An award is presented to an Indiana event partner who has hosted a VEX IQ or VRC event during the robotics season.
For 2026, a Jackson County resident was bestowed the Event Partner of the Year Award.
During the Indiana Robotics State Championship on March 14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Dallas Goecker of Seymour was announced as the recipient of the award.
As he has for five years, Goecker was helping host the state tournament. Part of his role this year was entering all of the award winners for the awards presentation. While doing that, he saw his name.
“There are a lot of good teams here in Jackson County, and they are very supportive of helping me put on these tournaments and hosting them, and I think they do appreciate that there are local events for them to go to,” he said. “You’ll always be appreciative of being appreciated. That definitely feels nice.”
According to TechPoint Youth, the Event Parter of the Year must show true leadership, dedication, patience and fairness and have a passion for helping and supporting all teams. The person also continuously exceeds expectations to create a safe, enjoyable and educational experience for all teams during their event.
The award recipient can be nominated by a coach, student, principal, parent or colleague. Jackson County robotics coaches were given an opportunity to submit nominations.
Goecker has been involved with the robotics program in Jackson County since its inception. His first year of coaching at Trinity Lutheran High School in Seymour was the 2009-10 school year. That year, two Trinity teams qualified for the world tournament in Dallas, Texas. The first VEX Robotics World Championship was held two years earlier.
At a young age, Goecker developed a passion for robotics and competed in events. At the time of becoming a coach, he was working for Willow Garage of Menlo Park, California, which develops hardware and open source software for personal robotics applications.
Goecker also coached robotics at Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour for 10 years and has hosted events for more than 10 years. In 2018, he was named VEX IQ elementary school Mentor of the Year.
“We’ve been hosting IQ events since Day 1 at Immanuel, but before that, hosting high school VRC events,” he said.
Goecker said Indiana has the largest state championship in the country.
“And the best by far,” he said.
This year, more than 300 robotics teams competed in the state championship, which was hosted by TechPoint Youth for the last time before Indiana moves to a regional championship model for the 2026-27 season.
“They do an incredible job of organizing this event,” Goecker said. “You can imagine to host something at Lucas Oil Stadium takes an incredible amount of attention to detail, and we have a good crew. Then they recruit a good 20 people basically to help them host and run the event.”
Jackson County was represented by four teams at this year’s state tournament and consistently has had teams compete there over the years.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for the kids,” Goecker said. “How often do you get to do something like that? You go to Lucas Oil Stadium and be onstage in Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Goecker said for 2025-26, Jackson County was No. 1 in the state in terms of most VEX Robotics teams per capita with 1.672 teams per 1,000. Jackson County is No. 6 with 78 teams.
Jackson County was represented by four teams at the 2026 Indiana Robotics State Championship on March 14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
In the VEX IQ elementary school competition, Z Engineers Team 1597Z from Jackson County Homeschool Robotics made it to the top 32 and placed 25th out of 124 teams. Team members are third grader Raychael Timberlake, fifth grader James Timberlake and sixth graders Micah McIntyre and Eli Nolan. They are coached by Diana Nolan and Amy Timberlake.
Raychael, James and Micah were on a team that went to state for the first time last year, and this was Eli’s first time going to state. They qualified based on winning the Teamwork Champion Award at a tournament Jan. 17 at Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour.
The other county team in the elementary competition was RoboSaints Team 47220C from Lutheran Central School in Brownstown. They placed 92nd. Team members are sixth graders Kyler Briner, Vivian Henry, Theodore McKinley and Bryce Tormoehlen. They are coached by Andrea McKinley.
This was their first time going to state. They qualified based on winning the Robot Skills Award at the Jackson County tournament Feb. 14 at Immanuel.
The only county team in the VEX IQ middle school competition was Team 520D from Immanuel, which placed 51st out of 100 teams. Team members are sixth grader Bennett Easton, seventh graders Pierson Murphy, Elizabeth Scheiderer and Gabrian Wilkins and eighth grader Elijah Kamman. They are coached by Nick Moore.
