Maine Celtics, SMRT Partnership A Success

The Maine Celtics and SMRT recently partnered to host the SMaRTer Together Maine Celtics Design Challenge. Groups of students from Casco Bay High School, Cheverus High School and Gorham High School entered the challenge and were tasked with designing an exclusive new fictional arena for the Celtics under the guidance of SMRT employees and with the same software the architects use in practice every day. 

The partnership between the Maine Celtics and SMRT gave local high school students the opportunity to work with professionals and get a look at what it’s like to pursue a career in STEM. The winning group from Gorham High School was awarded with a 3D-printed, Celtics-themed trophy after presenting their arena design to a panel of judges from SMRT and the Maine Celtics. Eliza Kenigsberg, a Career Aspirations & ELO Coordinator with Aspire Gorham, works daily with students to ensure they feel confident in pursuing careers of their choosing and have the foundation to take the next steps once they graduate high school. 

“The Maine Celtics Design Challenge was a wonderful opportunity for Gorham students. The invitation to design a fictional arena inspired excitement and the mentorship provided by SMRT provided the support necessary to deliver a quality final product. The Maine Celtics and SMRT were wonderful partners, and their contribution to the young folks in the region is profound. Partnerships like these provide the fertile soil necessary for students to truly explore their interests and gain insights about their path forward. For that, we are so grateful!” – Eliza Kenigsberg 

Throughout the experience, students were able to reach out to architects for advice and guidance, while also being able to immerse themselves in the work environment. On the evening the digital arenas were presented and the award was handed out, students rotated through stations at the SMRT offices where current employees gave them an inside look at their day-to-day tasks – they were able to get insight to the inner workings an architectural firm and the various roles that need to be filled to keep things running smoothly while getting a peek at the style of post-graduate life and office environments that they’re soon to be a part of. 

“The SMRT team was impressed with the creative designs that all the students worked so hard to develop. Every school presented innovative solutions focused on providing the ultimate fan and player experience. Thank you to the Maine Celtics for sharing this vision and opening their doors of professional basketball to the high school students of greater Portland which provided the inspiration for their thoughtful designs. We’re excited to see the experiences and STEM work that this program delivers next season!” – Nick Vaughn 

Both the Maine Celtics and SMRT are excited to see what this partnership holds in the future. Youth enrichment in the Portland area and providing kids an opportunity to challenge themselves in a new way are principles both organizations pride themselves on and look forward to continuing in the future.