Annual ReportFY 2024-2025
Year In Review
Who We Are
Get Involved
Sections: Who We Are | Year In Review | Get Involved
What's Inside
Message from Ashley
Mission, Core Values
Indiana Impact
Q&A with Bryce: Impact Story
Our People: Directors, Staff, Volunteers
Who We Are
#MoreThanRobots: Impact Story
Season Rewind: Highlights
Season Champions
By the Numbers
Financials
Year in Review
Leadership Award Winners
Get Involved
The Next Level
Sponsors
Contact Us
A Letter from the Executive Director
The 2024–2025 season was one of momentum, growth, and celebration for FIRST Indiana Robotics.
Read Ashley's Message
Executive Director, Ashley Robbins
The 2024–2025 season was one of momentum, growth, and celebration for FIRST Indiana Robotics. Across the state, students, mentors, volunteers, and partners came together to demonstrate what is possible when curiosity, creativity, and community support intersect. I am deeply proud of what our FIRST community accomplished this year and energized by what lies ahead!One of the most meaningful milestones this season was the investment we received from Lilly Endowment Inc. This grant represents more than financial support—it reflects confidence in our mission to expand access to high-quality STEM learning experiences for Indiana youth. With this partnership, we are strengthening programs, increasing our capacity as an organization, and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth across all FIRST programs. On the competition field, Indiana teams continued to shine on the global stage, with 17 teams traveling to Houston this year for the FIRST Championship. An Indiana FIRST Robotics Competition team captured the World Championship title, a remarkable achievement that reflects years of dedication, teamwork, and technical excellence. This success belongs not only to the team itself, but to the mentors, volunteers, families, and FIN community who support students throughout their FIRST journey. We also saw exceptional growth in our programs this year, particularly FIRST LEGO League participation. Enrollment exceeded projections, signaling increasing demand for hands-on, team-based STEM opportunities at the elementary and middle school levels. This growth reinforces the importance of early exposure to engineering and problem-solving and highlights the enthusiasm of schools and communities eager to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. As we look ahead to the coming year, we do so with optimism and purpose. We will continue to focus on expanding access, supporting teams where the need is greatest, and building strong partnerships across Indiana. Together, we are not only preparing students for future careers—we are empowering them to become confident leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary season and for helping shape the future of STEM in Indiana.
WHO WE ARE
MISSION
NOTES:
The mission of FIRST Indiana Robotics is to inspire young people in Indiana to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
CORE VALUES
Discovery
Innovation
Impact
Inclusion
Teamwork
Fun
The FIRST core values are fundamental to FIRST and unique to its programs. They emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for others' contributions, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of unity.
Our community expresses the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition through the FIRST Core Values.
NOTES:
#MoreThanRobots: A Student's Real World Impact
When his robotics journey began, Edward C. never imagined he would invent something that would change someone's life.
Read the Story
Watch the Full Video
After an accident that damaged her core muscles and affected her ability to balance while walking, Maya thought she was going to need a wheelchair in order to get around. That all changed when a neighbor determined a friend and local high schooler might have the skills to transform her life: Edward, a current junior and the Lead Designer and Team Representative for ICE Robotics in Bloomington, Indiana. This introduction not only altered the course of Maya’s life forever, but it also altered Edward’s. “I knew that if I wanted to truly improve her quality of life, I needed to design something that followed her movement naturally and intuitively,” he says. He began prototyping with everyday objects; things we have in our closet and might not think in depth about. But Edward did. Where we see mundane items, he saw potential to reimagine, reinvent, and innovate. The very first version of the walking aid was a rollerskate attached to a hiking stick. The second? A handle with the same swivel mechanism as a Swiffer broom, and wheels that had been designed with inspiration from their competition robot. When Maya first used the walking stick, it brought her to tears with joy. Through the invention of a local robotics student, she realized her life could not only be different than what she imagined, but better. In a way, Edward realized the same. “This project has reshaped my trajectory,” he says, “I once thought my high school career would peak with robotics, especially since my team reached the world semifinals twice, but this experience shifted my definition of success. I can now see myself building a life around designing mobility aids.” Not long after he had developed the walking stick, Edward caught the attention of Indiana University’s engineering department when Maya met a retired IU professor at a concert. Not only did the school help secure $10,000 in funding, but they will collaborate with Edward to further improve the product. “Partnering with Indiana University is beyond my wildest dreams. Looking ahead, we plan to work with a community organization that lends mobility aids, collaborate with Professor Matt Francisco’s advanced prototyping class to explore the full potential of the design, and partner with Professor Jon Racek from the School of Design to improve handle ergonomics,” he says. Edward has since published six designs for the community with over 500 combined downloads. Maya travels with her new walking stick - and she’s even walked around New York with it. The future is bright for both Edward and Maya as they continue their journeys, forever impacted by FIRST Indiana and each other.