This was Gabrian’s third time going to state, Elizabeth’s second and Bennett, Pierson and Elijah’s first. They qualified after winning the Robot Skills Award at the Jackson County tournament.
Finally, participating in the VEX V5 high school competition was Dynasty Team 31330D from Seymour High School. They placed 34th out of 64 teams. Team members are sophomore Kaeden Leonard and juniors Noah Chambers, Nikita Cox, Kellan Stanfield and Micah Yee. They are coached by Amy Jo Miller Kuzel.
This was Micah’s fourth time going to state, Noah’s third, Kaeden’s second and Nikita and Kellan’s first. They qualified after winning the Excellence Award at the Railroad Rumble tournament Feb. 14 hosted by SHS. That award is given to the top overall team and is the highest honor given out in VEX Robotics Competition.
More than 300 robotics teams competed in the state championship, which was hosted by TechPoint Youth for the last time before Indiana moves to a regional championship model for the 2026-27 season.
Since the launch of the State Robotics Initiative, Indiana has become a leader in competitive youth robotics, boasting more VEX IQ robot teams than any other state in the country. The initiative is an expansion of the successful Indianapolis workforce initiative started in 2012 by former Mayor Greg Ballard. In 2016, TechPoint opened a grant for Indiana elementary schools to remove the cost barrier associated with launching robotics programs.
Prior to the State Robotics Initiative, Indiana had 73 elementary, 156 middle school and 170 high school VEX teams. Now, the state has 952 elementary, 491 middle school and 237 high school VEX teams.
TechPoint Youth is the leader in STEM education efforts for Indiana and has been inspiring students through STEM programming since 2001. The organization believes youth should be equipped to address Indiana’s growing demand for a skilled workforce.
That’s the time it took to transform an empty floor space at AISIN Drivetrain Inc. in Crothersville to set up equipment and produce six-speed automatic transmissions for its newest customer, Japanese automotive company Mazda.
“That’s almost unheard of — the timeframe to install, assemble and start production,” ADI President Joe Neuman said during a first shipment ceremony March 10 celebrating the new Mazda transmission business.
“However, with ADI and Mazda members, you worked tirelessly together to achieve this feat,” he said. “The production line looks absolutely gorgeous.”
Employees of both companies attended the ceremony. Neuman said the Mazda members in North America and Japan provided guidance, expertise and support on the assembly line and expedited the supply chain verification process.
“You guys have been outstanding, and I hope your time here in the U.S., you’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
Neuman said AISIN officials provided unwavering support to ensure the company’s standards were met and ADI systems were the top priority.
“No words could express my sincere appreciation, dedication, work ethic and just the tenacity that everyone demonstrated to complete this project in a way not many other teams could achieve,” he said.
“I always say pressure is a privilege,” he said. “Winners want pressure and excel when high expectations are placed on them. Without a doubt, you guys excelled. You were definitely winners.”
Two years ago, ADI ended a 12-year relationship with Stellantis for heavy-duty transmissions. AISIN and Mazda then began working on a joint venture for another localization project for a six-speed transmission for vehicle production in North America.
“With ADI experience and skill, we were able to localize this transmission. Our skill was highlighted in that joint venture at that point,” Neuman said.
From being awarded the business to the full start of production, teams worked quickly to install the equipment.
Shinji Kochi, vice president of sales for AISIN World Corp. of America, said by August 2025, equipment was installed.
“It normally would be considered extremely challenging, if not impossible,” he said.
But with “remarkable speed and commitment,” he said members from both companies made it happen.
“For us at AISIN, it is especially encouraging to see their interest not only in the equipment and process but also in the people behind this achievement, teamwork behind this achievement,” Kochi said. “Projects like this remind us strong partnerships are built not only by technology, but also by people.”
Alan Morrison, business unit manager for ADI, said during the process, members of both companies came to the Crothersville facility to look at the empty space.
