etcs outreach programs

The Sci-TEC Academy is a career and leadership network for students in grades 6–12. Any youth who has participated in a Purdue Fort Wayne STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program or has an interest in ETCS (engineering, technology, and computer science) careers is encouraged to apply during the June 1 – August 30 application period.

The Sci-TEC Academy endeavors to:

• provide an opportunity for precollege youth to engage in STEM-related academy activities presented by faculty during the school year;
• offer a peer network to meet precollege students from a variety of schools with similar interests; and
• share valuable information about ETCS degrees, career paths, and northeast Indiana opportunities for scholarships, internships, and cooperative education while meeting Purdue Fort Wayne students, faculty, and Sci-TEC community industry partners.

Application Procedure

• Complete application and include a student profile listing past STEM activities. Write a short paragraph describing your interest and why you would like to be selected.
• Provide one name on application of an adult other than a parent or family member (e.g., teacher, guidance counselor, youth mentor, STEM competition coach) who could recommend you.

• There is no cost to apply. If selected, a participation fee of $95, or $85 for past members, is required upon your confirmation. If you are in need of assistance for a financial scholarship, there is a prompt on the application for further information.

   

The Sci-TEC Academy membership application process is currently closed. If you'd still like to get involved, feel free to contact Autumn Wise at [email protected].

We would like to thank our Sci-TEC Academy Community Industrial Partners.

General Motors

don wood foundation

City of Fort Wayne City Utilities

first iNSPIRES pROGRAMS

FIRST LEGO League Discover
For children ages 4-6, this playful introductory STEM program ignites their natural curiosity and builds their habits of learning with hands-on activities in the classroom and at home using LEGO® DUPLO® bricks.

FIRST LEGO League Explore
In Explore, teams of students ages 6–10 focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO Education robot.

FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Friendly competition is at the heart of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, as teams of students ages 9–16 engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering—building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of the competition, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem.

Robotic teams of participants age 9 to 16 explore a yearly theme and the creative construction of a robot during this project that lasts 8 to 10 weeks. They use LEGO Mindstorms to construct their robot and then test their skills on achieving a variety of robot “missions” using a special competition “field” made of LEGO models.

The teams engage in developing a project idea that involves research, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. They also practice the FIRST LEGO League core values. Teams are invited to attend qualifying tournaments in November and may advance to one of the two Indiana championship tournaments as a result of their competing in an exciting sports-like tournament.

FIRST Tech Challenge
FIRST® Tech Challenge students, ages 12-18, work together with their mentors to design and build robots to compete in a dynamic and exciting challenge released every September. Teams program classroom-scale robots to follow autonomous commands before student drivers take control in two-on-two matches. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation, and build confidence to help them succeed.

FIRST Robotics Competition
Each January brings a new challenge for FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. Starting with a Kit of Parts, they design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance. Guided by mentors and sponsors, students ages 14-18, learn engineering and problem-solving skills as they compete for awards, create a team identity, raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance appreciation for STEM in their community.

For more information about all FIRST Inspires Programs, please click the link below.

first Inspires LEGO PROGRAMS

The 2024-2025 First lego league theme is ...

SUBMERGED

Purdue University Fort Wayne will be hosting the 

 FIRST LEGO League Northern Indiana Semi-State Tournament. 

Please click on the link below for more information.

 pfw northern INDIANA SEMI-STATE TOURNAMENT

What Is Future City? 

Future City is a project-based learning program where students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future. Keeping the engineering design process and project management front and center, students work in teams to ask and answer an authentic, real-world question: How can we make the world a better place? 

Students participate in the Future City Competition in teams (of at least three students), guided by an educator and a volunteer STEM mentor. Teams spend approximately four months creating cities that could exist at least 100 years in the future. Each city must incorporate a solution to an annual design challenge. This year, teams will design a city completely powered by electricity generated from sources that keep your citizens and the environment healthy and safe. In January, teams present their projects to judges at Regional Competitions throughout the participating International regions for 2023–2024. Teams who earn the top spot at their Regionals will participate in the 2024 Finals.

