When Loogootee High School student Lucas Helderman joined the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Academy, he did not expect the experience would also open the door to a career pathway.
“Like everyone else who joined the Academy in the fall of 2025, I was nervous. I had no clue what I was getting myself into as the Academy was a fresh, first-year program,” Lucas said.
That willingness to step outside his comfort zone has paid off. Lucas recently began an UpSkill Work & Learn apprenticeship with Artisan Electronics, where he is gaining hands-on experience while exploring career opportunities in microelectronics and advanced manufacturing.
“This is an opportunity that no other high school student in the area would get to do,” Lucas said. “For me, it is one of the best experiences and decisions I have made for myself and my schedule. I have learned countless things that you don’t get introduced to at school, as well as gained a better understanding of what I would like to do in the future.”
Today, Lucas is working alongside professionals at Artisan Electronics and applying concepts learned through the Academy.
“Lucas is an exceptionally capable learner. In the Academy, he has worked on everything from designing and modeling circuits to developing engineering processes that allowed us to achieve results well beyond what would normally be expected from student-level lithography and etching,” said Joel Karl, coordinator and instructor for the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Academy.
“I have learned a great deal about how to make this program better from students like Lucas, and he has helped set a very high bar for the students who will follow him.”
The apprenticeship has also given Lucas the opportunity to build relationships with professionals and gain firsthand insight into what a career in the field can look like.
One of the most valuable parts of the experience, Lucas said, was building relationships with professionals he worked alongside as an Artisan Electronics apprentice, connections he believes will stay with him for years to come.
“The kind of people you meet there are the type of people you don’t forget,” Lucas said.
The knowledge and skills Lucas developed through the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Academy quickly became evident during his apprenticeship at Artisan Electronics, according to President and CEO Kory Reagan.
“Lucas has demonstrated a tremendous foundation of knowledge that he has gained through his educational experience with the ME Academy and has displayed a great aptitude toward Engineering principles that will guide him through his college career and the workforce,” Reagan said.
“The knowledge and skillset that Lucas was able to bring to Artisan while still in high school is unparalleled and we hope to work with him more in the coming years.”
For Lucas, one of the most valuable aspects of the apprenticeship has been the opportunity to contribute to projects with real-world impact.
“The opportunities I have gotten consist of real work the company does, along with what you could do later in your life,” he said.
Lucas’s journey demonstrates how the Academy and UpSkill create pathways from education to employment.
“Lucas has built a meaningful relationship with Artisan Electronics that began as a Microelectronics Academy student earning his IPC J-STD-001 soldering certification and learning directly from Artisan engineers,” said Renae Christianson, UpSkill Student Success Manager. “Through continued mentorship and industry engagement, that connection has grown into an apprenticeship opportunity, giving Lucas the chance to take what he learned in the classroom into the workplace.”
Partnerships with organizations like Artisan Electronics help ROI connect students to meaningful opportunities that build skills, confidence, and career awareness – all while strengthening the microelectronics talent pipeline across the Indiana Uplands.
Twenty-two middle and high school students from the Indiana Uplands unleashed their curiosity and creativity at an ROI MOMENTUM summer camp, where robotics and microelectronics (ME) took center stage. The free four-day camp was one of four ROI MOMENTUM camps hosted in July at ROI’s Microelectronics Training Hub located in the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. Camps are designed to introduce learners of all ages to robotics, microelectronics, engineering, and problem-solving. Using industry-relevant tools and equipment, campers learn about STEM concepts while exploring ME career opportunities available in the Uplands.
Using Micro:Bits and CuteBots, robotics camp participants designed, coded, and assembled physical robots—gaining firsthand experience with the technologies driving innovation in the Indiana Uplands. Challenges included transporting factory parts, delivering laboratory samples, monitoring crops, and inspecting hazardous environment. These challenges allowed students to apply engineering, coding, and problem-solving skills in creating their own robotic solutions.
The hands-on experience left a lasting impression on students. For many, the opportunity to build and program their own robots was a highlight of the week. Others enjoyed collaborating with teammates to exchange ideas and test solutions, while some took pride in developing robotic concepts they believed could help solve real industry challenges.
To cap off the experience, students traveled to Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering on the last day for a behind-the-scenes look at learning and research spaces, including the Multidisciplinary Engineering and Sciences Hall (MESH), home to IU’s Center for Reliable and Trusted Electronics (CREATE). The campus visit quickly became another favorite part of the program, giving students a glimpse of the educational pathways and technologies shaping the future of microelectronics.
The robotics camp is part of ROI MOMENTUM’s growing portfolio of experiential learning opportunities designed to help students see themselves in future microelectronics and advanced technology careers. Through hands-on activities, students move beyond the classroom to develop skills and confidence while discovering how their interests can translate into meaningful ME career pathways.
Additional camps offered throughout the month introduced younger students to microelectronics through age-appropriate challenges and creative problem-solving activities.
Second and third graders participated in a one-day mission-based camp where teams used robotics and chip-powered tools to complete rescue and supply challenges following a simulated storm disruption. Through the activities, students explored how microelectronics support communication, navigation, sensing, and other real-world applications.
