Bluegrass Community and Technical College Foundation Receives Grant to Expand Robot Gladiator League and Student Success Initiatives

Published on Apr 1, 2026

LEXINGTON, KY — The Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) Foundation announced it has received a $7,900 grant from the Julian-Carver Family Foundation (JCFF) of Versailles, Kentucky. The funding will support the project titled “Engagement That Drives Persistence & Credential Completion Through Experiential Learning Robotics Team Participation.”

This initiative is designed to establish a fully equipped Robot Gladiator League (RGL) chapter at BCTC’s Georgetown Campus, expanding access to experiential learning opportunities and enabling more students to connect classroom instruction with real-world technical application.

The project will also grow student involvement in RGL teams through expanded faculty mentorship, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment that promotes engagement, belonging, and academic persistence. In addition, JCFF funding will help develop partnerships with local manufacturing employers—particularly those near the Georgetown Campus—to provide professional mentorship, align programming with workforce needs, and support the long-term sustainability of the program.

“The generous support from the Julian-Carver Family Foundation is an investment in both our students and the future workforce of Central Kentucky,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, President and CEO of BCTC. “Through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities like the Robot Gladiator League, we are creating pathways for students to apply their knowledge, build critical technical skills, and persist through to credential completion. This initiative exemplifies how innovation in education can drive student success and meet the evolving needs of industry.”

The funding will provide essential resources to ensure a high-quality, safe, and scalable applied learning experience for students participating in BCTC’s Robot Gladiator League team. Support will include equipment, materials, and practice infrastructure necessary for hands-on engineering, fabrication, and testing activities. Students will be able to design, build, iterate, and compete using reliable, fully functional robotics systems.

“Experiential learning is one of the most effective ways to engage students and reinforce classroom instruction,” said Jeff Herrin, Academic Dean and Principal Investigator for the grant. “The Robot Gladiator League gives students the opportunity to collaborate, problem-solve, and apply technical concepts in a dynamic, competitive environment. This funding ensures we can provide equitable access to the tools, mentorship, and experiences that help students stay engaged and successfully complete their programs.”

Investments in student engagement and applied learning environments are structured to maximize instructional value while ensuring equitable access across participating BCTC locations. The project is expected to be completed by June 2027.

The Julian-Carver Family Foundation, established in 2018, supports education initiatives across the southern United States with a focus on helping community college students attain certificates, diplomas, and degrees. In seven years of grantmaking, the foundation has awarded more than $135,000 to community and technical colleges across Kentucky and remains committed to helping students achieve academic success and transition into rewarding careers.

For more information about the Robot Gladiator League, contact Jeff Herrin at jeff.herrin@kctcs.edu. Additional information about the Julian-Carver Family Foundation grant program is available at jcfamfd.org.