The 2025 Indiana Robotics State Championship: A Celebration of Innovation and Teamwork
On March 22, over 1,900 students from 320+ teams gathered at the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the 2025 Indiana Robotics State Championship. Presented by TechPoint Youth and powered by Group 1001 and Indy Women in Tech, the event drew nearly 10,000 spectators for an action-packed day of competition, creativity, and teamwork. As the nation’s largest robotics state championship, it highlighted the incredible talent and problem-solving skills of Indiana’s young innovators.
A Day of Exciting Highlights
Mayor Greg Ballard Presents the Teamwork Challenge Ballard Award
Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard continued his tradition of supporting youth robotics by presenting the Ballard Teamwork Challenge Award. This award recognizes teams that demonstrate outstanding collaboration and strategic coordination, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve success.
Honoring Excellence with the Jack Klein Memorial Award
The Klein family once again honored students with the Jack Klein Memorial Award, given to two elementary and two middle school VEX IQ teams. Named in memory of Jack Klein, an Indianapolis Public Schools student and robotics enthusiast who passed away in 2016 after battling lymphoma, this award recognizes teams that embody his spirit of mentorship and kindness. Each winning team is encouraged to “pay it forward” by continuing to support and uplift others in their robotics communities.
The Power of Community and Support
This event would not be possible without the generous contributions of our sponsors, who help make STEM education accessible and exciting for students across Indiana:
TechPoint Youth President and CEO George Giltner expressed his excitement about this year’s event:
"Hosting the largest state championship in the country is an incredible honor. These students represent the future of STEM, and it’s inspiring to see their passion, innovation, and teamwork come to life. This event is not just about competition—it’s about building a community of learners and problem-solvers who will shape the future."
You can check out all the photos from State at the link below!
Purdue University Robotics Scholarships
A highlight of the championship was the announcement of the Purdue Robotics Scholarships, covering full-cost resident tuition for four years. This year’s recipients:
Tressa Howey – Fremont High School
Cody Blackburn – Brownstown Central High School
Purdue University Vice Provost Cherise Hall emphasized how these scholarships support Indiana’s top STEM talent, helping students excel in engineering and technology. She also highlighted that there's more to robotics than just competition—it's about preparing students for future success in STEM careers. Purdue is committed to supporting these efforts by investing in the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
Past recipient Abby Beaucamp shared how winning this scholarship shaped her future and her life as a Purdue student. Watch her story below:
The Gail Farnsley Fund Announcement
During the event, Art Farnsley took the stage to announce the launch of the Gail Farnsley Fund at TechPoint Youth. Created in honor of his wife, Gail Fotheringham Farnsley—a tech industry leader and STEM education advocate—the fund aims to raise $100,000 to support teachers and students with meaningful STEM-related initiatives. The Farnsley family has pledged an initial $50,000 to kickstart this impactful initiative.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 Indiana Robotics State Championship was a powerful reminder of the impact STEM education has on young minds. From building robots to fostering teamwork and innovation, this event continues to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers, engineers, and leaders.
During the state championship, TechPoint Youth awarded 55 Indiana teams invitations to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas. To view the complete list of all award winners, click the link below.
Your Support is Needed!
A record number of Indiana teams have qualified for the 2025 VEX World Championship! With so many students earning their spot, we’re fundraising to help cover registration fees and travel costs for teams in need.
Every student who has worked hard to reach this level deserves the chance to compete on the world stage. We need your support to make it happen!
Please consider contributing - every donation, big or small, helps these young robotics innovators achieve their dreams.
