UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Matthew Leese.



Name: Matthew Leese
Date Honored: 09-14-2004
Years involved w/FIRST: 7
FIRST Team(s): Lockheed Martin/AAI Corporation/BD/Towsontowne Rotary/Tessco &, Parkville High School and Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science (0007), Bausch &, Lomb Incorporated/Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. &, Edison School of Engineering &, Manufacturing High School (0073), Bausch &, Lomb Incorporated &, Churchville-Chili High School (0340), Howard County Public Schools/NASA Goddard &, Glenelg (0888), NASA/Shim-it Corp & Whitney High School (1135)
Role: Engineer
Quote: “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” – Grace Hopper
Bio: Matthew Leese is being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Hero because of his outstanding volunteerism to FIRST. Matt, involved with many teams (as you can see from above), and done wonders for each. Matt also told us he hailed from "Baltimore, MD, Rochester, NY, and Seal Beach, CA", giving you an idea of how far and wide his inspiration has spread.

Matt fondly remembers a few great memories: "My favorite FIRST memory occurred in 2001 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. I had never realized how much work it would be to restart a team; even with all the help I was given. We got a sponsor two days before the registration money was due. There were few people with cars we could rely on to help get us to the high school to actually build the robot. The robot barely got finished in time. Travel arrangements were made late and paid for just before we left. There were numerous difficulties we faced on the road to restarting the team. When we got to the regional we hoped to be competitive. Instead, we found that our robot wasn’t particularly well suited to the game that year. After the work that we had done this was somewhat disappointing. When it came time for the award’s ceremony, they announced various awards that we had hoped to win. We did not win any. When they announced the Special Judge’s Award, they talked about starting a team and the challenges therein. The further they went on, the more it sounded like our team. When I saw some of the other Rochester teams standing and cheering I knew they were talking about us. This award was special to me in particular because of the time and energy I, along with many others, had put into restarting the team."

Matt, with all his team involvement under his belt, has a great list of accomplishments, too. "When I first arrived at Rochester Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2000, RIT did not have any involvement in FIRST (there had been a team involved with the school from 1996-1998). In my freshmen year, I lead a team of small group of RIT students in restarting team 73. This involved gathering RIT students, getting a corporate sponsor (Alstom Signaling), getting interest in the high school (Edison Tech), and getting RIT administration involved. I continue to be involved with the team to this day through its various changes. I also was involved with the drive to get RIT to host a regional competition in 2005. We were given the approval by FIRST in the Fall of 2003 and made an announcement with Dean Kamen present. RIT also hosted a remote kickoff in the 2004 season that I helped to organize. Ever since I graduated from high school, I have mentored high school students during the build season. I have served in a variety of roles, such as team leader (in 2001 on team 73), electrical mentor (in 2002 on team 340), mechanical mentor (in 2003 on team 888), and lead engineer (in 2004 on team 1135). The longest lasting accomplishment that I’ve had to date is getting RIT involved with FIRST. RIT has become heavily involved in FIRST since I started attending with support all the way up to the President of the Institute."

Matt also has a bit of advice for us to share. "The main advice that I can give to FIRST-ers is to stick with FIRST if it’s what you love but realize that there are other things in life and that FIRST will change. It’s important not to only center your life around FIRST as there are things like school, work, and friends that are just as important. It’s important to have a balanced life and not become obsessed with just one thing. The other issue is that the experiences you had in FIRST in the past will never happen again. Instead, you can have new adventures. The key is that they will be different. No two years are the same. No two teams are the same. Don’t try and make them the same. I’ve seen a lot of people who were dedicated to FIRST drop out because of one of the two above reasons. Both are very important to consider."

Thanks for your wisdom, Matt, and congratulations on being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Hero.



Nominated By: confidential

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulations Matt! So what team are you spreading the love to this year?

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats! Though why did you have to put up such a horrible photo of me? ;)

Hehe. Continue all of your great work in FIRST!

- Angela

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt.. you busy, busy guy. :)

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt

I still don't see how Baker thought that me and you looked alike :p

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulations to Matt Leese for being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulations Matt... it seems you have gone above and beyond the call of duty in FIRST. Hope you have many more years involved with this fantastic program!! GOOD JOB!!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Kate... Matt is back at RIT and nobody knows for sure which teams we are working with this year because of all the new rookie team. i would put a bet on 73 with the possibility of a rookie team.

also i will be giving Matt congratulatory hits from all of you when i see him :D

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Matt, Congratulations!
We've only met recently, but your passion for the program is evident.



