Fishers High School Robotics Team earns finalist honors

Tiger Dynasty wins prestigious SpaceX-sponsored award at Columbus competition

Fishers High School’s Robotics Team, FRC #5010 Tiger Dynasty, earned finalist honors and the prestigious FIRST Engineering Inspiration Award sponsored by SpaceX at last weekend’s competition in Columbus, where they faced off against 38 of Indiana’s top robotics teams.

After two intense days of competition, the 57-student team battled its way into the playoffs and earned the honor of serving as alliance captain for one of the finalist alliances. While they fell just short in the final match, their accomplishments extended far beyond the field.

The FIRST Engineering Inspiration Award recognizes teams that demonstrate exceptional success in advancing respect for and appreciation of engineering, with a strong emphasis on measurable impact and recent efforts. The award also highlights the team’s creativity and effectiveness in inspiring and recruiting students into engineering and other STEM fields.

 

Coming out of this competition, Tiger Dynasty is ranked No. 3 in the state of Indiana and advances to the Indiana State Championship on April 18 and 19. The team may then be invited to compete in the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas, from April 29 to May 2.

The team’s success builds on six intense weeks of design, engineering, programming, and teamwork that produced their 2026 competition robot, “Lasagna,” which was unveiled during a public reveal event at Fishers High School earlier this season. Built in just six weeks, “Lasagna” represents thousands of combined hours of student work, with team members balancing rigorous academic schedules and demanding build sessions.

“This program exemplifies how our students apply real-world STEM skills, collaboration and creativity in meaningful ways,” said Tiffany Pascoe, President of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of School Trustees. “The dedication demonstrated by these students reflects the strength of our academic opportunities and the commitment of our staff and community partners.”

The Tiger Dynasty program is led by coaches Amelia (Amy) Stone and Kyle Heaton, and supported by the following dedicated group of volunteer mentors:

• Alex Ryker
• Chaminda Jayamanne
• Curt Rozeboom
• Gary Ballard
• Jeremy Stone
• Kaleb Cole
• Ryan Dognaux
• Steve Chrisman
• Ben Rouse

Additionally, the team is supported by the following community sponsors who help guide students through the engineering, programming, and competition process:

• The Thrifty Bot
• American Legion Post 470
• Gene Haas Foundation
• Marian Inc.
• IN-MaC
• Caterpillar
• Gaylor Electric

Participation in the robotics program continues to open doors for students pursuing higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Each year, student involvement has led to scholarship opportunities and full-ride offers for graduating seniors, further reinforcing the long-term value of the program.

Multiple members of the team have flourished in their first year in the program, with the support and engagement of peers and mentors a big reason why. Fishers High School’s Robotics Team continues to demonstrate Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ commitment to preparing students for success through innovation, collaboration, and experiential learning, while fostering an environment where all students feel they belong.

Applications are now open for non-resident transfer students to enroll for the 2026-27 academic year. For more information, please visit hseschools.org.

For more information about FRC #5010 Tiger Dynasty, visit tigerdynasty.org or follow @FRC5010 on social media.