Overview
Every day we plug in and power up, thanks to electricity. Electricity is essential for heating, cooling, and ventilation. With each day comes new demands on our electrical grid: more electric cars on the road, more buildings switching to electric heat pumps, and more industries electrifying manufacturing processes formerly powered by combustion engines running on fossil fuels. 

Today most electricity is generated by large power plants, with over 60% in 2022 from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and China. These emissions cause global warming, which in turn causes climate change. As the world works to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, we need to change how we generate electric power. 

There is a growing consensus that future cities could be powered completely by electricity. What clean, green, and renewable energy sources could power the electrical grid? How would these sources generate enough electricity for industry, transportation, agriculture, residential, and commercial uses? 

Today’s engineers, scientists, architects, and city leaders are working together to make our cities run on electricity created from energy with minimal environmental impact. Can you imagine what future cities will be like when engineers find and implement solutions to the challenge of electrifying our cities?

2024-2025 Theme - Above the Current
This year's challenge asks students to design a floating city and provide innovative examples of how your floating city works and keeps its citizens healthy and safe. 

Eligibility
Future City is open to kids in grades 6, 7, and 8 who are from the same school; homeschooled; or are members of a nationally, regionally, or state-recognized youth-focused organization, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, or 4-H. Not sure if your organization qualifies? [email protected] 

Competition Deliverables 
The Future City Competition consists of five deliverables. These document the team’s progress through the engineering design process and showcase the team’s city of the future. Teams are judged and scored on all deliverables (due dates vary by region and are available after you register on your Future City Educator Dashboard):

• City Essay (50 points): Teams describe the unique features of their city and their solution to this year’s challenge: Design a city completely powered by electricity generated from sources that keep your citizens and the environment healthy and safe.
• City Model (65 points): Teams build a physical model of their city (in one piece or multiple segments) using recycled materials. The model showcases the team’s city of the future, their solution to this year’s challenge, and has at least one moving part. 
• City Presentation and Q&A (72 points): Three student team members give a 7-minute presentation about their future city and their solution to the challenge. Teams have an 8-minute question and answer period, conducted with a panel of judges from the engineering, city, and technical communities.
• Project Plan (10 points): Teams complete a Project Plan to help them plan and organize their work. They use it throughout the project.

The points per deliverable may change based on that year’s rubric.

Can I Still Do Future City Without Competing? 

Yes! Anyone is welcome to register (for free!) and access Future City’s full library of resources. Many regions encourage teams to participate in the competition even without all the deliverables completed—this is known as being a “partial competitor.” Check with your Regional Coordinator to see if the partial competitor option is offered in your region.

To register please choose one of the following options

1. Resources Only
   Get free access to Future City’s full suite of resources.
2. Partial Competition
   Great for first time teams, see what Future City is all about while only completing one or two deliverables. Eligible for some special awards in certain regions.
3. Full Competition
   Complete all five deliverables and fully compete in regionals. Eligible for special awards and prizes. Regional winners compete in the Finals in Washington, DC. Transportation, hotel and some meals are covered for the five official team members. 

PFW BRIDGE BUILDING WORKSHOP JANUARY 25, 2025

Middle and High school students are invited to join us as local Engineering Professionals give instructions, tips and insight to learn how to design and build bridges using Popsicle sticks and wood glue. This is a free event but you must register to attend. 

TO REGISTER FOR THE BRIDGE BUILDING WORKSHOP JANUARY 25, 2025

EWeek Model bridge building contest February 15 2025 

Middle and High school students design and build bridges using Popsicle sticks and wood glue. The bridges are then tested to see who has the strongest bridge based on design, load and deflection. Students may compete as an individual bridge or as a team bridge of no more than 3 students.

Awards in the Middle School Level

First Place: $120
Second Place: $80
Third Place: $60

Awards in the High School Level
First Place: $250
Second Place: $200
Third Place: $100

Additional awards will be given based balance of design, cleanness of glue, cleanness of connection and creative/innovative structure form. 

TO REGISTER FOR THE EWEEK BRIDGE BUILDING CONTEST

Honor Statement

2025 Contest Rules

FAQ

If you have any additional questions, please email Autumn Wise at [email protected].

ETCS Summer Explorations exposes students to a variety of different career and interest areas. There are four different exploration areas: computer science, math and science, engineering, and physics.

Learn More