I wish I knew you better.
These "congratulatory threads" are turning into a list of people saying congatulations.

Cmon folks... who's got some funny/inspiring Leese stories to share with the world? Let's hear exactly why he's been honored! (The real purpose of these threads.)

Edit:
Joe and Angela. You got your faces on the portal along with Matt for this. You owe us 1 funny Matt story EACH.
/Edit

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

I just wanted to say thank you to all those who said congratulations. I don't really feel I deserve this but apparently others do.

JVN: We actually first met in 2003. Andy Baker introduced us.

I know there are quite a few embarassing stories about me out there. I know that quite a few of the folks who've posted in this thread can share some of them.

Matt

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

That's not recently? :confused:

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

So many stories..so little time.. I'll keep my mouth shut if I know what's best for me! Joe could actually get away with sharing one such story. Hehe.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Look at it this way, it would take Matt about 3 days to get down there to kill you. He can reach me in 10 minutes.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Yeah! A UFH I actually know!
Three years ago, when I started hanging around FIRST, I noticed Matt hanging around too. Only he was always working, while I was usually finding some excuse to talk with somebody. There he was always resetting the field, or working the queue, or looking official with a headset. He spent days at the Maryland State Fair, and has always helped with the Chesapeake regional. He's got a great sense of humor and I trust his opinion on anything I've asked him re: FIRST. But best of all, he's "been in FIRST way too long" and can answer questions I cant get from anyone else about the history of Team 007 (Parkville Knights back when he was on the team.)

He's also got a great Dad. You'll often find Sterling Leese at the local events.
Congrats!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Matt!
Congratulations, you're such a cool FIRSTer. I'm so glad you got UFH, you deserve it.
You do so much, from what I see at regionals and off-season competitions. You have tons of GP and really are an example to all FIRSTers. Congrats, you definitely deserved this! =D Love ya man, hope to see you in March!
--Dori 007

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

"The main advice that I can give to FIRST-ers is to stick with FIRST if it’s what you love but realize that there are other things in life and that FIRST will change. It’s important not to only center your life around FIRST as there are things like school, work, and friends that are just as important. It’s important to have a balanced life and not become obsessed with just one thing. The other issue is that the experiences you had in FIRST in the past will never happen again. Instead, you can have new adventures. The key is that they will be different. No two years are the same. No two teams are the same. Don’t try and make them the same. I’ve seen a lot of people who were dedicated to FIRST drop out because of one of the two above reasons. Both are very important to consider." - Matthew Leese.

That is such a true advice pointed out by Matt. I used to think that there is nothing but FIRST that I need to take care off... but i was wrong. I also need to take off my family, school, work... and more important... my friends. First has given me a lot... a new life, a lots of friends. I appreciate what FIRST has done to me... if there was lack off people like our 20th Unsung First Hero.. FIRST wouldnt be there where it is now. You are well deserved for this honor.
Congrats Matt... :)

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Well, not that recently. That's a year and a half ago.

Matt

I agree with John. That IS recent......although not horribly so. Congrats on winning the UFH award Matt! :) :D

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Hey Matt,

Congratulations! You definately do deserve the award for all the work you put into FIRST, especially in rochester. And I remember you giving the same advice (about keeping a well balanced life) several years ago when I was struggling with how to balance FIRST with other things... In retrospect, I did start exploring other things about the same time, and I'm glad I did. Anyway congrats again. Hope to see you at a regional (maybe rochester) this year.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt, I don't have any stories...yet!
Keep up the good work and good luck in school.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulations Matt..

The first time we met in person was at the end of your 8 ? hour drive through a major snow storm so that you could be at kickoff. Before that, I believe you were the one to advise teams to use clamp-on Ammeters to solve robot motor problems. Because of you, Sears sold out ! You have been helping teams and FIRST for years and always seem to maintain that Positive Attitude that is needed by all of us.

I will also remember that you were among the first to congratulate me in April when I won the WFA. Since my team was not present, seeing old friends (getting by the guards from the stands) really helped make the moment more important to me

Keep it up
dave

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Matt,

Congrats on UFH. You are definately one of those people who truely deserve it! Not to mention, its always great to see one of the very few surviving members of the Rambots Chat come out with recognition. One quick question...do you remember the FIRST Football game in 1999 at the All Star?!?! ;)

Great Job Matt!

