UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Kimberly O'Toole.



Name: Kimberly O'Toole
Date Honored: 04-14-2006
Years involved w/FIRST: 10
FIRST Team(s): UTC Hamilton Sundstrand &, Suffield High School &, Windsor Locks High School (0176), Division by Zero - Clarkson SPEED Program &, Massena Central High School &, Salmon River High School (0229), Harris Corporation &, Penfield High School (1511)
Role: Team Leader
Quote: "Excellence - is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."
Bio: Kim O'Toole is a leader from Team #1511, and has got ten years of FIRST experience behind her. Working with three different teams throughout the years, her knowledge and drive have show through over time. She has quite a complicated job on her team: "I have the role of team leader, more so than ever on any of the FIRST teams I have been on. Officially I act as project manager/engineer. I manage the budget & schedule, I steer the team when they get off track, I help develop the leadership team, I coordinate activities, I make major decisions. Unofficially, I like to think I’m a friend and confidant for both my students and mentors. We are truly a family, and I feel its my responsibility to help both my students and mentors grow. I try and push them out of their comfort zones, make them try things they never thought they could, and help them truly learn the meaning of FIRST."

Kim also had a few great memories to share. "I can't choose just one… so I have to give two. My second year on 229, a HS freshman joined our team. He was quiet and fairly shy most of the year. We were still young, and hadn’t reached every student yet. It was the week of ship. We had a demonstration to give to the community, and our mechanical system was far from done. We finally finished and I had to jump in there to do the wiring. Since FIRST is about the HS students, I decided to try and get them involved. The freshman had been watching us, and I decided to ask him. I think I barely knew his name. So I sat down with him teaching him the different gauges, which ones went to speed controllers, what a PWM was, and on and on. We probably spent 4 hours wiring the robot together, but he picked it up quickly. I can still remember his parents coming to pick him up for hockey practice, and he actually came to me to ask if it was ok if he left! He was so excited, and really didn’t want to miss anything! The way he & I worked there and at competition was a flashback to my HS mentor, and it was just an amazing feeling to be in that position.

"My second is with 1511 last year. They worked so hard all year, often following my ideas and direction on blind faith. But I told them we were in a big pond, we couldn’t expect much… lets just go have fun, and don’t worry about the awards or winning. But at every single event last year, they made me cry. They were all happy tears. From our very first RAS and realizing we could go to championships, to the special M&M (Mir & Mirza) awards ceremony they did for all the mentors, giving me the special award, to winning the Toronto Regional & finally winning the Championship RAS. They were so amazing, so new, and so excited!"

Kim has been "first" in a lot of ways. She tipped us off to a few of her accomplishments over the years. "I was a founding student of 176, the founder of 229, and now the founder & team leader of 1511. When I left my high school team and was choosing colleges, I had to stay in FIRST, but not because of the robots. I felt that I owed it to the community, to the country, to my mentors, to take the time to inspire just one student, the way I had been inspired. But now I have so much more. My first year on 229, we placed ~48/50, but the kids loved it! I had students switching majors, transferring to Clarkson, wanting to explore engineering. It was a success! I had parents thanking me because “their student had never been so excited about something ever in their life.” It was an amazing feeling. So when I finally moved on to my job at Harris, I saw the chance to inspire more students, the chance to do more, and to really build “a dream team.” 1511 got it from the beginning, and continues to impress me. But the biggest accomplishment to me is the lives we have been able to change. I see how much these students have grown, and sometimes its scary how much they look to me, but then I look back at where each of them was a year or two ago, and its phenomenal the effort they have put in and the changes that have come over them."

She also had a great description for people new to FIRST. "FIRST is an amazing chance to be involved in inspiring and building the future. FIRST not only inspires students in science and technology, it gives them confidence, leadership & real life exposure that will help them succeed no matter what they do. It gives many students the chance they may never have had otherwise. It gives the students who aren’t the A students or the great athletes a chance to shine, to show what they are made of!"

And finally, Kim gave some of her fellow FIRSTers some advice. "Give back & work hard & be a team. Whether its teaching someone about something technical, listening to them about life, being a friend, having fun, or picking them up when they fall down. FIRST is all about the relationships. Yeah you will learn plenty of technical stuff, but the way to change lives is to “care more than others think is wise.” Give it everything you’ve got!"

