PAOLI, PA — Students from BLAST Robotics participated in an 85th anniversary celebration hosted by the Paoli–Berwyn–Malvern Lions Club in Paoli, highlighting a broader effort by organizers to combine STEM education with community service and leadership development.
The event, held at the Royer-Greaves School for Blind in Paoli, brought robotics students together with local residents and volunteers during a community ice cream social focused on intergenerational engagement and civic service.
BLAST Robotics, also known as FIRST Robotics Competition Team 10989, operates as an initiative of Keystone STEM Alliance.
Student captains Virat Ponugoti and Vivaan Ponugoti led the team’s participation in the event, where students assisted volunteers and learned about the Lions Club’s work in areas including vision care, eyeglass recycling, and local outreach programs.
Keystone STEM Alliance said the program is designed to expose students to leadership and communication opportunities beyond engineering and robotics competitions.
“These experiences help students understand that technology alone is not enough,” representatives from the organization said in a statement. “Innovation becomes meaningful when it serves people, strengthens communities, and creates human connection.”
Organizers said the event aligned with the group’s “More Than Robots” initiative, which emphasizes civic awareness and community involvement alongside technical education.
The Paoli–Berwyn–Malvern Lions Club marked its 85th anniversary through the gathering, which brought together students, volunteers, and residents from across the region.
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