Photo/Courtesy of Shergaun Roserie
Shergaun Roserie has had a passion for programming and robotics since childhood. Today, he is championing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the Caribbean through internships, digital literacy education, and programming and robotics training for youths ages 10 - 16. The youth delegate of the International Telecommunication Union Generation Connect Group does so with the support of corporate sponsors, NGOs and various governments.
Shergaun, a 2023 Howard University graduate uses Orbtronics Ltd., a technology company he co-founded with his partner Keeghan Patrick as the vehicle for change in his hometown of St. Lucia as well as other neighboring islands including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis. Orbtronics provides software and hardware solutions including web development, database development, and product prototyping services to clients in St. Lucia. Under Shergaun and Keeghan's leadership, the company addresses some of the United Nations sustainable development goals like quality education.
Why Quality Education?
In 2017, Shergaun participated in the FIRST Global Robotics Competition in Washington, DC. Over 150 countries were represented in the Olympics-style competition for high schoolers and Shergaun served as the leader for team St. Lucia. “It was at that competition that I realized how great of a difference there was between the technical skills of my team compared to our first world counterparts,” he explained. “The other teams were using 3D modeling software and had solid programming experience, whereas we were using a more rudimentary method of design.”
Although his team did well at the competition, Shergaun was inspired to drive change so that those that came after him would be more technically sound. At first, he wasn’t sure how he was going to do it, but the opportunity came years later when the St. Lucia Ministry of Education sponsored a pilot STEM program in partnership with USAID. Because of Shergaun’s background in robotics, he was called upon to assist with the implementation. The program integrated LEGO Mindstorm Robotics in the secondary school curriculum and Shergaun served as the lead technical trainer for teachers and students for three years.
The LEGO Mindstorm Robotics Program exposed students to the world of engineering and programming design. In addition to technical skills, the program helped students develop soft skills including communication, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance. Through the experience, Shergaun realized that he enjoyed working with students and seeing them grow.
Fostering Diversity in STEM Education
When asked what the biggest challenge is to STEM education in St. Lucia, Shergaun responded, access and infrastructure. He also noted that some kids are not in the right mental space to explore those opportunities. And this is the reason why inclusion is very important to Shergaun when selecting students for the program.
Students participating in Orbtronics' STEM program in St. Lucia
The youth delegate works with the schools to ensure that of the two slots available per school, at least one girl and one boy is selected. Student selection is not only based on the traditional top performers in the class. Shergaun stresses the importance of selecting students who show potential.
Orbtronics also provides transportation to children who do not have the resources to travel to the location where the STEM programs are held. “My goal is to give all students an equitable opportunity to get involve in STEM,” Shergaun said.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Changemakers
Orbtronics’ STEM programs are delivered with the support of major sponsors including the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Republic Bank. They have been instrumental in helping Shergaun and his team execute the programs. The OECS Commission helps them expand their reach throughout the OECS islands and the government of St. Lucia has been very supportive of their work on the island. In addition, numerous smaller corporations in St. Lucia have served as sponsors.
Shergaun strives to make an impact in his community and is doing so. Nehal Wadhwani, a student who participated in the first STEM training class later became a software intern at Orbtronics. Shergaun boasted with a huge smile on his face that Nehal is now a trainer of two of the STEM programs offered by his company. This full-circle moment is something he is extremely proud off.
The mechanical engineer was also asked by FIRST Global to become an official partner and put together a team for the 2023 competition in Singapore in October. Shergaun jumped at the invitation and assembled a team of five students. He is serving as their mentor in preparation for the competition.
“Seeing students with the same opportunity that I had…to travel internationally and participate in a robotics competition and know that we were able to help them get there, that has been very touching for me,” he told Unstoppable Yes You.
The annual robotics event will bring together thousands of students from over 190 countries. Participants get to build and program a robot around a theme around one of the greatest challenges facing our planet. The 2023 game will showcase renewable energy and its potential to positively impact the future of mankind.
What’s next for Shergaun Roserie?
Shergaun was accepted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which has a four percent acceptance rate, but differed his admission for one year to gain hands-on experience in product design and manufacturing. He would like to pursue a masters in advanced product design and manufacturing. In addition to his role at Orbtronics, the youth leader maintains a full-time job at Microsoft as a mechanical engineer.
As for the future, Shergaun's long-term vision is to build a “Silicon Forest” in the Caribbean. One that includes manufacturing as an economic pillar in the Caribbean. But Shergaun understands that to accomplish his dream, he first need to upskill the people who can help build it.
Participants of Orbtronics STEM program
Shergaun ended the interview with some wise words. When asked what he would tell Caribbean youths who aspire to pursue their dream career he said, “I would tell them make sure they have a bigger purpose than themselves in whatever field that they choose to pursue and seek to make their community better than they found it.”
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