Antiguans Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris Selected for Prestigious Caribbean STEM Programme

Two promising young scholars from Antigua and Barbuda, Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris, have earned the opportunity to represent their home country at the 2026 Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), one of the Caribbean’s most competitive residential STEM development initiatives. Organized by the Caribbean Science Foundation, the five-week immersive program is designed to unite high-achieving young STEM talents from across the Caribbean region, nurturing their existing skills and passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Gaining entry to SPISE is no small feat: Charles and Harris outperformed many peer applicants through a rigorous multi-stage selection process that evaluated candidates on academic transcripts, secondary education CSEC examination results, teacher recommendations, personal application essays and in-person interviews. Over the course of the program, participants will engage with rigorous university-level coursework spanning a diverse range of critical STEM and related fields, including physics, advanced calculus, biochemistry, robotics, computer programming and entrepreneurial studies. Beyond classroom learning, the program prioritizes building soft skills that are key to long-term career success, with structured activities designed to strengthen leadership capabilities, collaborative teamwork and professional communication. A unique highlight of the initiative is the opportunity for students to connect directly with admissions representatives and seasoned STEM professionals from some of the world’s top higher education institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Canada’s University of Waterloo and McMaster University. For Antigua and Barbuda, the selection of Charles and Harris cements the country’s place among the group of regional nations participating in the program, while also shining a spotlight on the exceptional untapped potential of the country’s emerging generation of young STEM leaders.