In July 2024, four ADI members traveled to a plant in Japan to view the existing process and equipment to determine what modifications would be needed to be successful back home.
“The original process was very man dependent and designed to be operated by highly experienced operators,” Morrison said.
That required some changes to be made to meet safety recommendations, and the machinery was professionally modified.
Morrison described the quick transition from the empty floor space to the first transmission build as “amazing, absolutely amazing.”
In January of this year, ADI conducted the first preproduction build staffed with all ADI members.
“To think just eight months after we started with nothing but an empty floor, we’re getting ready to ship,” Morrison said. “This project isn’t just about speed. It’s about innovation, improvement and excellence. The best personnel in Mazda and AISIN worked as a team to create a process that employs our collective knowledge.”
Success like this requires a massive endeavor by the people, he said.
“We have crafted a world-class process, and coupled with proven design six-speed automatic transmissions, now, ADI must have the craftsmanship,” he said. “This is all about people.”
Neuman said last week, ADI hosted Mazda executives, including Taketo Hironaka, managing executive officer of Mazda Motor Corp. who built and launched the production line.
“Hironaka stated this production line was his ‘baby boy,’” Neuman said. “He was overwhelmed and impressed when he saw the line and stated how much his ‘baby boy’ has grown up and matured and ‘Please take care of my baby boy.’ I assured him that ADI would do just that.’”
Kochi said the first shipment ceremony marks the realization of a symbolic partnership.
“We believe that AISIN can continue to compete as a strong partner for Mazda,” he said. “At the same time, I hope this project becomes an important foundation for even stronger collaboration and for new opportunities between Mazda and AISIN in the future.”
Neuman said officials from AISIN and Mazda agreed “This is just the beginning.”
“This was a large global localization project, and its success is a starting point for future partnerships,” Neuman said. “Today marks the beginning of an AISIN/Mazda partnership not only in North America but globally. Congratulations on a job well done.”
ADI was founded Oct. 1, 1996, and was the first company established in the Crothersville Industrial Park. ADI manufactures a wide range of products for customers in the automotive and heavy equipment industries, including Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Stellantis and now, Mazda. The products include industrial and commercial transmissions, electric rear axles, electric water pumps and power steering columns.
Congratulations to Brownstown Central High School senior Kassidy Wischmeier, winner of the 2026 Maverick Challenge Jackson County.
She was among 11 finalists in the high school business plan competition giving oral presentations to a panel of four judges March 4 at the Community Foundation of Jackson County in Seymour.
Her business plan is for GreenPath Learning, which offers greenhouses, supplies and curriculum for schools.
For winning the competition, Wischmeier will receive $2,500. Sponsors of the program are JCIDC Workforce Partnership, Brownstown Ewing Main Street, Seymour Main Street and the Jackson County Chamber. JCBank is the funding partner.
Overall, $7,000 was up for grabs for the finalists. Coming in second place and winning $1,500 is Seymour High School’s Brooklyn Howell with her business plan for Bridge Within. Placing third and receiving a total of $750 are Brownstown Central High School’s Kaylee Steward, Kayla Bowman and Eulah Beavers for BetterChews.
There was a tie for fourth place between Seymour High School’s Lanie Booher with Glam On the Go and Brownstown Central High School’s Haleigh Drake with Subber Bowl. Both will receive $425.
There also was a tie for fifth place. Medora High School’s Bobby Baughman and Angel Chan-Cux with Sensus by BBB and Seymour High School’s Lydia Holle and Juana Nicolas with Fun Delivery each will receive $300 total.
Brownstown Central High School’s Veronica Law with Artist’s Alley earned honorable mention and $200, while Crothersville High School’s Isaac Spencer and Cooper Brown with S & R Drones, Seymour High School’s Isrrael Luna and Hayato Hattori with Lunar Lanes and Brownstown Central High School’s Reece Osborne and Gabriel Davers with SportiBotics each will receive participation awards valued at $200 total.
