FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

Ms. Tinaakoi Michael Foon (Team Kiribati Co-captain and human player) is another bright year 13 science student. She is an 18-year-old Christian female and senior student at King George and Elaine Bernachi school. She is planning to become a civil engineer as architectural engineer. She has various other interests in other fields. She has keen interest in Industrial Arts, Graphics and Design Technology and her hobbies include drawing, playing sudoku and reading. Her interest with computing came at an early age and is curios how technology can solve some of our existing societal issues including climate change.

She would like to share the following with the rest of participants: “I struggle with many of the subjects that I love, but that rarely subtracts from my feelings towards it. In calculus and physics, I like getting a problem right even when I battle with it and enjoy it when I’m rechecking my answers, finding it fun how one can crack through the hardness of their own head to think up of a possible solution to a complex problem. Challenges can be especially fun when approaching them with this mindset and I see a lot of such enjoyable, new challenges in the FIRST Global robotics competition.

I value the potential that a more generalized knowledge of robotics will bring to my country and wonder if FIRST Global can be a part of such a future. I imagine seeing the inspiration and interest that FIRST Global would represent to newer generations and though I will not be here to experience the full effect, I am also excited that it is here. Perhaps not prevalent now, but soon, and then perhaps we will see more of what Kiribati has in store for the world in this branch of technology.”

Mr. Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi (Team Kiribati Captain) is 18 years of age and he is a senior student (year 13) at Moroni High School in Kiribati. He is a pure science student and he is interested in the engineering world as he likes to solve problems and to take the initiative to make the world a better place economically and socially. He is hoping to fulfil his dreams in becoming an engineer in one of the engineering fields; especially those types that really stands out and would best fit him. Taking extra curricular activities and such opportunities would really help him to explore more and eventually guide his path to his dream career.

Mr. John Tira (Team Kiribati Programmer) is a year 12 science student. Like Joseph, he has been amazed by the robot showcase by FIRST Global team Kiribati 2019 and he has been working hard to ensure he make it to become one of the team of the FIRST Global robotic competition. His interest in robotics have been a guiding force in his academic journey and since 2019, he has made a decision to be in a science stream in school to work with technology and robots to help people. He is very looking to demonstrate his skills he has been learning since 2019 as part of his contribution to the team.

Mr. Baaro Tira (Team Kiribati Human Driver) is a year 11 science student and has been interested in technology since he was in elementary school. He is attending Moroni High School. He is keen to see how he can contribute his knowledge and skills to the team. He is an avid basketball player, he’s also into soccer and volleyball. His favorite subjects include Mathematics, Physics and Science, and is aspiring to become a medical doctor in the future.

Mr. Jimmy Nanquil (Team Kiribati Human Player) is a year 10 science student and one of the youngest member of the team. His curiosity about things that are happening around him has been a key factor joining the science stream. He is very good in physics and mathematic and he is looking forward to see how a robot can operate with bringing these field together. He also likes reading novels and comics. He loves challenges and he is eager to learn things from this competition.

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