UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Wayne Cokeley.



Name: Wayne Cokeley
Date Honored: 12-14-2004
Years involved w/FIRST: 9
FIRST Team(s): Bristol-Myers Squibb &, North Brunswick Twp. High School (0025), Bristol-Myers Squibb/Machine Medic/SPECO Tile &, Marble, Inc. &, Hightstown High School (1089)
Role: Head Coach
Quote: “Anything the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.”
Bio: Wayne Cokeley is the spirit behind teams 25 and 1089. Well known on the ChiefDelphi forums, he is a charismatic leader and a helpful voice. He is very enthusiastic about the FIRST program, and describes his years of involvement as 'nine going on forever'.

Wayne had quite a few touching FIRST memories. "In the years that Raider Robotix has been around I’ve had more great times than I can remember. The team has won numerous awards including the National Championships and I am very proud of all of them.

"If I had to remember one thing I recall that in our first year, as a struggling team, our student team leader was the first senior we graduated to go to college. In the last days of that school year his mother, a single parent Chinese lady, showed up at our department with a $1000 check for the team for the next season. Amazed at this generous donation, we asked her why and she simply said “My husband has been gone for some time and my son has been without a father. His involvement in your team has given him the kinds of things his father would have. I want to help the team so they can continue next year. Thank you.” I still get weepy at that one.

"And then there were those robot to robot memories. In 2003 the Wildstang wonder machine was a techno marvel that conformed to the platform with retractable ramps and wouldn’t let other robots to the top of the “king of the hill”. We went out with the Evil Machine flying juggernaut and our driver Steve Cosgrove. In the Nationals we made it all the way to the finals that year only to lose to those guys in the tie dye in the final rounds. So we wanted another shot.

"And that shot came, after a lot of talk on CD, at the IRI tourney all the way out in Indianapolis. I still remember the round. The bins flew, the robots battled and as the final 20 seconds ticked off we were at the bottom of the ramp with Wildstang up top with their ramps down. Ten , nine, eight, seven, six- and the robot began to lift their flaps so they cleared the ramp. Timing the play perfectly, driver Steve set the Evil Machine flying brick in motion and caught Stang with their flaps up. Both robots flew off the platform and down the other side. Three –two- one- and Evil Machine flew up to the platform and parked- taking the exact spot Stang was in second before. The crowd exploded. We all were as happy as if we won the Nationals. Amazing what a great driver and a great machine can do."

Wayne also had a few things to say about his team's numerous achievements. "Anyone can look up team 25 and see the list of awards we have won over the years but I think our bigger accomplishments have come in developing young people and new teams into the next generation of FIRSTers. Team 25 won the Nationals in 2000 after a miraculous season that still amazes us. Since that time the team has had a mission of giving back our good fortune to others. We opened the doors to our sponsor Bristol Myers Squibb and now they sponsor six teams. We mentor other local teams and developed the RINOS team development program. Our team does much to support the NJ regional and we host our own off season Brunswick Eruption event. We, so far, have graduated 47 students into technology based college careers and have touched the lifes of hundreds of others. Our school and community know us and respect us as a bunch of crazy kids in Hawaiian shirts who are moving in the right direction. Just today, as the paid head coach of Raider Robotix, my assistant coach and I measured our new robot lab and storage area. Never expected that 9 years ago…. And we have fun. Lots of fun. With robots……."

To finish off, Wayne had a lot of great advice for his fellow FIRSTers. "I’ve seen miracles with my team. I’ve seen the least likely kids do the most spectacular and amazing things and earn the respect of everyone. As a teacher, to shape kids lives in a positive way like that is a rare opportunity that keeps me coming back.

"It doesn’t matter how many trophies you win or whether your machine is made of gold. It does matter that the kids develop a sense of belonging to a team they can be proud of and that they grow. Everybody has something they can contribute to a team and, if they show the initiative, they should be allowed to express it.

"And FIRST should be fun. When it isn’t it is time to leave."

Congratulations to Wayne Cokeley for being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Heroes Award.


Nominated By: Bharat Nain, Mike Ciance, Corey Balint, cyborgvr

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

In all the different teams and activities I have been in, I have yet to see a leader like him. It's more like "magic" to see the way he handles the team and situations, its just unbelievable. I consider myself lucky to be a part of a team that is lead by him. All year round he works extremely hard to keep the team running and other things in FIRST. It's an incredible experience to be around people who move in the right direction. If you have been around him, you will know what I mean, I seriously have no words to describe how much of an impact he has had on me and our team.

