Robotics Was Just the Beginning: The Scholars Who Built Their Way to Purdue

Abby Beauchamp's path to Purdue began with a defining moment in 2022. As a high school senior and dedicated robotics student, she was volunteering at TechPoint Youth’s State Robotics Championship when she was surprised with the Purdue Robotics Scholarship—a 4-year, full resident tuition award that turned her college dream into a reality and will fuel her future in engineering.

As a first-generation student, college had always felt like both an opportunity and a challenge. She imagined long hours balancing multiple jobs just to make it work, pushing through uncertainty to chase a future she knew she wanted. But in high school, two things changed everything: a statistics class and a robotics team.

AP Stats wasn’t just about numbers for Abby, it was about uncovering patterns, telling stories through data, and solving problems in tangible ways. At the same time, she took a leap and joined her school’s VEX Robotics team. What started as a way to stand out on college applications quickly became her passion. She didn’t just build robots; she built confidence, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of problem-solving. By junior year, she was running the team, securing sponsorships, managing competitions, and learning how to lead under pressure.

Now a junior majoring in Industrial Engineering, Abby is thriving both academically and socially. She’s an active member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and Women in Engineering, and still makes time for one of her favorite activities: playing quadball (formerly known as muggle quidditch). She’s also exploring future career paths through events like Purdue’s Industrial Roundtable, the university’s largest career fair.

One of the biggest surprises for Abby has been the sheer breadth of experiences available at Purdue. From joining clubs and attending football and basketball games to checking out street art festivals and campus events, she’s found meaningful ways to stay engaged. Touring the Bechtel Innovation Design Center—home to cutting-edge projects in robotics, solar cars, and 3D printing—was another highlight that deepened her passion for engineering and problem-solving.

The financial burden could have easily held her back, but a scholarship—made possible through a partnership between Purdue University and TechPoint Youth—gave her the stability to fully commit to her education. It meant fewer hours working and more hours learning. It gave her room to say yes to leadership roles, mentorship programs, and experiences that have helped shape her time at Purdue.

Her experience in robotics was more than just an extracurricular—it was the foundation for her future. The teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills she developed continue to guide her path as she prepares for a career in industrial engineering, where she hopes to improve systems in fields like supply chain management, healthcare, and sustainable manufacturing.

Abby’s story is proof of what’s possible when talent is supported by access. Thanks to partnerships like the one between TechPoint Youth and Purdue University, students like Abby don’t just dream about the future—they engineer it.

This year, that same opportunity was extended to two more incredible students: Tressa Howey from Fremont High School and Cody Blackburn from Brownstown Central High School.

Tressa thought she was attending the state robotics competition to celebrate her team’s Amaze Award—only to be surprised with a scholarship to Purdue. As the senior leader of her team, Tressa has demonstrated the same blend of technical skill, leadership, and drive that Purdue champions in its STEM scholars. She’ll be studying mechanical and aerospace engineering this fall.

Cody, too, believed he was simply volunteering at the competition—until Vice Provost Cherise Hall announced his name on stage. A tireless contributor to his team and a standout in academics and extracurriculars, Cody’s curiosity, creativity, and work ethic made him a clear choice for the scholarship. He’ll join Purdue to study mechanical engineering after graduating this spring.

Abby, Tressa, and Cody each represent the power of passion, preparation, and possibility. Together, they remind us that when students are given the tools and support they need, there's no limit to what they can build.

The Purdue Robotics Scholarship is more than just a financial award—it’s a gateway to opportunity. This powerful partnership between TechPoint Youth and Purdue University goes beyond recognizing academic achievement and leadership in STEM; it actively invests in the future engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers our world needs.

By leveraging Purdue’s world-class resources and the passion and talent emerging from Indiana’s robotics programs, we’re building a pipeline of diverse, driven students who are poised to lead in the classroom, the workforce, and their communities. Abby, Tressa, and Cody are just the beginning.

When we collaborate to remove barriers and open doors, we don’t just help students get to college—we empower them to realize their full potential. The true impact of this partnership won’t be measured by trophies or competitions, but by the systems they improve, the communities they uplift, and the future they shape—one innovation at a time.