WATERVILLE, Maine, January 2025 — Thomas College successfully hosted its first event under the NASA-Supported Robotics Initiative on Saturday, January 10, welcoming students from across Central Maine for a FIRST® Robotics Challenge Kick-Off on campus.
The full-day event brought together students in grades 4–12 for the official FIRST Robotics Challenge Kickoff. The scrimmage marked the first on-campus milestone of the new initiative, which is supported by NASA through the Maine Space Grant Consortium and matching funds from the Perloff Family Foundation.
“This kickoff was about more than robots—it was about showing students that they belong in STEM spaces,” said Luke Shorty, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Thomas College and principal investigator for the project. “Seeing students collaborate, problem-solve, and get excited about engineering on our campus reinforces why this initiative matters for Maine’s future.”
The event is part of Thomas College’s broader effort to help schools start and sustain K–12 robotics teams by providing equipment, training, and ongoing mentorship.
Learn more about this project on Thomas College’s website.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Maine Space Grant Consortium under award number 80NSSC25M7116.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.