INDIANA IMPACT
Team Count by Program Level
NOTES:Number of teams in each Region: North Central South
266 FLL Teams
Program Level FLL Explore 57 FLL Challenge 209 FTC 77 FRC 70
77 FTC Teams
70 FRC Teams
State of IN filled in with colors - representing # of teams
YEAR IN REVIEW
SEASON REWIND
NOTES:
FIRST LEGO League
Read the FLL Recap
FIRST Tech Challenge
Read the FTC Recap
FIRST Robotics Competition
Read the FRC Recap
NOTES:
Impact Story
FLL Volunteer of the Year
NOTES:
Q&A with Bryce Castle
We sat down with one of our Volunteer of the Year awardees, to discover all the ways in which FIN has impacted him and vice versa.
Read the Q&A
Can you explain the ways in which you’ve volunteered with FIN?"I volunteered at each of the three program levels. At FLL I serve as Judge Advisor 'JA' (both at the competition-level, but also at the statewide level helping train other JAs). These volunteers oversee the judging process at FLL events, helping train judges and provide the support they need at events to make their evaluations. At FTC I typically serve as a Judge. I've also recently started a new team, so I also volunteer as a team coach. At FRC my favorite role is Game Announcing, providing play-by-play commentary during the game matches. I also am deeply involved in our Audio-Visual team, helping broadcast the event in-stadium and for folks watching from home. A really important part of both of these roles is helping to capture the moment for further review, but also sharing it to people who may not be familiar with the program yet. I also mentor FRC 868 for their business and outreach divisions. I also started up an Alumni group at Purdue University in Indianapolis, helping connect students with volunteer opportunities within FIRST. In the last 12 months we have accumulated 800+ volunteer hours at FIRST events in Indiana." What originally motivated you to volunteer? "Volunteering started as a way to give back to a program that had given so much to me. I saw the value of the program in my own life and I wanted to extend that same opportunities to others. After volunteering at multiple events you start to see some familiar faces so it becomes even easier to volunteer when you get to hang out with friends along the way." What’s one moment that made you think, “This is why I do it”? "A few years ago I had a really cool experience with an FLL team. I had accidentally come across them at my local library and it was fun to chat with them about their experience and upcoming advancement to FLL states. When I was at that event I then got to see them in action and talk with some of their parents. They ultimately won the event and got to represent the state of Indiana at the World Championship. Due to their relationship to our community we donated some to help with travel costs and it was exciting to hang out with them at Worlds (as the high school team also later received advancement). Those students are now graduating from FLL into FRC, so it's cool to see them again, now tackling different problems." What’s a moment from an event that you’ll never forget? "The FLL judge timer I created has been an awesome utility for my work as a Judge Advisor. Not only does it keep our judges on time but also reports the status of each room back to me in "mission control". If the judges need me to review their rubric or have a question for me, they can click the "mage" icon on the timer and their room/pod number lights up on my screen. I then quickly head over to their room where they exclaim 'it's like magic summoning me to their room'. I've put lots of development time into this tool but it really helps streamline the judging process. This has a positive impact on our teams as the experience is more uniform across events and gives the judges more time to provide written feedback." What makes the FIRST community unique compared to other volunteer experiences? "I think the FIRST core values (Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, Fun) and ethos of Gracious Professionalism set it apart from other similar programs. The combination of these highlight the importance of collaboration and highlights the program is way more than just competing with robotics. All of the program levels require you to work with professionals to learn more about an industry or get feedback on designs."
SEASON CHAMPIONS
FLL Champion's Award
FTC Inspire Award
FTC Leadership Award Finalists
FRC Impact Award
FRC Leadership Award Finalists
Leadership Award Winner
FRC World Champion
FLL Champion's Award
Team 67742 Thalassophiles
FTC Inspire Award
Team 12014 The Fire Wires
FTC Leadership Award Finalists
Andino S. Hannah H.Evan D.
