Woodie Flower's Award Examples

[Andrew Blair]

I'm rather embarrassed to say that our team, to my knowledge, has never submitted a Woodie Flowers award. Our senior mentor, Mr. Ken Morrison, started our entire robotics program (i.e.: 7 Lego teams (mentors three of them), and a FIRST team) from scratch, without a large corporate sponsor. I am so inspired by him everyday that when I realized we got too caught up in build to submit him, again, I resolved to write it immediately.

Well, I got caught up again, and with less than a week before build, I'm writing it. I have plenty of material, but my efforts to find an example submission have been rather fruitless. I want to make sure I have an appropriate submission, but I would love a model to work from. Would anyone be willing to share a submission, from any past years?

Very much obliged, in advance.

[Mike]

Information on Team 237's WFA nomination and award is at
http://www.team237.com/wfa.htm

[Swan217]

Well, I got caught up again, and with less than a week before build, I'm writing it. I have plenty of material, but my efforts to find an example submission have been rather fruitless. I want to make sure I have an appropriate submission, but I would love a model to work from. Would anyone be willing to share a submission, from any past years?

Very much obliged, in advance.

Most of 2004's WFA submissions are in this thread, including Mr. Paul Copioli's, 2005 National WFA winner.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=260660#post260660

[Rich Kressly]

and here's the 2005 version...
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36669

[Andy Baker]

Andrew (and other students with similar aspirations),

Kudos to you for starting your Woodie Flowers Award nomination now. Too often, students put it off until the last week of the build season and they run out of energy.

Your idea of looking at past Woodie Flowers Finalist Award winning essays is a good one, but it is only a start. Here are some of my suggestions on this subject:

1. How does your candidate effectively communicate technical ideas to the team? What does he/she do to get their ideas across to the students and fellow mentors?
2. What impact does this mentor have on your team?
3. What impact does this mentor have on other FIRST teams, or FIRST in general?
4. Maybe this mentor has made a huge impact year after year after year, but only a few people know about it. Do your homework and succinctly describe their work for not only this FIRST season.

Students must be the people who are coordinating and writing the Woodie Flowers Award entries. www.firstawards.org (http://www.firstawards.org/) is the place where students will enter the essays for the awards.

Although students are leading this effort, be sure to get other mentors to give input on this candidate's essay. They may know about them than the students do, as many of these mentors work side by side for numerous years. Get a teacher or a fellow writer to proofread your essay. Getting adult assistance is OK, but this project needs to be led by the students.

Also... keep in mind that simply nominating your teacher, engineer, or other adult mentor for this award is an award within itself. The fact that you students are making an effort to create recognition to your nominated mentor is cherished by that person, whether they win or not.

Andy Baker
2003 Woodie Flowers Award Winner

ps... thanks again, DJ Fluck

[Andy Baker]

I would like to make another point about the Woodie Flowers Award:

This award is not just for engineers. Many times this inspirational mentor is a teacher or a parent.

This award recognizes any adult mentor who impacts and inspires their team in a positive way by using creative and effective communication skills.

Look at the list of past Championship Woodie Flowers Award winners. Of the 10 winners (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/wfa.php?action=honoreelist) (including Woodie), 5 are engineers, 4 are teachers, and 1 (Woodie himself) is both.

My point is this: when considering who to nominate, don't just focus on the engineers. Consider your teachers. Many times, they are overlooked. Other times, the teachers insist on not being nominated. Students - you nominate who you wish. It is your decision.

Andy B.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I want to remind students that this is such a special acknowledgement, you should never pass a year without submitting one of your mentors for this award. I have met so many wonderful people who deserve recognition for what they do for you. Many of them give up vacation time to attend events, give up working on a hobby or spending times with their families to work with you students. During build they may work more hours on the team than on their own job, frequently ignoring profits for their own business to insure a quality experience for you. Take the time now to look around at the mentors you work with and pick one to make a submission. The award instructions are available on the First Website and the Woodie Flowers Award entries are due on Thursday, February 23rd at 11:59 p.m. EST.

[Lil' Lavery]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/wfa.php?action=honoreelist
That has many of the both regional and championship entries attached to it and would be an outstanding starting point to any WFA planning.

[Brandon Martus]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/wfa.php?action=honoreelist
That has many of the both regional and championship entries attached to it and would be an outstanding starting point to any WFA planning.
And if you click on the 2004 and 2005 entries (the ones w/the FIRST logo) many of the past regional winners have their nominations linked there.

[Bethany Mc.]

The award instructions are available on the First Website and the Woodie Flowers Award entries are due on Thursday, February 23rd at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Looking at the FIRST site it says that it is due Thrusday, February 22, 2007 at 11:59:59. Not the 23.

http://www.firstawards.org/

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Looking at the FIRST site it says that it is due Thrusday, February 22, 2007 at 11:59:59. Not the 23.

http://www.firstawards.org/

Beth,
Thanks for posting this years due date. My post was from last season.