Somesh Sharma, a second-year student in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Physics, has distinguished himself as an exceptional student. With an impressive record of achievements spanning national and international platforms, he has proven to be a rising star in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
Somesh's journey of excellence began at St. Ann’s Bay High School, where he earned top-ranking positions in multiple Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, placing as high as third, eighth, and tenth in Jamaica. Excelling in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and a range of other disciplines, he attained straight ones in all his CSEC subjects, setting the foundation for his future success. Building on this solid academic groundwork, Sharma continued his secondary education at York Castle High School, where he demonstrated extraordinary competence in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). He ranked among the top ten students in Jamaica for CAPE Physics Unit 1 and achieved merit list rankings in four CAPE subjects. His academic prowess was evident in his stellar grades, earning Grade 1 distinctions with AAA profiles in Physics Units 1 and 2, as well as Chemistry Units 1 and 2, alongside commendable performance in Pure Mathematics.
Sharma’s intellectual excellence extends far beyond the classroom, as he has gained national and international recognition for his innovative contributions to science and technology. His team won first place in the Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference Grand Innovation Challenge in 2024 for his pioneering concept, "PiezoSmart Mats", a groundbreaking project with immense potential in energy harvesting and smart technology. Additionally, he secured the People’s Choice Award in the same competition, solidifying his reputation as a visionary innovator. His ingenuity also earned him the first-place prize in the Teen Technology Challenge 2023 for his concept of smart school identification systems, aimed at enhancing student safety through advanced technological solutions. On the global stage, Sharma’s innovation was recognized in the Huawei Seeds for the Future Program’s Tech4Good Competition, where he won the International Award for Most Innovative Design in Latin America and the Caribbean for his "ElectroMats" concept. This achievement granted him a fully funded invitation to a prestigious conference in El Salvador in 2024. He further demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest levels by securing third place in the same competition that year.
Continuing his streak of excellence, Sharma emerged as a standout competitor in the Vincent Hosang Venture Competition 2024-2025, where his team won second place overall. Additionally, he and his team were recognized with the Best Undergraduate Team Award and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award, the latter of which resulted in a JMD50,000 donation to Children First Charity in St. Catherine, supporting the education of underprivileged children. At a hackathon hosted by Intellibus AI in March 2025, Somesh was one of the twenty recipients awarded a scholarship to join their first AI Academy Cohort from April to June 2025.
In recognition of his outstanding academic performance in the FST, Sharma was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll in 2024 and was awarded the prestigious John Lodenquai Award for Best Physics Student in his first year. His continued excellence has earned him an academic commendation for the first semester of his second year. Furthermore, he was invited to join the Physics Honor Society, an acknowledgment of his exceptional contributions to the field.
Sharma’s remarkable achievements have also been recognized through several prestigious scholarships, including the Dr. Pauline O. Lawrence and Dr. Carlton G. Davis Scholarship at The UWI. His passion for science and technology was further underscored by his triumph in the Inspire Award at the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Jamaica Robotics Competition, which secured him an opportunity to attend a global competition in Texas in 2022.
Beyond academics and innovation, Sharma has demonstrated his ability to engage in intellectual discourse, securing second place nationwide in the Scientific Research Council’s National University Debate Competition in 2024. This achievement highlights his capacity to articulate complex scientific ideas with clarity and persuasion.
Somesh Sharma is an outstanding student whose future holds immense potential for groundbreaking contributions to science, technology, and society. His dedication continues to inspire both his peers and the broader academic community.
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