At the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas won the Francis G. Tatnall Prize for an outstanding project showing ingenuity, proficiency, and usefulness in the Senior Mechanical and Product Design Competition. He assisted in fluid flow visualization, mechanical design, electronics optimization, and fabrication of an autonomous maritime vessel that allowed for better data collection in coastal reef environments.
“How can I help?” Not even the mayor of Miami could have predicted the effect those four simple words would have on the city traditionally known for its palm trees and nightlife. But that tweet, sent by Mayor Francis Suarez in December 2020, caused a tech hurricane to touch down in the South Florida area. The tweet, shown below, was in response to a San Francisco venture capitalist who (likely somewhat facetiously) suggested that Silicon Valley be moved to Miami.