FRC Impact Award
Team 1741 Red Alert Robotics
FRC Leadership Award Finalists
Melina M. Grant S.
Click the megaphone for a surprise!
Team 4272 Maverick Robotics FRC World Champions!
NOTES:
By the Numbers
$182,000+
NOTES:
Awarded to Teams
680
3,188
Volunteers
Students
47
27
Counties
Events
1,600+
Matches Played
Financials
NOTES:
$616k Raised
$261,176
Team Registation and Events
Scroll to continue!
$221,900
Grants
$71,400
Event Sponsorship
$51,531
Public Contribution
$1,957
Other Income
Financials
NOTES:
$663k Spent
$297,660
Team Support
$236,808
Event Support
$128,838
Admin
Our People
NOTES:
Board of Directors
Staff
Volunteers
Impact Story
FRC Volunteer of the Year
NOTES:
Brad Thompson
Brad has been with FIN for 15 years.
Read the Interview
"The first time I had seen any of this was getting involved with the Purdue student organization when I came up here. I went to school in the middle of nowhere; rural southern Indiana. We had access to none of this stuff. I'm super happy to see that we are starting to expand into more areas and get more access to all of these cool things in the hands of kids all over the place.When I started volunteering with FIN, I was wildly disappointed in my experience in the classroom because of the level of engagement and investment that the kids were putting out. It was completely different from my experience. I saw so much more learning and growth happening through FIRST than in school. The kids are really engaged and invested. It’s because we don't have [ traditional ] teachers. We have mentors who are building relationships with these kids. They’re meeting them where they're at, helping them figure out what they want to do, and helping them get there versus trying to shove them down some sort of preset path that somebody, somewhere else, decided was what kids needed to know to be successful. I think that [ what we do ] makes kids so much more prepared. We've done a lot of really cool stuff over the years that I've been a part of. I think a good example was this last year at our state championship. We took on doing a secondary livestream that had a couple of extra people doing a post-match recap like ESPN. You got the replay that you can draw on the screen which, for the past couple of years, we paid a bunch of money to have somebody else come in and do for us. I got dared by Ashley to figure out how to do it internally this year. It's part of what I think makes what we do really cool - it's not just the kids who get to do all of this. It's also a great opportunity for adults to continue tinkering and sharing their expertise and learning to do new things and building a community of people. I think there's a huge cultural difference that exists here [ when you volunteer with FIN ]. The ethos of FIRST and the Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition and the fact that, as we're looking at how the teams all interact with each other, you don't have that rivalry aspect that you have in most sporting programs. You've got this incredibly collaborative ethos around everything that we do. When you surround yourself with people that build things for fun, you're going to be doing a lot more of that yourself. That pushes you to be better; which then pushes everybody else to be better. I think everything that we're doing is great. People should give us money and time and throw resources at us so we can do more of it."
Dimple Shah
Chair, Competition Committee
Kris VanKleek
Board of Directors
Chair, STEM for Everyone Committee
NOTES:
Mary Baker
Chair, Education Committee
Cameron Elder
Lisa Porat
Jack Doherty
Chair, Development Commitee
Board Chair
Monica Bravo Hochstein
Sean Dewey & Kevin Spindler
Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee
Vice Chair
Grant Carlile
Chair, Volunteer Committee
Secretary
Karla Tugan
Members at Large
Treasurer
Lisa Porat - Board ChairMonica Bravo Hochstein - Vice ChairGrant Carlile - SecretaryKarla Tugan- TreasurerMady Stricker - Chair, Competition CommitteeDimple Shah - Chair, STEM for Everyone CommitteeKris VanKleek - Chair, Education CommitteeMary Baker - Chair, Development CommitteeCameron Elder- Chair, Marketing & Communication CommitteeJack Doherty - Chair, Volunteer CommitteeSean Dewey Member at LargeKevin Spindler - Member at Large
Mady Stricker Dimple Shah Kris VanKleek Mary Baker Cameron Elder Jack Doherty Sean Dewey Kevin Spindler
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NOTES:
Staff
Ashley Robbins
Executive Director
Chris Osborne
Director of Programs
Dan Leathers
Director of Operations
Lori Langley
Statewide Volunteer Coordinator
Jason Bodnar
FLL & FTC Program Manager
Amanda Ledtke
Business Operations Coordinator
David Ebersol
FIRST Senior Mentor
Jason and LeeAnne Maxwell
FIRST Senior Mentors
GET INVOLVED
Sponsors
NOTES:Make this a list - Like Board/Staff Add Button to sponsor packet
Toyota IndianaArconicAndyMarkArgosy FoundationStratasysDon Wood FoundationCarrierSalesforceVincennes University CARAeImagineAptivAllison TransmissionBorgWarnerNIPSCOAscension St. Vincent KokomoHoward CountyCity of Kokomo Community First BankFirst Farmers BankBucheri, McMarty, MetzMeyer PlasticsPalramHingst Family FoundationMechanical Engineering, Purdue UniversityComputer Science, Purdue UniversityIvy Tech Community College
Become a Sponsor
Volunteers
NOTES:add option for showing more photos - carousel, scrolling, etc.