Congratulations Cokeley, this is more than well deserved! Thank you for all that you've done.
-Bharat

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations to Wayne Cokeley for being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Another amazing FIRSTer that I just gotta meet. Congrats and thanks for all you do here on CD.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Wayne,
Congratulations, from all I've heard and the brief time we've interacted; this is certainly well deserved.... (even if you put a "hit" out on me at nationals).

Enjoy the spotlight,
John

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

I have to say, besides some members of my own family, nobody has done more great stuff to make me who i am than Mr. Cokeley. he's a role model, a mentor, and a good friend to everybody. i've learned so much from being on this team, it's immeasurable. all year 'round Cokeley gives all he's got (and then some) to the team's operation and betterment, and it shows. whether he's staying at a long meeting so we can get a lot done, devising ways to improve the team, or running it from a hospital bed, he's always devoted to making our experience with FIRST the best it can be.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

I'm seriously at a lose of words, This is a definite long deserving. Wayne has Given me more chances that i realize. Its an amazing feeling to know that someone puts that much faith in me ,

Congratulations Mr Cokeley you truly deserve this honor

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Wayne, they got this one right!

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

heard so much about you from your team members... you really deserve this.. congrats man. :)

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations, Wayne. I remember that IRI interaction, it was great fun. Good Luck see you in a few months.
Al

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations ... you really deserved this .. I know your mentoring has been invaluable to many ...

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Mr. Cokeley,

Though I've never had the honor of personally meeting you, it's obvious you are more than deserving of this award, by the way your team members talk about you.

Congratulations! :)

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations! to an absolutely amazing mentor.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congrats Wayne, although i haven't had the pleasure of meeting you, from what the UFH profile says about you, you are more then deserving of this award.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Enjoy Wayne. You certainly define the words "teacher" and "mentor" in ways the rest of us can only hope to attain in the future. Thanks for setting the bar high for the rest of us to reach for.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Way to go, Wayne!

On behalf of MOE and the Miracle Workerz, we salute you for your tireless efforts and your obvious results.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congrats Mr. Cokeley! Great guys like you and all the other Unsung heros keep FIRST going!

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Biggest congratulations to you, Mr. Cokeley! I've only met you briefly, but your team speaks so highly and so much of you that I feel as if I've known you for years! You truly deserve this honor, and I'm so glad you have finally received it. =) My most utter congratulations from the bottom of my heart to you.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Honestly, i dont know what to say about Cokeley. Theres wayy too much to even try to think of at once. Bharat and the Mikes really said what i would say. Theres soo much to say we cant say anything and that Cokeley really is a good friend.

The best way i can describe it, i just got back from a meeting that started at 230 went til 5 and then we went out to Fuddruckers(Cokeley, another mentor, and a few teammates) and talked about the team and all our normal random things for another 2 hours.

Congratulations on a long overdue awards Cokeley.

-CB

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congrads on the well deserved recognition. Your spirit and dedication are outstanding! Keep up the great work, not only with your team, but with the entire FIRST community.

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations Wayne! I was honored to finally meet you at this year's NJ Regional. Your support of all in the FIRST family is fantastic!

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Happy Birthday Wayne.. Oh.. DOH!! Wrong thread. :ahh:

Umm.. Congratulations on your UFH nomination Wayne.
There we go, that's the right topic. :)

All kidding aside, I was so glad to see that you were able to make it to the New Jersey Regional this year, and I would like to wish you and your teams continued success in the years to come.

Maybe I'll see you at the NJ Regional in 2005?

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations Wayne!
I had the pleasure of meeting you and your team during the 2003 NJ Regional at Rutgers University. You probably don’t remember me, I was kind of in the way when you guys were busy fixing something… I think it was another team’s bot! I actually visited your pit several time to admire both the pit and your robot. I took many pictures to show NYC teams what an awesome FIRST team looks like.

Before then, I heard many stories about the legend of Wayne on Team# 25 from Randy (Director of NJ Regional). And that year was my pleasure of seeing you win the FIRST Regional Volunteer Award.

All I can said is….. “I’M NOT WORTHY…..”


Again Congrats…. and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Congratulations Wayne,

Your leadership on team 25 and on the CD forums is evident. I greatly respect what your team has accomplished under yours and the other mentor's guidance.

I am glad that you got your "shot" at us and made good on the opportunity. No excuses, you beat us fairly in that rematch - I do not mind losing to a great team who truly earned the win.

I look forward to seeing what your team cooks up this year.

