Join Team 7657 Thunderbots: Build, Innovate, and Lead Your Future!

Experience the excitement of robotics, teamwork, and real-world engineering at New Tech Institute.

What is FIRST Robotics Competition?

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) challenges high school students to design, build, and program industrial-size robots under real-world constraints. It’s as close to professional engineering as a student can get.

“Robotics isn’t just about building robots, it’s about making friends along the way”

— Sam Brown, Senior @ New Tech Institute

Why Join the Thunderbots?

Hands-On Learning

Design, build, and program robots while learning CAD, coding, and electrical skills.
Real-World Values

Grow through passion, adaptability, reliability, and teamwork. Compete with kindness and respect.
Student Leadership

Take on roles like CEO, CTO, Lead Programmer, Safety Captain, or join strategy committees.
Competitions & Impact

Travel to events, represent NTI, and give back through community outreach.

Deep Dive

Every January, FIRST releases a brand-new game challenge. From that moment, Team 7657 has just a few weeks to design, build, and program a competition-ready robot weighing up to 125 pounds.
- Brainstorm & Design: Students sketch strategies and create models in CAD software.
- Mechanical Build: Cut, drill, and assemble the robot with real tools.
- Electrical Systems: Wire motors, sensors, and control units.
- Programming & Automation: Use Java and WPILib for driving, autonomous routines, and vision processing.
- Testing & Iteration: Debug, adapt, and improve until it’s competition ready.
Robotics isn’t only about the machine—every student can contribute.
• Marketing & PR: Build the team’s brand, design graphics, and manage social media.
• Finance & Fundraising: Work with sponsors and help sustain the team.
• Media & Storytelling: Photograph competitions, edit videos, and capture the team’s journey.
• Scouting & Strategy: Collect data on other teams to plan winning match strategies.
• Administration & IT: Organize logistics, documents, and technical systems.
These roles are essential to making the Thunderbots a complete, competition-ready team.
Live by passion, adaptability, reliability, teamwork.
Competition season is where the work pays off.
• High-Energy Events: Hundreds of students, music, lights, and robots in action.
• District Events: In 2025, the Thunderbots will competed at Lafayette and Washington, Indiana.
• Championship Goals: Teams advance to the Indiana State Championship and potentially the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX..
• Travel Together: Team funds cover hotels, transportation, and meals, giving students a professional travel-team experience.
The excitement is unmatched—cheering in the stands, driving the robot, and working together under pressure.
The Thunderbots believe robotics is about impact beyond the field.
• Mentorship: Guide younger students in FIRST LEGO League.
• Local Events: Participate in STEM Fest, WNIN Kids Fest, EV for EVV, and Thunderbolts hockey STEM nights.
• Public Demonstrations: Show off the robot at schools and community centers.
• Spreading STEM: Inspire younger kids and parents to see technology as exciting and accessible.
These activities strengthen both our community and our team culture.
Earn scholarships, network with employers, and build your career path.