Atrion Networking Corporation, of Warwick, RI, today announced that it has donated $10,000 to help fund the Rhode Island Tech Collective’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Challenege, helping to kickoff the organizations drive to raise $70,000. The Tech Collective is the organizing body for Rhode Island’s FIRST Challenge, and was awarded the gift last night at Tech Collective’s Ocean State Robotics presentation, held at New England Institute of Technology...

...Tech Collective is seeking to raise enough funds to help provide K-12 education training and mentoring programs throughout the state. Along with funding, Tech Collective is asking business leaders to step forward and take an active, hands-on role in providing role models and inspiration to the students of Rhode Island. Atrion has already volunteered to serve as mentors to The Met School and another yet to be announced high school. Already the FIRST Challenge is reaching over 100 students per year in Rhode Island. The Tech Collective’s goal is to double that number by for the next competition.