2020 Indiana Robotics State Championship Press Release
Largest VEX State Robotics Championship in the U.S. returns to Lucas Oil Stadium March 7 with competition that leads to world contest
TechPoint Foundation for Youth celebrates its 4th year by announcing a major program expansion
Indianapolis (February 18, 2020) – The Indiana Robotics State Championship returns to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 7, where the top 385 Indiana teams from elementary, middle, and high schools will compete to advance to the world championship.
The event is open to the public.
Indiana has more schools participating in robotics programs than any other in the U.S. That’s due to TechPoint Foundation for Youth’s (TPF4Y) State Robotics Initiative. Since 2016, TPF4Y has focused on growing robotics programs in Indiana’s elementary and middle schools.
Now, as some middle school students advance to high school and are disappointed to find few robotics teams at that level, TPF4Y says it’s time to expand its focus to those schools.
“The Indiana Robotics State Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium is the perfect way to celebrate the hard work and success of so many young students and STEM educators” said Vice President of STEM Education, George Giltner.
As part of that celebration, TPF4Y will launch a fundraising campaign to build on its robotics success, hoping to hit a $250,000 goal to expand its support into high schools.
TPF4Y has grown the state’s VEX team registration by 430 percent in the last four years, growing from 399 teams to 2,113. There are only about 200 high schools with robotics programs now. Costs for high school-level robotics are nearly $1,000 -- three times the cost for lower grades. The additional cost is due to the greater complexity of the robots.
Robotics teams help reinforce science, technology, engineering and math skills, which are crucial for jobs of the future. Education experts say student interest in these subjects drop off in later grades, especially for girls. https://www.techpointyouth.org/robots
“TechPoint Foundation, with the help of our partners, has helped Indiana lead the nation in elementary and middle school teams. The students of these robotics teams will become the leaders of tomorrow. By helping provide a pathway from elementary to middle school and now high school, we are able to nurture the passion the students have for STEM. With the end goal of a robotics team in every school, the Indiana workforce of the future is looking bright,” said Giltner.
The State Robotics Initiative was developed by TPF4Y with initial funding from partners such as the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Guggenheim Life and Annuity, Herbert Simon Family Foundation, and long time partners Roche Diagnostics and Eli Lilly and Company Foundation. Through it, TPF4Y provides grants, professional development, and the largest state robotics competition in the country for Indiana schools and students.
New this year, to further celebrate the unprecedented growth of the program and honor the hard work of these competitors, winners will be given the opportunity to purchase a unique state championship ring, designed by Herff Jones. Just as a state champion football player receives a themed ring, so will these prizewinners be able to share their victory with a distinctive robotics-themed ring. For all other attendees and participants, a piece of Indiana robotics history will also be available for purchase; a t-shirt designed by local apparel designers: United State of Indiana.
While the Indiana Robotics State Championship is open to the public, TPF4Y encourages donations to further the impact of the organization. To learn more, visit www.techpointyouth.org/statechamp.
“This is truly a model that every state could follow… I mean what a privilege to be competing in robotics in Lucas Oil Stadium” said Dan Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, which oversees all VEX Competition teams and events. "What a fantastic experience!”
About the State Robotics Initiative, a program of TechPoint Foundation for Youth The State Robotics Initiative was developed by TPF4Y to provide a hands-on, STEM learning experience to Indiana students through an economical, entry-level robotics platform proven to engage diverse student populations in comprehensive STEM subject matter and spur student interest in STEM college and career pathways. The program was developed in 2016 as a statewide expansion of the City Of Indianapolis VEX Robotics grant program, a legacy of former Mayor Greg Ballard. For more information, please visit www.TechPointYouth.org/robots.
About Techpoint Foundation For Youth As the leader in technology education efforts for the state of Indiana since 2001, TechPoint Foundation for Youth is committed to inspiring our state's underserved K-12 students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). And to us, that means connecting ideas, investments, industry, and individuals to exemplary programs that inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields. For more information, please visit www.TechPointYouth.org.