Meanwhile, fourth and fifth graders stepped into the role of junior chipmakers during a two-day microelectronics camp featuring circuits, robotics, and cleanroom-inspired experiences. Students designed, tested, and improved technologies while learning how microchips power critical systems and large-scale missions.
ROI MOMENTUM recently also offered a no-cost IPC J-STD-001 soldering certification course for participants ages 16 and older, including military members and veterans. The training provides hands-on experience and an industry-recognized credential that can help open doors to careers in microelectronics, advanced manufacturing, and related fields.
As microelectronics continues to grow across Indiana and the nation, programs like ROI MOMENTUM’s camps help students and adult learners explore career opportunities in the field while developing valuable technical skills and hands-on experience.
“One of the most rewarding parts of these camps is seeing students discover the advanced training and technologies available through our program and IU Luddy while making them aware of the career opportunities right here in the Indiana Uplands,” said Stefan Welsh, Program Director of ROI MOMENTUM.
“When students design a robot, solve a problem, or explore how microelectronics power everyday life, they’re building confidence, thinking creatively, and beginning to see themselves as future innovators, technicians, engineers, and leaders. These experiences help students understand that exciting careers in microelectronics and advanced technology are within reach, and that many of those opportunities exist not far from home, right here in the Indiana Uplands.”
Shoals High School student Isaac Johnson’s experience at ROI’s free Soldering Camp led him to the realization that this precise, hands-on skill would help him if he wanted to work in engineering – or more specifically: On airplanes.
“This camp changed the way I think about technology and future careers,” Johnson said.
Johnson was one of 10 high school students enrolled in the June certification program held at Artisan Electronics in the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. Sponsored by Regional Opportunity Initiatives, this hands-on training provided students with a head start in high-demand fields such as microelectronics, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and more.
Over the course of five days, students learned to solder components onto a circuit board. When completed, the board lit up to show a ‘heartbeat’ pattern. Applying pressure triggered a light that chased around the edge of the board. At the end of the five days, students earned the industry-recognized IPC J-STD-001 certification, gaining valuable skills for future roles in innovative industries.
The certification program was just as meaningful for some parents as it was for their children. Lindsey Douglas said she enjoyed hearing about the new skills her son learned at camp—and seeing the newfound confidence that came with them.
“As a parent, I am grateful that my child had the opportunity to take part in the high school soldering certification camp,” she said.
“This certification can provide a competitive edge and valuable skills that will serve him well in his educational pathway and future journey.”
Shoals High School student Asher Wright said the camp was a valuable experience for him, and that he especially enjoyed learning PCB soldering—attaching electronic components to a printed circuit board.
“I had fun. This camp changed the way I think about technology by giving me a look at what it takes to make different electronics work,” Wright said.
“Igniting students’ interest in advanced technologies —and how they connect to future careers in the Indiana Uplands—is exactly the kind of outcome this camp was designed to achieve,” said Michi McClaine, ROI’s Vice President of Talent Development.
“Programs like the high school soldering certification camp are powerful examples of what’s possible when students in the Indiana Uplands are given hands-on opportunities to explore,” McClaine continued. “For many, this camp sparked new ideas about future careers—and for some, it ignited a passion for fields right here in our region. That kind of exposure is critical to building both confidence and a skilled talent pipeline.”
The spark continued this month for adults. Military members, veterans, and spouses attended a five-day soldering certification training from July 21 to 25. To learn more, check out ROI’s microelectronics education and workforce initiatives.
School’s out—for real. It’s the very last day of school, and for the first time in months there’s no bedtime, no homework, and nowhere to be tomorrow morning. So stay out, stay up, and come play at WonderLab!
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Free admission 9am – 8pm | Street Party 3pm – 8pm
About Summer Blast Off at WonderLab in Bloomington
Spend the day exploring hands-on science, building, experimenting, and following your curiosity wherever it leads. As the sun goes down, the celebration expands outdoors—WonderLab stays open late. Local organizations, vendors, and food join the fun, inviting families to enjoy every moment of the first night of summer.
Enjoy free admission all day, 9am–8pm, and don’t miss the Street Party from 3pm–8pm. Summer starts here—let’s play late.
Free Admission and Supplies sponsored by Rotary Club of Bloomington
On September 29, regional leaders, educators, students, and industry partners came together at WestGate@Crane Technology Park to celebrate the launch of the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Training Hub. This milestone marks the beginning of a new era of opportunity for students and workers across the region, creating a direct pathway into one of the most critical and fast-growing industries in the world.
The Hub is the first facility of its kind in the Uplands, designed to deliver hands-on, industry-aligned ME training with modern lab spaces and equipment, a clean-room environment, and direct connections to defense and technology partners. It offers an unparalleled learning experience that equips students with both credentials and real-world skills.
The event also featured the first Indiana Uplands ME Academy student signing, where students formally committed to pursuing microelectronics training and career pathways, underscoring the direct impact the ME Training Hub is already having on the region’s talent pipeline.
The Training Hub and ME Academy represent cornerstones of MOMENTUM: Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Workforce Development, ROI’s comprehensive initiative to build a talent pipeline for careers in microelectronics.