Impact Story
FTC Volunteer of the Year
Click a bubble to see what Michele Mroczek has to say about her time with FIN.
NOTES:
Get Involved
Donate
Mentor
Volunteer
We're Ready to Level Up!
FRC State Fundraising Campaign
This year we are taking the Indiana State Championship to it's biggest venue yet! Help us support the event as we continue to grow and elevate the experience.
Donate
Thank you for being part of the FIRST community!
Watch Live Events
Contact Us
Innovation
We use creativity and persistence to solve problems
The 2024–2025 FIRST LEGO League season centered on curiosity and discovery, as students explored the SUBMERGED challenge by combining robotics, research, and teamwork to better understand real-world problems. Across qualifying tournaments, like those in Kokomo and Elkhart, more than 200 Indiana teams demonstrated strong robot performance and creativity. FIRST Indiana saw 12% growth in FLL and we added a brand new tournament at the University of Indianapolis. The FLL Indiana State Championship in mid-January was held at the Dallara IndyCar Factory. Students were celebrated for gracious professionalism, technical skill, and teamwork in both Robot Game and judged sessions. A community rookie team, 67742 Thalassophiles, from Carmel, took home the Champions Award and advanced to the World Festival!
“After watching my sons and husband (coach for FLL and FTC) participate in many tournaments, I wondered what I could do to help make a difference in these young incredibly talented individuals!” - Michele Mroczek
Fun
We enjoy and celebrate what we do
“Each season I get to interact with our youth and see how they have improved throughout the season. I get to see their excitement when they do well and at times get to see how they deal with disappointment. I feel like I am making a difference in their lives, encouraging them and pushing them to improve.” -Michele Mroczek
Impact
We apply what we learn to improve our world
Discovery
We explore new skills and ideas
Leadership Award Winner at the World Championship!
Congratulations, Melina!
The 2024–2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season demanded high-level engineering and strategy, as high school teams rose to the challenge of REEFSCAPE and competed on some of the most demanding fields in the program Seven rookie teams took the DIVE into FRC this season. Teams from across the state designed and built robots capable of navigating complex underwater-themed tasks, demonstrating creativity, technical skill, and strategic excellence. Throughout the season, teams competed fiercely at regional and district events in cities including Mishawaka, Washington, Kokomo, and Lafayette. These competitions highlighted the spirit of gracious professionalism and collaboration that defines FIRST. Many teams also engaged in outreach and mentoring efforts, inspiring younger students and strengthening local STEM communities. 38 teams attended the FRC State Championship, held in Greenwood. Earning the prestigious Impact Award was 1741 Red Alert Robotics from Greenwood. FRC teams saw tremendous success at the 2025 World Championship in Houston, TX. Twelve teams showed remarkable skill and alliance strategy, with 4272 Maverick Robotics and their alliance capturing the FIRST World Championship title, a testament to Indiana’s leadership in FIRST Robotics.
“FIN has helped my sons become more confident in their communication and technical skills.” -Michele Mroczek
“FIRST programs are for everyone.” -Michele Mroczek
The 2024–2025 FIRST Tech Challenge season emphasized iteration and growth, with teams designing, testing, and refining robots for the INTO THE DEEP℠ challenge while strengthening technical skills and collaboration. The competition season saw teams traveling to multiple qualifying tournaments, continually improving their robot design, programming, and strategy while exemplifying FIRST’s core values.Beyond competition, many teams actively engaged with their communities, hosting STEM workshops and inspiring younger students, helping to grow Indiana’s vibrant robotics culture. The season culminated with the FTC State Championship, where teams competed fiercely for top honors. Reflecting the strength of Indiana’s robotics programs, three teams advanced to the FIRST World Championship and 12014 FireWires from Osceola brought home the prestigious Inspire Award at the state championship.Additionally, several Indiana teams attended Premiere events across the country, showcasing their skills on a national stage and gaining valuable experience.
