etcs outreach programs

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.

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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 August–September 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 $85, or $75 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.

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

General Motors

City of Fort Wayne City Utilities

QSC, LLC

Steel Dynamics

Middle and High School Applications have closed for the year.

FAQ

Middle school teams become visionaries as they imagine the perfect futuristic city. They collaborate with peers using SimCity as a tool for city planning and then design, construct, and display a city model displaying their vision. This is a cross-disciplinary STEM project that emphasizes project management and the role of engineers.

For the competition, teams create a computer-designed city and submit their goals and accomplishments associated with the design. They submit an essay on the annual theme, build a city-scale model with a moving part out of recycled materials, and present their designs to judges. Many teams win awards, and the regional winners advance to Washington, DC, for the Future City National Finals.

Team Registration Information
Throughout the fall, participants work in teams of at least three students, an educator, and volunteer mentor to bring their vision of their future city to life. They will imagine what it’s like like to walk down the main street of a city 100 years in the future. What do they see, hear, smell, and feel? From this starting point, they will design a futuristic city with innovative solutions to some of today’s most pressing sustainability issues. This year’s challenge asks students to address climate change in their city. As the middle school students create their cities, they will use the engineering design process and project management steps to take on a large-scale project, apply their math and science knowledge to a real-world problem, and strengthen their teamwork and problem-solving skills.

2022-2023 Theme - The Climate Change Challenge
This year's challenge asks students to address climate change in their city. 

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.

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 attributes of their city and their solution to the annual challenge (a maximum of 1,500 words).
• City Model (60 points): Teams build a physical model of their city (in one piece or multiple segments) using recycled materials and includes one moving part.
• City Presentation (50 points): Teams have seven minutes to present their city’s futuristic innovations and bring it life.
• City Q&A (42 points): Teams answer questions for a panel of STEM professionals.
• Project Plan (10 points): Teams develop and use a project plan to help them stay organized and focused.

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

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.

The 2023-2024 First lego league theme is.......

MASTERPIECE

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 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.

MORE INFO

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!

EWeek Model bridge building contest

February 24, 2024 

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: $60
Second Place: $30
Third Place: $15

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. 

Registration will open February 1, 2024.

Honor Statement

Media Waiver 

2024 Contest Rules

FAQ