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Ardenne High School · Participation brief

HACK876Ardenne

Ardenne is already preparing students for what comes next. Hack 876 gives them somewhere to build it.

Hack 876 is a one-day build competition bringing about 80 Jamaican secondary-school students together to turn ideas into working prototypes.

Explore Ardenne × Hack 876 Download school brief
  • Kingston
  • Feb 20, 2027 (tentative)
  • ~80 builders
  • Teams of 3–4

01Why Ardenne

This already looks like Ardenne.

In March 2026, Ardenne became the pilot site for the UTech and Kiwanis STEM Education Project: hands-on robotics, coding and engineering.

Hack 876 offers those same students another arena: one day, one team, one idea, build something real. It doesn't replace anything Ardenne is doing. It adds a deadline, outside judges, and students from other schools.

Deo Duce Quaere OptimaWith God as Guide, Seek the Best.

  • STEAM

    A school philosophy that pairs science and technology with the arts.

  • Robotics

    An active Robotics Club already building and demonstrating.

  • STEM pilot

    Launch site for the UTech and Kiwanis STEM Education Project, March 2026.

  • IT core

    Every student entering grade 10 carries an IT-based core subject.

“We strongly believe that they’re the future and they’re the ones who will impact us and make changes that are necessary.”
Dr. Jacqueline Pinto, Principal, Ardenne High School · UTech Jamaica, March 2026

02The event

One day. Build something real.

  • ~80Total builders
  • 3–4Per team
  • 1Day

  1. Step 1

    Think

    Find a real problem worth solving.

  2. Step 2

    Build

    Turn the idea into a working prototype.

  3. Step 3

    Ship

    Get it running before the clock stops.

  4. Step 4

    Present

    Demo it to judges and explain the decisions.

  • Websites
  • Apps
  • AI tools
  • Games
  • Hardware
  • Data projects
  • Automations
  • Agents
  • Interactive experiences

Not an AI-only hackathon. Teams build whatever the problem needs.

03What students gain

More than a project.

It won’t decide anyone’s career. It gives students a useful early signal about whether building technology excites them.

  • Teamwork

    Working with people who think differently.

  • Scoping

    Learning what can really be built in a day.

  • Technical problem solving

    Turning a concept into something that works.

  • Decision making

    Choosing between ideas under real constraints.

  • Communication

    Explaining what they built to judges and peers.

  • Resilience

    Shipping something even when it isn’t perfect.

  • Exposure

    Meeting students and professionals beyond their usual circle.

  • Confidence

    Moving from using technology to making it.

04Before university

Before the internship.
Before university.
Before the first job.

Give them the first build.

University programs increasingly expect collaboration, coding, product thinking, research and fast prototyping. Most students meet all of that at once for the first time in their first year.

Hack 876 gives them an early taste of:

  • University hackathons
  • Engineering teamwork
  • Product building
  • Software development
  • Pitching an idea
  • Talking through a project in an interview
  • Portfolio work
  • Working across disciplines

05Participation

Ardenne in the room.

Hack 876 is for students in 5th Form through Upper 6th Form. Participating schools recommend students, and recommended students apply. No place is assumed until applications and selection happen.

8–12

Planning range · not guaranteed

For early planning, a cohort of roughly 8–12 Ardenne students fits the scale we’re considering. With about 80 places across participating schools, final representation depends on applications and overall capacity.

Teams of 3–4. Students can apply solo or with friends, and teams may mix schools. Final team-formation rules are still being finalized.

What we’d like from Ardenne

  1. 1Share the opportunity with relevant students.
  2. 2Encourage interested 5th Form through Upper 6th Form students to apply.
  3. 3Point us to students from Computer Science, IT, Maths, the Sciences, Robotics, Design, Business or anywhere else they shine.
  4. 4Recommend especially promising students, if you’d like to.
  5. 5Name a school-side contact for coordination.
  6. 6Help students and parents understand the opportunity as the event approaches.

We’re not asking Ardenne for financial support, and the school doesn’t need to run its own selection competition unless it wants to.

06Competition

Build it. Present it. Compete for it.

Prizes across overall placement and special categories. The exact package will keep developing as sponsors are finalized, and participating schools will get updates.

Overall placement

  • Hack 876 Winner

    The whole thing. Best overall build.

    iPad per student (up to 4)

  • Second Place

    So close. Still brilliant.

    AirPods Pro per student (up to 4)

  • Third Place

    On the podium.

    US$150 gift card per student (up to 4)

Special awards

  • Best Design

    Looks great. Feels even better.

    US$50 gift card per student (up to 4)

  • Boldest Idea

    The swing nobody else took.

    US$200 team project grant

  • People’s Choice

    Voted by the room.

    US$50 gift card per student (up to 4)

Categories are set. Prize items are tentative and may change. Prizes are a bonus, not the reason to come.

07Your bridge to Hack 876

One relationship at a time.

Hack 876 grows through people who care about both their school and what students could build. For Ardenne, that starts with Diandra.

Diandra McPherson

Diandra McPherson

Ardenne Community Ambassador · Hack 876

Ardenne alumna · UWI · Lawyer and real-estate agent

Diandra is helping connect Hack 876 with the Ardenne community and is an initial point of contact as we explore participation with the school.

Nadani DixonStefen Ewers

The Hack 876 organizing team runs event operations, applications and all official communication with students and parents.

Diandra supports the relationship as a member of the Ardenne community. She doesn’t act on the school’s behalf.

08What happens next

We’ll fill in the details together.

Ardenne doesn’t need every answer today to join the conversation.

  1. Now

    Build the relationship with Ardenne.

  2. Next

    Confirm a school contact and a student outreach path.

  3. Then

    Confirm the date, then applications and logistics.

  4. Before the event

    Student and parent briefing, preparation and requirements.

  5. Event day

    Hack 876.

Decided
  • One-day build competition
  • Venue: Spanish Court Hotel, Kingston
  • 5th Form through Upper 6th Form
  • About 80 places
  • Schools recommend, students apply
  • Applications are open
Planned
  • Tentative date: Saturday, February 20, 2027
  • A 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM day
  • Lunch on the day
  • Overall and special prize categories
  • Industry judges and mentors
Being finalized
  • Confirming the date
  • School-level allocations and team rules
  • Cost and transport
  • Prize items
  • Family details: supervision, food, emergency contacts

Participating schools and applicants will receive detailed information as each part of the event is finalized.

Deo Duce Quaere Optima · With God as Guide, Seek the Best.

Ardenne has always asked its students to seek the best. Let’s give a few Ardennites one day to build it.

Hack 876 · Kingston, Jamaica · Feb 20, 2027 (tentative)

info@hack876.com
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About Ardenne: sources

  1. 1. UTech Jamaica: UTech and Kiwanis launch STEM initiative
  2. 2. Jamaica Information Service: Science labs to be built, upgraded, equipped
  3. 3. Ardenne High School: History

Prepared by Hack 876 for the Ardenne community. This is not an official Ardenne High School publication, and Ardenne’s participation has not been confirmed. Dates, allocations and prizes are provisional.