Teamwork
We are stronger when we work together
Inclusion
We respect each other and embrace our differences
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Transcript
Annual ReportFY 2024-2025
Year In Review
Who We Are
Get Involved
Sections: Who We Are | Year In Review | Get Involved
What's Inside
Message from Ashley
Mission, Core Values
Indiana Impact
Q&A with Bryce: Impact Story
Our People: Directors, Staff, Volunteers
Who We Are
#MoreThanRobots: Impact Story
Season Rewind: Highlights
Season Champions
By the Numbers
Financials
Year in Review
Leadership Award Winners
Get Involved
The Next Level
Sponsors
Contact Us
A Letter from the Executive Director
The 2024–2025 season was one of momentum, growth, and celebration for FIRST Indiana Robotics.
Read Ashley's Message
Executive Director, Ashley Robbins
The 2024–2025 season was one of momentum, growth, and celebration for FIRST Indiana Robotics. Across the state, students, mentors, volunteers, and partners came together to demonstrate what is possible when curiosity, creativity, and community support intersect. I am deeply proud of what our FIRST community accomplished this year and energized by what lies ahead!One of the most meaningful milestones this season was the investment we received from Lilly Endowment Inc. This grant represents more than financial support—it reflects confidence in our mission to expand access to high-quality STEM learning experiences for Indiana youth. With this partnership, we are strengthening programs, increasing our capacity as an organization, and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth across all FIRST programs. On the competition field, Indiana teams continued to shine on the global stage, with 17 teams traveling to Houston this year for the FIRST Championship. An Indiana FIRST Robotics Competition team captured the World Championship title, a remarkable achievement that reflects years of dedication, teamwork, and technical excellence. This success belongs not only to the team itself, but to the mentors, volunteers, families, and FIN community who support students throughout their FIRST journey. We also saw exceptional growth in our programs this year, particularly FIRST LEGO League participation. Enrollment exceeded projections, signaling increasing demand for hands-on, team-based STEM opportunities at the elementary and middle school levels. This growth reinforces the importance of early exposure to engineering and problem-solving and highlights the enthusiasm of schools and communities eager to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. As we look ahead to the coming year, we do so with optimism and purpose. We will continue to focus on expanding access, supporting teams where the need is greatest, and building strong partnerships across Indiana. Together, we are not only preparing students for future careers—we are empowering them to become confident leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary season and for helping shape the future of STEM in Indiana.
WHO WE ARE
MISSION
NOTES:
The mission of FIRST Indiana Robotics is to inspire young people in Indiana to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
CORE VALUES
Discovery
Innovation
Impact
Inclusion
Teamwork
Fun
The FIRST core values are fundamental to FIRST and unique to its programs. They emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for others' contributions, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of unity.
Our community expresses the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition through the FIRST Core Values.
NOTES:
#MoreThanRobots: A Student's Real World Impact
When his robotics journey began, Edward C. never imagined he would invent something that would change someone's life.
Read the Story
Watch the Full Video
After an accident that damaged her core muscles and affected her ability to balance while walking, Maya thought she was going to need a wheelchair in order to get around. That all changed when a neighbor determined a friend and local high schooler might have the skills to transform her life: Edward, a current junior and the Lead Designer and Team Representative for ICE Robotics in Bloomington, Indiana. This introduction not only altered the course of Maya’s life forever, but it also altered Edward’s. “I knew that if I wanted to truly improve her quality of life, I needed to design something that followed her movement naturally and intuitively,” he says. He began prototyping with everyday objects; things we have in our closet and might not think in depth about. But Edward did. Where we see mundane items, he saw potential to reimagine, reinvent, and innovate. The very first version of the walking aid was a rollerskate attached to a hiking stick. The second? A handle with the same swivel mechanism as a Swiffer broom, and wheels that had been designed with inspiration from their competition robot. When Maya first used the walking stick, it brought her to tears with joy. Through the invention of a local robotics student, she realized her life could not only be different than what she imagined, but better. In a way, Edward realized the same. “This project has reshaped my trajectory,” he says, “I once thought my high school career would peak with robotics, especially since my team reached the world semifinals twice, but this experience shifted my definition of success. I can now see myself building a life around designing mobility aids.” Not long after he had developed the walking stick, Edward caught the attention of Indiana University’s engineering department when Maya met a retired IU professor at a concert. Not only did the school help secure $10,000 in funding, but they will collaborate with Edward to further improve the product. “Partnering with Indiana University is beyond my wildest dreams. Looking ahead, we plan to work with a community organization that lends mobility aids, collaborate with Professor Matt Francisco’s advanced prototyping class to explore the full potential of the design, and partner with Professor Jon Racek from the School of Design to improve handle ergonomics,” he says. Edward has since published six designs for the community with over 500 combined downloads. Maya travels with her new walking stick - and she’s even walked around New York with it. The future is bright for both Edward and Maya as they continue their journeys, forever impacted by FIRST Indiana and each other.
