AUGUSTA — Science, robots and the students who designed them took center stage recently at the State House as Gov. Paul LePage awarded the first-ever Governor’s Promising science, technology, engineering and mathematics Youth Awards.

The recipients included three robotics teams that participated in a national competition, a student who will be representing Maine at the National Youth Science Camp and students from Falmouth who represented the state in a national science competition. The event was designed to promote STEM education and to raise post-high school aspirations for students.

Three teams brought their robots to the event, and Gov. LePage was able to spend time with the students before the ceremony, asking them about their projects and future plans.

Awards were presented to the following three local robotics teams that participated in the first Robotics World Championship in St. Louis in April: SMART robotics team from Spruce Mountain High School in Jay-Livermore Falls, Sunnyside Up robotics team from the elementary/middle schools in Farmington and Infinite Loop robotics team from Messalonskee High School in Oakland.