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The Foundation celebrated its anniversary with an event called “The Robot Clash of the Tech Titans,” drawing inspiration from the Foundation’s newest grantee project, IndianaFIRST Robotics.  The event featured two of Indiana’s leading technology entrepreneurs and TechPoint Foundation founding fathers, David B. Becker, Chairman and CEO of First Internet Bank of Indiana, and Mark E. Hill, Managing Partner of Collina Ventures. Hosted at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the two faced off in a fast-paced, entertaining competition using robots made from the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) kit of parts and supported by student pit crews.  

“Ten years ago a group of us technology guys got together to form TechPoint Foundation with the mission to help bridge the digital divide,” said founding Board member David Becker. “As the digital divide decreased, our work shifted to focus on launching successful programs like Net Literacy and New Tech High @ Arsenal Tech. The Foundation continually seeks to make the biggest impact on Indiana’s future workforce and the new name, mission and logo reflect that willingness to innovate.” 

Chairman of the board Marvin Bailey commented, “through the support of design partner KA+A, the Foundation was able to rebrand itself to reflect the spirit and energy of our current board members and the direction of the Foundation, while paying homage to our founding fathers such as Mark and David.”

The Foundation’s mission remains focused on underserved youth and growing the next generation of Indiana technology leaders.  The new mission adds science, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to that charge, reflecting the cross-disciplinary use of technology in today’s STEM industries.  

IndianaFIRST's mission is to inspire young people to be leaders in STEM industries by engaging them in exciting mentor-based robotics programs that build hard skills in science, engineering, and technology as well as valuable 21st century skills such as:  communication, critical-thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Through the development of a statewide organization, IndianaFIRST will make Indiana a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program leader.  

TechPoint Foundation for Youth has announced IndianaFIRST as its next Greenhouse Initiative.  Over the next four years, TPF4Y will work to leverage resources, grow awareness, and build capacity for robotics programming across the state.  By 2015, IndianaFIRST, with the help of TPF4Y, will ensure 50% of Indiana high school students have access to high-quality, robotics programs, representing a 40% increase over today’s programs.  www.indianafirst.org