A NAPARIMA College student has etched his name into Trinidad and Tobago’s academic history after becoming the country’s first representative to win a medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).Upper Six student Reginald Mohammed captured a bronze medal at this year’s competition, marking T&T’s first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad since the country began participating in the global contest.

From left, Zeeshaan Lall, Soren Narine, Reginald Mohammed (holding certificate), Leon Copilah, the four members of the team that represented Trinidad and Tobago at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from July 10-19. At right is Dr Denise Beckles, a chemistry lecturer at The University of the West Indies, who was the team’s head mentor.

The 2026 International Chemistry Olympiad was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 10 to 19, bringing together some of the world’s brightest young chemistry students to compete in rigorous theoretical and practical examinations.Reginald was part of a four-member Trinidad and Tobago team that also comprised Leon Copilah of Iere High School (Upper Six), Soren Narine of Fatima College (Lower Six), and Zeeshaan Lall also of Naparima College (Form Five).The achievement represents a significant milestone for T&T’s Chemistry Olympiad programme, which has steadily expanded its international participation over the past several years. The country first competed virtually in 2021 before sending teams to the in-person Olympiads in Switzerland in 2023, the United Arab Emirates in 2025, and now Uzbekistan in 2026, where it secured its first medal.The Express contacted Reginald via WhatsApp on Sunday, just before he and the contingent were headed to the airport to return to T&T.Reginald, 18, of Debe, said that it was a dream come true for him to represent T&T on the international stage and earn a medal.Asked about how he felt about his achievement, he replied, ”Elated, it was always a personal goal of mine to represent T&T on the international stage, at an Olympiad. I was confident in my ability, having taken part in the TT Chemistry Olympiad for many years, and all the faculty at UWI and my teachers in school and family believed that I could achieve a medal, which gave me the extra push. It was a lot of work as the Olympiad covers topics much more advanced than secondary school so I had the routine of doing past papers for the Olympiad and trying to learn a bit more every day. I also found it better to learn about a lot of topics rather than focusing on one particular branch of chemistry. But ultimately, I’m happy that my dream to represent T&T internationally and to win a medal came true.”He said that preparation for the international competition was intensive, as once the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations concluded, he, Copilah, Narine and Lall attended daily training sessions at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), where they were coached in both the theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry.College extends congratulationsThe International Chemistry Olympiad consists of two demanding examinations—one theoretical and one practical—each lasting five hours, testing participants’ advanced knowledge, analytical thinking, and laboratory skills.Selection to represent T&T is highly competitive, as each year, the Trinidad and Tobago Chemistry Olympiad (TTChO) hosts its Round One competition in December, which is open to secondary school students nationwide. Students compete in two categories: Level A for Forms One to Five and Level B for Form Six students. The top ten students in each category are invited to participate in two weeks of virtual training conducted by faculty members from The UWI Department of Chemistry.Following the training programme, the students sit a round two examination in May, after which the top four performers are selected to represent T&T at the International Chemistry Olympiad.Reginald is the head prefect of Naparima College, and the school announced the historic achievement on its social media pages.The post read, “Naparima College is proud to announce a truly historic milestone! We were honoured to receive a congratulatory call from Dr Terry Mohammed of the Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, celebrating an extraordinary achievement by our students and staff!“Master Reginald Mohammed, our Head Prefect, has earned Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)—a landmark achievement for our nation, The University of the West Indies, and Naparima College! Congratulations also go out to Master Zeeshaan Lall! Representing Trinidad and Tobago at the 2026 International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is a remarkable achievement, especially as a Form Five student! With more opportunities ahead, this is just the start of an exciting journey for Zeeshaan!”“This accomplishment at the International Chemistry Olympiad is the culmination of years of dedication and excellence. Our Olympiad journey began six years ago when Dipak Balladin (2020) captured the national title. In 2021, Aiden Ramgoolam and Jaasiel Edwards proudly represented Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Sameer Sookoor in 2025.Today, in 2026, Reginald Mohammed has etched his name in history by becoming our country’s first International Chemistry Olympiad medallist!” the post continued.“This remarkable success reflects the unwavering commitment, perseverance and hard work of our students, teachers and the entire Science Department, who have consistently pursued excellence and inspired generations of young scientists.“On behalf of the Naparima College family, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Master Reginald Mohammed, our Olympiad team, our dedicated Science Department, and everyone who contributed to this historic achievement. History has been made, and Naparima College is immensely proud! Congratulations once again to everyone involved!” stated the college.