Initially, there were 56 teams from Brownstown Central, Crothersville, Medora and Seymour high schools in the competition. Twenty-two of them turned in a business plan and a video, and local business volunteers judged those and narrowed them down to the finalists.
Wischmeier will compete in the local SPARK Tank competition in the fall with the chance to win up to $10,000.
Students also could enter the STARTed Up Foundation’s Innovate Within, which has a regional competition in the spring and finals in June, where up to $25,000 can be won to grow their businesses.
Maverick Challenge began in 2008 in Bartholomew County, and Jackson County joined the program in 2011. Three years ago, Bartholomew County ended the program, but Jackson County leaders kept it going in the county with a partnership between the four sponsors and the funding partner.
In September 2025, Cummins Seymour Engine Plant announced the launch of Cummins Power Generation’s latest product: A 17-liter engine platform generator set that produces up to 1 megawatt of power.
Today, it was announced the generator sets from the Centum S17 Series have been nominated for Product of the Year in the Power category by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine.
The S17 expands on the success of the acclaimed Centum Series generator sets, which were developed to produce a large power output within a compact footprint to meet the growing demands of power in urban environments where compact design and high performance are critical.
The generator set is assembled at Cummins’ Fridley, Minnesota, facility, and the engine is made at the Seymour Engine Plant, so the S17 is an American-made product.
The S17 went through more than 25,000 hours of testing and validation and is engineered to support a wide range of critical market segments, such as commercial properties, water and wastewater treatment plants and industrial, health care, government and data storage facilities.
The Power Generation product line includes generator sets, automatic transfer switches, systems and switchgear, remote monitoring and new power technologies, like the newly launched battery energy storage system.
The Engine Business team, corporate research and technology organization, Components Business and Holset turbocharger organization also were involved in the project.
Founded in 1919, Cummins is headquartered in Columbus and operates in 190 countries and territories around the globe with nearly 70,000 employees. The Seymour Engine Plant opened in 1976.
Seymour High School has 54 career pathway opportunities for students as they figure out what they want to do in their lives.
Thirty-four pathways are offered on campus, and SHS partners with C4 Columbus Area Career Connection for the rest of them.
On Feb. 25, 11 Cummins Seymour Engine Plant officials had an opportunity to learn about some of these pathways.
First, they visited the Seymour Ag-Science and Research Farm in the Freeman Field Industrial Park. That facility opened in March 2019 and has expanded since then to offer precision machining, welding technology and agriculture classes.
Second, they visited SHS to tour the Project Lead the Way lab and Owl Manufacturing. PLTW provides hands-on science, technology, engineering and math experiences, while Owl Manufacturing is a student-run enterprise.
The tours were arranged through a partnership between JCIDC and Cummins with Feb. 22 to 28 being National Engineers Week, which celebrates the engineering profession, highlights engineers’ contributions to society and inspires the next generation of innovators through STEM initiatives.
It provided an opportunity for the Cummins officials to step outside of their facility and see what’s available at a local school, in particular the Career and Technical Education courses.
Seymour Community School Corp. has made a concerted effort to grow its footprint in the CTE education space.
Joy Stuckwisch, director of secondary programs for SCSC, said it’s important for students to gain skills so they discover their passion.
“Some students don’t work as well in a classroom, but they can do our machining and welding or the agriculture piece, so we’re really proud to help them establish something that they have a passion for,” she said.
All of the classes offered at the ag building are dual credit through Ivy Tech Community College, meaning students earn college credits by taking them, Stuckwisch said.
Brownstown Central High School students also travel to the ag building for welding and machining classes.
SHS Principal Steve Bush said as students explore and navigate their high school experience, they may find they don’t like a career pathway, and that’s OK.
“Then they learn something important, so they can figure out what they want to do next,” he said.
SCSC officials thanked Cummins for visiting their facilities and offered a welcome any time.
“We love to show off our building, our facility and our students,” Stuckwisch said.
Cummins has expressed interest in visiting other local schools to learn what they offer, too.