INDIANA IMPACT
Team Count by Program Level
NOTES:Number of teams in each Region: North Central South
266 FLL Teams
Program Level FLL Explore 57 FLL Challenge 209 FTC 77 FRC 70
77 FTC Teams
70 FRC Teams
State of IN filled in with colors - representing # of teams
YEAR IN REVIEW
SEASON REWIND
NOTES:
FIRST LEGO League
Read the FLL Recap
FIRST Tech Challenge
Read the FTC Recap
FIRST Robotics Competition
Read the FRC Recap
NOTES:
Impact Story
FLL Volunteer of the Year
NOTES:
Q&A with Bryce Castle
We sat down with one of our Volunteer of the Year awardees, to discover all the ways in which FIN has impacted him and vice versa.
Read the Q&A
Can you explain the ways in which you’ve volunteered with FIN?"I volunteered at each of the three program levels. At FLL I serve as Judge Advisor 'JA' (both at the competition-level, but also at the statewide level helping train other JAs). These volunteers oversee the judging process at FLL events, helping train judges and provide the support they need at events to make their evaluations. At FTC I typically serve as a Judge. I've also recently started a new team, so I also volunteer as a team coach. At FRC my favorite role is Game Announcing, providing play-by-play commentary during the game matches. I also am deeply involved in our Audio-Visual team, helping broadcast the event in-stadium and for folks watching from home. A really important part of both of these roles is helping to capture the moment for further review, but also sharing it to people who may not be familiar with the program yet. I also mentor FRC 868 for their business and outreach divisions. I also started up an Alumni group at Purdue University in Indianapolis, helping connect students with volunteer opportunities within FIRST. In the last 12 months we have accumulated 800+ volunteer hours at FIRST events in Indiana." What originally motivated you to volunteer? "Volunteering started as a way to give back to a program that had given so much to me. I saw the value of the program in my own life and I wanted to extend that same opportunities to others. After volunteering at multiple events you start to see some familiar faces so it becomes even easier to volunteer when you get to hang out with friends along the way." What’s one moment that made you think, “This is why I do it”? "A few years ago I had a really cool experience with an FLL team. I had accidentally come across them at my local library and it was fun to chat with them about their experience and upcoming advancement to FLL states. When I was at that event I then got to see them in action and talk with some of their parents. They ultimately won the event and got to represent the state of Indiana at the World Championship. Due to their relationship to our community we donated some to help with travel costs and it was exciting to hang out with them at Worlds (as the high school team also later received advancement). Those students are now graduating from FLL into FRC, so it's cool to see them again, now tackling different problems." What’s a moment from an event that you’ll never forget? "The FLL judge timer I created has been an awesome utility for my work as a Judge Advisor. Not only does it keep our judges on time but also reports the status of each room back to me in "mission control". If the judges need me to review their rubric or have a question for me, they can click the "mage" icon on the timer and their room/pod number lights up on my screen. I then quickly head over to their room where they exclaim 'it's like magic summoning me to their room'. I've put lots of development time into this tool but it really helps streamline the judging process. This has a positive impact on our teams as the experience is more uniform across events and gives the judges more time to provide written feedback." What makes the FIRST community unique compared to other volunteer experiences? "I think the FIRST core values (Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, Fun) and ethos of Gracious Professionalism set it apart from other similar programs. The combination of these highlight the importance of collaboration and highlights the program is way more than just competing with robotics. All of the program levels require you to work with professionals to learn more about an industry or get feedback on designs."