-Andy Grady

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

The official cutoff for "recent" is one year.
Sorry John.
Oh yeah, um, Congrats Matt.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulation Matt!
The advices in your UFH essay is so true.

Best wishes with the inaugural Finger Lakes (Rochester) Regional.
They are lucky to have you at RIT.

:)

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Way to go Matt, It's great to see you get this. You really are a dedicated FIRSTer. It was especially nice having you down on Newton last year. Are you going to be helping us with our new regional this year? I hope so.
Again you are a great FIRSTer, & I feel I'm a better able to challange my students by knowing you.
Thanks
Rees

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Matt,

Way to go! It is great to see you get some deserved credit. You have not only mentored many teams and students, but you have also changed the image about what a mentor is.

I remember, a few years ago, when a few college mentors were frustrated with FIRST. FIRST did not know if these college students were mentors or if they were just high school alumni. FIRST did not invite them to the Kickoff or the Founders Party because they were not over 21. You and some of your fellow college mentors protested a bit, and FIRST listened. Now, college mentors in FIRST are more respected and appreciated, thanks to you.

You 'da man,
Andy

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Matt-
How long have I known you? I can't even remember. But I do have many hysterical memories with you, and I am very thankful of all the times that you've let me vent to you. Maybe one of these years I'll actually take you up on visiting RIT before you graduate.
-The other "perv" ;)

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt!

Also, I really appreciate your advice to college students in your UFH write-up. It's nice to hear from people who have survived through it.

Great job with UFH!!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Mr. Leese ;-) is one of the first FIRST-a-holic I've met since the beginning of my time. I remember he used to be one of top 5 posters in the CD forum along with me and Jess Boucher. Boy, time sure has gone by quickly. Everything was totally different back then.

I remember Matt was one of the first to take pride in the idea of doing FIRST during college. He and Jess Boucher and Joe Ross and Kate Leech are the few FIRST friends I started hang out with outside my old team. Gave me a sort of home away from home feeling beside IRI. I remember walking past team 73's pit area at Epcot, and saw him handling the paper work for the team. When I saw that, I thought "Wow you don't have to finish school to be a responsible mentor." I knew that's something I couldn't do at the time, and admired it greatly.

Heh, Matt, every year we say we are going to stop doing FIRST, and look where we are now. You just got to be another Unsung FIRST Hero! Hopefully that won't boost your ego too much :-P. Seems like you have a long road ahead of you. The Rochester regional is going to be a handful. Try not to burn out from doing too much.

I am sure we will see each other again. Thought it might be a few years before I visit out-of-state competitions again.

*edit* Found some picture of Matt from kickoff 2002. Figure I would post them just for fun ;-).

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congratulations Matt!!

You may not remember me but I met you a few times working at the NASA/MD State Fair Comp. I was coaching my team, but my little ones were working field reset. Both you and your father were so nice to my son and daughter while they worked the arena. Something I will always remember.

Thanks for being so dedicated to FIRST.

Al Ostrow
Team Leader, 341

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

<tangent>
Whoa.. I see pics of Robbie-O.. another cool FIRSTer.
</tangent>

But anyways, Matt.. Congrats man!!
You don't know me.. :rolleyes: but I know you!!
Muwhahahahaha...


In all seriousness, Congratulations on your UFH award.. and here's to many more successful years in FIRST.

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Congrats Matt!

(sorry, I needed to jump back on the CD bandwagon)

I'm really glad I got to meet you at nationals this year (even if I was sarcastic and annoying). Congratulations again, you deserve it! I'm looking forward to seeing what you're doing this year. :D

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

I have to admit, I'm glad that I avoided most of those pictures. :) Although, most people probably don't even remember I was there...

Anyway, congrats Matthew! You were one of the first FIRST friends I made and now we go to school together and you can't get rid of me! Hehehe. Well, soon enough, graduation is coming around soon. Yea, I know this congrats is a little late on CD...but I think I said congrats to you in person...but hey, might as well make it public! I'm so proud of ya!

Re: UFH: Matthew Leese
 

Actually you didn't. I saw you for about thirty seconds at the meeting tonight and I hadn't seen you in a few weeks otherwise. ;)

Matt