FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thomas College Students Win Greenlight Maine College Edition Competition MacKenzie Riley Young | June 25, 2021

WATERVILLE, MAINE, June 2021 — Thomas College students Jake Warn, of Winslow, Maine, and Dylan Veilleux, of Waterville, Maine, won first and second place in the finals of Greenlight Maine College Edition last night. Prize for first place winner was $10,000 and $7,500 for second place.


Greenlight Maine is a statewide collaboration of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, designed to promote and mentor the development and growth of business in our great state.

Jake is a small business major who recently started a company called SledTrx.com, a website for snowmobile riders. 

“I’m really excited about winning for a couple of different reasons. One, being a part of the Greenlight Maine program was amazing and to win was a cool experience. I think it will help my business with exposure as well,” said Jake.  

Jake said he’ll be planning to use the prize money to hire more technical software staff for his product, to increase the benefit for the riders and of the product.

“The biggest thing that Thomas College does well is connecting people to each other. The resources Thomas College has have really helped me get where I am now,” also said Jake.

Dylan is a current graduate student in the accelerated MBA program. Dylan started TreeFreeHeat, a company that recycles Maine’s hemp waste into fast-lighting, long-lasting fire starters, while in school and has been scaling his business since becoming a graduate student.

“Greenlight Maine has been a rewarding experience and I am grateful to be a part of it. I’m honored to be a finalist and to share the stage with Jake Warn, a fellow Thomas student and Tortoise Lab member,” said Dylan.

Dylan said the prize money will go towards scaling their production facility to meet their increasing demand and help them obtain larger wholesale partners.

“Throughout my time at Thomas College, I have been slowly leveling up my business with the help of the folks at Thomas College’s Harold Alfond Institute of Business Innovation. The growth I have experienced over the last few years was expedited thanks to the help of GLM and HABI,” said Dylan.

“We could not be more excited for both Jake Warn and Dylan Veilleux on the success of their business startups,” said Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College Mike Duguay. “The fact that both individuals have obtained so much success in such a short period of time is an absolute testament to each individuals commitment and dedication to solving a problem they see in the marketplace. It is also a reflection of the quality of instruction and support that is provided from Thomas College and the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) at Thomas College.”

Mike also said: “Thomas College has become a premiere destination for students wanting to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit and abilities.  In addition to a rigorous and relevant academic experience, entrepreneurship is a core concept of a Thomas College education. In fact, the school was founded by an entrepreneur and built on entrepreneurial ideals. As a result, students are encouraged and supported in taking their ideas and seeing how to effectively offer them out into the marketplace.” 

About Thomas College: Thomas College has been preparing students for success in their personal and professional lives for over 125 years. Thomas College nurtures the unique potential within each student. Our Guaranteed Job Program, 3-year accelerated offerings in all undergraduate degrees, individualized advising, career counseling, and our Innovation Centers in Business and Education meet a student’s determination to succeed with the direction, confidence, and tools to realize the highest version of themselves. Our graduate degree offerings fit your lifestyle ranging from in-person accelerated programs to evening online courses. From the classroom to community activities, or on the athletics field with our 19 varsity sports, Thomas College provides a personalized experience that prepares you for the workplace of tomorrow. Data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 13 percent of all higher education institutions in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates, and U.S. News & World Report ranks us #7 among colleges in the Northeast. For more information, visit wwwold.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.