Purdue Fort Wayne to host 26th FIRST LEGO League semistate on December 13

For the 26th year, Purdue University Fort Wayne will host the FIRST LEGO League Northern Indiana Semistate Tournament on Saturday, December 13, in the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse. There will be 49 teams of students ages 9-14 competing for a chance to advance to the Jan. 10 state finals in Indianapolis.

Including judges, referees, and more than 100 volunteers, the event will include approximately 2,000 participants and guests throughout the day, from the opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. until the awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. 
 
Created through a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group, the FIRST LEGO League has grown to include over 29,000 teams in 80 countries. The program aims to inspire young minds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, while fostering valuable life and career skills. 

The first Indiana state championship was hosted by PFW’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science in December 2000.  
 
The 2025-26 FIRST LEGO League season is themed “Unearthed,” which focuses on archaeology and how we understand the past to shape the future. Teams will explore what’s beneath the surface, from ancient artifacts to modern infrastructure, and must identify and propose solutions to real-world problems. The challenge emphasizes the human element in archaeology, focusing on how people lived in the past.

Teams are guided by volunteer coaches, typically educators, engineers, or tech professionals. More than 60 volunteer professionals from PFW and the Fort Wayne community, as well as 80 ETCS students, will assist in the event.

Spectator admission is free, though some events are limited to judges and participants. The robot games are open to the public and start at 10 a.m. 

For additional information, contact Janet North at jcnorth@pfw.edu or 417-296-2594.