worked as a director of information systems, IT security consultant and professor of programming, web technologies, networks and IT security in several private schools and in particular at “Ecole Normale Supérieure ( ENS)” from the State University of Haiti (UEH).

In 2014, he founded “Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur TechnoSource”, a technical education school that delivers two-year high-level technician diplomas in computer science (web technologies, networks and telecom, programming / database), electromechanics and electrical engineering. By founding this school, he intends to modernize and promote technical education in Haiti.

Berwith is a young professional who has bet on revolutionizing the digital world in Haiti. He began to do so slowly but surely by offering technical support to the staff of computer teachers at the “Institution Nouvelle Source (INS)” , breaking with the traditional methods of teaching in Haiti. For example, last year students in the 2nd year mathematics of ENS had as final project to set up a digital library for their school. They were happy to see concretely what they can achieve with the mathematical calculations they used to do only on the blackboard and in their notebooks.

During the year 2015, Berwith also organized two major IT security seminars for professionals working in this field. These seminars, in partnership with the Haitian Studies Program (HSP) of the University of Massachusetts and ICT Expert, have enabled several computer engineers and other executives working in commercial banks and in several public and private institutions in Haiti to deepen their Knowledge in the protection of information systems.

Joseph Berwith François is a young professional eager to share his knowledge and put his skills to the service of Haitian youth.

François Carl Lovensky

16 years old, François Carl Lovensky is in 11th grade at the Institution Nouvelle Source.he plays piano,video games,he is a big fan of Golden States,Francois loves watching movies,Series especially Arrow,Scorpion, Nikita etc, Francois always says that music is life,that is one of his passion. Attracted by computer science and programming and mastered the Python (especially Python 3). He works during his free time on his project of Video Games with Unity 3D. His biggest computerization is a virtual assistant named A.V.A. His biggest dream in life is to be a great computer science engineer.

Alex Abigaël ALCEUS

Alcéus Alex Abigaël was born in Port au Prince in 2000, he is 16 years old and live with his parents, Alceus was always attracted by technology since he was a little kid, he was always trying to build and fix things. At age 6, Alceus had his first computer and he started to enjoy every single thing about it,he is passionate about music, he plays guitar and learning drums actually.

He also a big fan of Video Games such as Playstations, Xbox, He plays football and basketball and his favorite team is the Golden State recently Champion. He is a programmer and proficient in programming languages such as HTML, CSS 3, Python. He has already created some websites, consoles and videos. He is in the process to create a virtual Assistance software and some other IT projects.

He has is own company that does photoshoot, videos tickers and serigraphies, he worked for several companies such as Ozone, Marckotours and services where he helps them create professional software.

Wilford Guensly Perceval

Perceval was born in Port au prince in 2000, he is the unique son of his parents and live with them, Perceval was always wanted to be an engineer in computer science, he started to focus on that at age 14 because he was in love with music, playing piano and other instruments, good football and basketball player but now he dedicate his entire time in technology. He does programing in different languages, such as HTML, CSS, Python and Artificial Intelligence.

His biggest dream is to represent Haiti as a powerful Engineer and created tools or software that will simplify life on earth, he manage adobe illustrator, photoshop in design. Now he taking course in after effect and videography.

UPDATE:

Congratulations to the Winners of the FIRST Global Grand Challenge Award Teams Armenia, Poland and Europe! Below is the #Caribbean results/ranking after round 5:

Source 1