Raul

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Mr. C whats up man. i was just sitting here in cali and thought i would check out whats going on in with first and came along the article of the UFH and i want to extend my deepest congrats to you. i have known Mr. C for 9 years. he was my science teacher when i was a freshman in high school and hes the one that got me interested in the FIRST program when it started. I'm really glad that he did introduce me to FIRST. not only did i meet lots of people and made friends with many guys, girls, mentors, engineers and parents but he gave me a gift that most sports teams would have never given me. i mean we all have played on sports teams before and we all know that we get yelled at for the most little mistake that we do out on the field. but not in first if you make a mistake at anything you would not get yelled at but you would be educated on how not to make that mistake again. that is what Mr cokeley always believed in. our team/club never turned away any student and still will not turn anyone away. from being a student to a team mentor i have spent many interesting years with Mr cokeley. he is a very kind man loving, cares about everyone, and he is sooooooo spirited about first. i wanna thank Mr cokeley for who i am today. being involved with raider robotix and first have made a deep impact on my life and the way to do things now. i have never seen a man that would take the time away from his family time to help out a bunch of adolescents in an after school program. he totally deserve this award cokeley and i miss you and the team very very much. not only have you made a huge impact on my life but the other lives of the students that have graduated from NBTHS. hopefully i will be able to see you and team at nationals this year. but if i can't i will be wearing my Hawaiian shirt and cheering for raider robotix. Congrats again to a teacher, mentor, friend and deffently a hero!!!!!

Mario Azar
Raider Robotix Senior Mentor
Quote: Nothing is beyond anyones reach!!!!!!

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Hey Mr. Cokeley!!!

I just randomly stopped by to see what was up in FIRST and I saw this. Congratulations!

You and the team have had an indescribable impact on my life. This team was my pride and my life for the four years that I was on it. I would like to thank you and the team in general for making that possible. The friends made on that team and your guidance and inspiration made those four years the best years of my life.

Once again, congratulations, this has been a long time coming and it is most definitly well deserved.

-Tom McLean

PS: The website that I developed for the team during those years helped me land a job interview with Drexel's web development department. I figured I should post the link, so here it is www.pages.drexel.edu/~tjm44/robotics

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

words can not describe the impact that this man has had on so many students lives, whether he knows it or not

i know that as i attempt to write this i will not truley be able to express in words the impact that Mr. C has had on me and it is probably better that way because he is an individual that you really need to know to realize what a diverse and unique person he is.
His patience for the program and his students is tremendous. i believe that this is what has allowed team 25 to prosper for so long, and is what keeps the students coming back, whether it be active High schoolers, or alumni (ask big mike)

The team in general like many first teams, (esp. in the early years) went through a lot of hardships which would drive any sane person away from the project. But it truley takes a certain type of person to be a FIRST coach, Mr. C is without a doubt one of these gifted individuals.

His drive to the team and students who look up to him is incredible, it truely bares witness to the legacy that i feel he has created for himself.
He is an genuinly amazing and caring teacher, no in fact he is the definition of what a genuine teacher should be.

He spent the majority of his time trying to better our team, i honestly think that we and FIRST became a part of his family

By just observing over the years that i was in FIRST the way he carried himself and dealt with each obstacle that came in our way really left an impact on me. I learned about how FIRST really is about so much more than a robot competition, it is about team building and the individual. Mr. C knew this better than anyone i met throughout my whole FIRST experience. Truly one of the few teachers in my HS years that gave me actual guidance on where i wanted to direct my future.

Bringing the program into our school and sticking with it is something that i will always be so eternally greatful for, it was easily the best thing that i could have had in my life at the time

I realize more and more as i get older about how much of a positive impact he and his work ethic have had in my life. Im really glad youve gotten the recognition that you have becuase it is quite overdue

So MR. C thank you so much for your hard work and patience it is truly something that i will always be greatful to you for. Whether you realize it or not you have instilled in me morals that i will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you





hes a really funny guy too, you should hear him rap sometime

Re: UFH: Wayne Cokeley
 

Like everyone else above me, congratulations, you really deserved this!

Cokeley to me was more than just a mentor or a teacher or an advisor. The more time I spent around him and around both 1089 and 25 the more I realized that he is like another father to me. He guides and teaches and inspires kids to strive for things that before don't even seem obtainable. I've watched him do amazing things with the kids on 25 and it makes me want to keep coming back and find some way to help as much as he has. In fact, I've watched the hours that he puts in with 1089, a team that he puts in extra time to help mentor and it fills me with pride. His kids are even interested in it, and they, I'm sure take their ques from him.

Cokeley is one of the most inspirational people I know, and I'm really happy that he finally got his just desserts. Congratulations again!