FIRST Robotics

Penn Robotics Team 135

Penn High School • FRC

Founded in 1997. 25+ years of building industrial-size robots, competing at the highest level, and inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Mishawaka, Indiana|pennrobotics.org

Penn High School gym set up for the FIN District Mishawaka FIRST Robotics Competition event, March 2026 — competition field with PENN lettering in the bleachers

The Penn High School gym set up for the FIN District Mishawaka Event, March 2026. Competition field ready for 39 teams. Photo by Grant Carlile.

Dan Leathers at the FIRST Indiana Robotics banner during the FIN District Mishawaka Event at Penn High School, March 2026

Dan Leathers — Penn Robotics Team 135 alumnus — at the FIRST Indiana Robotics banner during the FIN District Mishawaka Event. Photo by Grant Carlile.

Glen's connection: Glen was a programmer on Team 135 around 2005. That was a long time ago — the team has grown far beyond anything from that era. This page is about the team today and the 25+ year legacy they've built.

What FIRST Robotics Teaches You

The real curriculum isn't robots — it's everything around the robots

Engineering Under Pressure

Six weeks to design, build, and program an industrial-size robot from scratch. Real deadlines. Real constraints. Real consequences if your code doesn't work on the field.

Programming That Matters

The robot doesn't care about your GPA. It cares about whether your code works. Autonomous routines, sensor integration, motor control — all tested in competition where failure is public and immediate.

Teamwork at Scale

A FIRST team isn't three kids in a garage. It's 20-40 students across mechanical, electrical, programming, and business subteams — plus mentors and sponsors. You learn to ship as a team or you don't ship at all.

Gracious Professionalism

FIRST's core philosophy: compete fiercely, but help your competitors. Lend them parts. Share your code. Win with class. It's the best preparation for professional life that any high school program offers.

About Team 135

Team Facts

✓Founded 1997 — 25+ years of competition experience
✓Penn High School — Penn-Harris-Madison School District, Indiana
✓FRC Program — FIRST Robotics Competition (industrial-size robots)
✓Two-team system — Team 328 (freshmen/sophomores) feeds into Team 135 (juniors/seniors)
✓Student-driven — with coaches and mentors providing guidance

About FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by Dean Kamen in 1989. The mission: inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting programs that build STEM skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is the flagship program. Teams of 20-40+ high school students have six weeks to design, build, program, and test a 120-pound robot. Then they compete. It's the only sport where every participant can turn pro.

“FIRST is more than robots. It's about building people.”

FIN District Mishawaka Event — March 6–8, 2026

Penn High School is hosting the FIN District Mishawaka Event with 39 FIRST Robotics Competition teams from across Indiana. Team 135 and Team 328 are both competing on home turf.

See All 39 Teams →

Support Penn Robotics Team 135

The team runs on community support. Donations fund robot parts, competition entry fees, travel, and the next generation of engineers.

Visit pennrobotics.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FIRST Robotics Competition?

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition is a global robotics program founded by Dean Kamen in 1989. High school teams design, build, and program industrial-size robots in six weeks, then compete in regional and championship events. It's often called 'the hardest fun you'll ever have.'

What is Penn Robotics Team 135?

Team 135 is the FIRST Robotics Competition team at Penn High School in the Penn-Harris-Madison school district in Indiana. Founded in 1997, the team has over 25 years of competition experience. Juniors and seniors compete on Team 135, while freshmen and sophomores prepare on feeder Team 328.

What did Glen Bradford do on the robotics team?

Glen was a programmer on Team 135 around 2005. He worked on autonomous routines and motor control. That was a long time ago — the team has evolved enormously since then.

How can I support Penn Robotics Team 135?

You can support Team 135 through donations at pennrobotics.org. The team relies on sponsors and community support to fund robot parts, competition entry fees, and travel. Major sponsors include IN-MaC, PHMEF, Gene Haas Foundation, Milwaukee Tool, Crowe, and many others.

Does Penn High School host robotics tournaments?

Yes. Penn High School hosts FIRST Robotics tournaments, bringing together teams from across the region to compete. These events showcase student engineering talent and provide hands-on STEM inspiration for the broader community.

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