SEASON CHAMPIONS
FLL Champion's Award
FTC Inspire Award
FTC Leadership Award Finalists
FRC Impact Award
FRC Leadership Award Finalists
Leadership Award Winner
FRC World Champion
FLL Champion's Award
Team 67742 Thalassophiles
FTC Inspire Award
Team 12014 The Fire Wires
FTC Leadership Award Finalists
Andino S. Hannah H.Evan D.
FRC Impact Award
Team 1741 Red Alert Robotics
FRC Leadership Award Finalists
Melina M. Grant S.
Click the megaphone for a surprise!
Team 4272 Maverick Robotics FRC World Champions!
NOTES:
By the Numbers
$182,000+
NOTES:
Awarded to Teams
680
3,188
Volunteers
Students
47
27
Counties
Events
1,600+
Matches Played
Financials
NOTES:
$616k Raised
$261,176
Team Registation and Events
Scroll to continue!
$221,900
Grants
$71,400
Event Sponsorship
$51,531
Public Contribution
$1,957
Other Income
Financials
NOTES:
$663k Spent
$297,660
Team Support
$236,808
Event Support
$128,838
Admin
Our People
NOTES:
Board of Directors
Staff
Volunteers
Impact Story
FRC Volunteer of the Year
NOTES:
Brad Thompson
Brad has been with FIN for 15 years.
Read the Interview
"The first time I had seen any of this was getting involved with the Purdue student organization when I came up here. I went to school in the middle of nowhere; rural southern Indiana. We had access to none of this stuff. I'm super happy to see that we are starting to expand into more areas and get more access to all of these cool things in the hands of kids all over the place.When I started volunteering with FIN, I was wildly disappointed in my experience in the classroom because of the level of engagement and investment that the kids were putting out. It was completely different from my experience. I saw so much more learning and growth happening through FIRST than in school. The kids are really engaged and invested. It’s because we don't have [ traditional ] teachers. We have mentors who are building relationships with these kids. They’re meeting them where they're at, helping them figure out what they want to do, and helping them get there versus trying to shove them down some sort of preset path that somebody, somewhere else, decided was what kids needed to know to be successful. I think that [ what we do ] makes kids so much more prepared. We've done a lot of really cool stuff over the years that I've been a part of. I think a good example was this last year at our state championship. We took on doing a secondary livestream that had a couple of extra people doing a post-match recap like ESPN. You got the replay that you can draw on the screen which, for the past couple of years, we paid a bunch of money to have somebody else come in and do for us. I got dared by Ashley to figure out how to do it internally this year. It's part of what I think makes what we do really cool - it's not just the kids who get to do all of this. It's also a great opportunity for adults to continue tinkering and sharing their expertise and learning to do new things and building a community of people. I think there's a huge cultural difference that exists here [ when you volunteer with FIN ]. The ethos of FIRST and the Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition and the fact that, as we're looking at how the teams all interact with each other, you don't have that rivalry aspect that you have in most sporting programs. You've got this incredibly collaborative ethos around everything that we do. When you surround yourself with people that build things for fun, you're going to be doing a lot more of that yourself. That pushes you to be better; which then pushes everybody else to be better. I think everything that we're doing is great. People should give us money and time and throw resources at us so we can do more of it."
Dimple Shah
Chair, Competition Committee
Kris VanKleek
Board of Directors
Chair, STEM for Everyone Committee
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Mary Baker
Chair, Education Committee
Cameron Elder
Lisa Porat
Jack Doherty
Chair, Development Commitee
Board Chair
Monica Bravo Hochstein
Sean Dewey & Kevin Spindler
Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee
Vice Chair
Grant Carlile
Chair, Volunteer Committee
Secretary
Karla Tugan
Members at Large
Treasurer
Lisa Porat - Board ChairMonica Bravo Hochstein - Vice ChairGrant Carlile - SecretaryKarla Tugan- TreasurerMady Stricker - Chair, Competition CommitteeDimple Shah - Chair, STEM for Everyone CommitteeKris VanKleek - Chair, Education CommitteeMary Baker - Chair, Development CommitteeCameron Elder- Chair, Marketing & Communication CommitteeJack Doherty - Chair, Volunteer CommitteeSean Dewey Member at LargeKevin Spindler - Member at Large
Mady Stricker Dimple Shah Kris VanKleek Mary Baker Cameron Elder Jack Doherty Sean Dewey Kevin Spindler
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Staff
Ashley Robbins
Executive Director
Chris Osborne
Director of Programs
Dan Leathers
Director of Operations
Lori Langley
Statewide Volunteer Coordinator
Jason Bodnar
FLL & FTC Program Manager
Amanda Ledtke
Business Operations Coordinator
David Ebersol
FIRST Senior Mentor
Jason and LeeAnne Maxwell
FIRST Senior Mentors
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Toyota IndianaArconicAndyMarkArgosy FoundationStratasysDon Wood FoundationCarrierSalesforceVincennes University CARAeImagineAptivAllison TransmissionBorgWarnerNIPSCOAscension St. Vincent KokomoHoward CountyCity of Kokomo Community First BankFirst Farmers BankBucheri, McMarty, MetzMeyer PlasticsPalramHingst Family FoundationMechanical Engineering, Purdue UniversityComputer Science, Purdue UniversityIvy Tech Community College
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Impact Story
FTC Volunteer of the Year
Click a bubble to see what Michele Mroczek has to say about her time with FIN.
