Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) is thrilled to announce the transformation of its Advanced Manufacturing lab into a cutting-edge robotics laboratory, featuring ten brand-new 3D printers. This initiative, in partnership with FIRST® New Hampshire, is designed to enhance robotics education for students throughout the region and introduce high schoolers to the world of robotics.
Working alongside Great Bay, Manchester, and White Mountains Community Colleges, LRCC will not only be a hub for hands-on robotics learning but also produce Raspberry Pi® Pico W microcontrollers that will be 3D printed and distributed to high school students across the state. These microcontrollers will serve as an engaging introduction to robotics, engineering, and software development, all built around an accessible, open-robotics platform developed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
Thanks to a generous $455,000 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Education, FIRST NH will equip labs statewide with resources to create 5,500 robotics kits by July 2025. This initiative aims to expand engineering education opportunities for community college students and those in career and technical education centers while also benefiting grades 6-12.
Joe Smith, Robotics Chair at LRCC, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “This is a game-changer for our students. By producing these microcontrollers, we’re not just enhancing learning at LRCC; we’re also equipping high school students with the tools they need to explore robotics and engineering. We’re excited to be part of this innovative partnership.”
Governor Chris Sununu highlighted the importance of this initiative during his 2024 State of the State address, emphasizing the “vertical integration of learning” made possible through the collaboration with FIRST New Hampshire. He noted how vital it is to educate students in automation and manufacturing at the community college level, paving the way for advanced programming and robotics skills in high schools.
As LRCC continues to lead in robotics education, this partnership promises to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators throughout New Hampshire.