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Innovation
We use creativity and persistence to solve problems
The 2024–2025 FIRST LEGO League season centered on curiosity and discovery, as students explored the SUBMERGED challenge by combining robotics, research, and teamwork to better understand real-world problems. Across qualifying tournaments, like those in Kokomo and Elkhart, more than 200 Indiana teams demonstrated strong robot performance and creativity. FIRST Indiana saw 12% growth in FLL and we added a brand new tournament at the University of Indianapolis. The FLL Indiana State Championship in mid-January was held at the Dallara IndyCar Factory. Students were celebrated for gracious professionalism, technical skill, and teamwork in both Robot Game and judged sessions. A community rookie team, 67742 Thalassophiles, from Carmel, took home the Champions Award and advanced to the World Festival!
“After watching my sons and husband (coach for FLL and FTC) participate in many tournaments, I wondered what I could do to help make a difference in these young incredibly talented individuals!” - Michele Mroczek
Fun
We enjoy and celebrate what we do
“Each season I get to interact with our youth and see how they have improved throughout the season. I get to see their excitement when they do well and at times get to see how they deal with disappointment. I feel like I am making a difference in their lives, encouraging them and pushing them to improve.” -Michele Mroczek
Impact
We apply what we learn to improve our world
Discovery
We explore new skills and ideas
Leadership Award Winner at the World Championship!
Congratulations, Melina!
The 2024–2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season demanded high-level engineering and strategy, as high school teams rose to the challenge of REEFSCAPE and competed on some of the most demanding fields in the program Seven rookie teams took the DIVE into FRC this season. Teams from across the state designed and built robots capable of navigating complex underwater-themed tasks, demonstrating creativity, technical skill, and strategic excellence. Throughout the season, teams competed fiercely at regional and district events in cities including Mishawaka, Washington, Kokomo, and Lafayette. These competitions highlighted the spirit of gracious professionalism and collaboration that defines FIRST. Many teams also engaged in outreach and mentoring efforts, inspiring younger students and strengthening local STEM communities. 38 teams attended the FRC State Championship, held in Greenwood. Earning the prestigious Impact Award was 1741 Red Alert Robotics from Greenwood. FRC teams saw tremendous success at the 2025 World Championship in Houston, TX. Twelve teams showed remarkable skill and alliance strategy, with 4272 Maverick Robotics and their alliance capturing the FIRST World Championship title, a testament to Indiana’s leadership in FIRST Robotics.
“FIN has helped my sons become more confident in their communication and technical skills.” -Michele Mroczek
“FIRST programs are for everyone.” -Michele Mroczek
The 2024–2025 FIRST Tech Challenge season emphasized iteration and growth, with teams designing, testing, and refining robots for the INTO THE DEEP℠ challenge while strengthening technical skills and collaboration. The competition season saw teams traveling to multiple qualifying tournaments, continually improving their robot design, programming, and strategy while exemplifying FIRST’s core values.Beyond competition, many teams actively engaged with their communities, hosting STEM workshops and inspiring younger students, helping to grow Indiana’s vibrant robotics culture. The season culminated with the FTC State Championship, where teams competed fiercely for top honors. Reflecting the strength of Indiana’s robotics programs, three teams advanced to the FIRST World Championship and 12014 FireWires from Osceola brought home the prestigious Inspire Award at the state championship.Additionally, several Indiana teams attended Premiere events across the country, showcasing their skills on a national stage and gaining valuable experience.
Teamwork
We are stronger when we work together
Inclusion
We respect each other and embrace our differences