Congratulations to Kim O'Toole, our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

Nominated By: Ashley Christine, Ellery

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations to Kim O'Toole, our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations, Kim!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Kim congrats. It is great to see that you have won this award. You have inspired many students.

Thank you for everything that you do.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim. You really have helped me within the pastfew weeks with you advise on how to expand my team. I hope to wrok with you on the Rukus this year. You really do observe this award.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

OH no!!! Someone beat me to nominating you! :ahh:

Congratulations Kim!!

I know from talking to members of 1511 that your dedication to FIRST and the students involved truly goes way beyond the six weeks in a way that ultimately defines the UFH title.

Congratulations to an honor that is more than well deserved.

Here's to at least 10 more years of inspiration!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Nice picture Kim (somebody didn't get a payment in on time :p )
It was about time somebody paid their respect to "the prototype" ( although I was dead certain you were gonna be the Woodie Flowers winner this year eh, there is always next year. Jason will take it this year. GO ROCHESTER FIRST!).

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! A well-deserved honor!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

This is really a well deserved honor for you Kim. I have seen first hand how your dedication goes way above the norm (even for FIRST people). I know how much your students respect you from 1st hand stories. You bring inspiration not only to your team, Rochester area but to all those that meet you. Congrats on UFH and continue on being the pillar of FIRST that you are.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Kim,
Congratulations! It is a great feeling when someone you know (even if only electronically) is recognized for a job well done. Your desire to give back to the community will reap rewards far beyond this UFH. Keep up the good work.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congrats Kim! look at that April is the month of Rochester! Great to see yet another great candidate.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! You really do deserve this award. You are one of the greatest FIRSTers out there. Thanks for all you do!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congrats Kim, an honor well deserved!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! It's great to have an awesome person like you honored here. I know the dedication you've put in through the years on all your teams and peer recognition is one of the greatest things to receive. Keep up the great work here in Rochester, we definitely need more people like you around with the drive and determination to make things happen. I'm glad that you're part of the Rochester FIRST community and a friend of mine. Party on!

Ellery

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

This is cool that someone nominated Kim for CD "Unsung Hero" award.

I'm an adult mentor on team 1511, Rolling Thunder from Harris Corp and Penfield High School. It's our 2nd year as a FRC team, and we went all the way to win the championship rookie all-star award last year under "general" Kim's command.....

She's been a true inspiration to each of the students and to us as mentors as well. We tee-ed up her name this year for Woodie Flowers, and yes, she definitely is a "WFA winner in the making" as FIRST has been so deeply ingrained in her lifestyle and rubs off on each of us every day in so many ways.

We chewed-off an awful lot of projects this past year, but everyone on the team stepped-up to the challenges including the 151 thunderbolt community service projects. Kim led us every step of the way.

Stop by the red-camo pit at the 2006 World Championships in Atlanta to congratulate Kim and see gracious professionalism in action. I'm the old guy in the red camouflage tux jacket with Woodie!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim, after I crashed your team meeting the other day with Jay I realized how good of a leader you are. You earned this one!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kudos to Kim!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

oh man....what to say about this one. Well back in 2004 Joe Ross came up to me and told me about this woman who worked at Harris who had alot of FIRST involvement. I remember vividly going into the career fair at RIT that year and trying to persuade the Harris employee doing interviews to give us her contact information. Well we didn't get it but i finally met her before the 2005 season. Little did i know that this woman was going to change the face of Rochester FIRST forever. Beyond Kim's obvious achievements on 1511, 229, and 176 she has truly impacted the FIRST community. As the driving force behind many different activities to bring Rochester together (rally, ruckus, etc) she has become an inspiration for not only the students on the team but many different teams and mentors, including myself. It would only be a slight exaggeration to say that if mentors involved with FIRST asked themselves "what would Kim do?" we would be able to accomplish about 100 times more with this organization.

Thanks for everything Kim.

Greg

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kim,
This is well deserved.
Thanks for all you've done for FIRST, and all you've done for me.
You're truly an inspiration.

-JV

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

congrats Kim,
My name is Mark Mascadri and i am one of her kids from 1511. I say kids because Kim has created a family. Kim does so much for this team, other teams, FIRST in general, and every one she meets along the way. Kim has personally influenced me and has helped me become a beater person and a better leader. I will always look up to Kim for inspiration and guidance.

Kim keep doing the things that you do, and being the person that you are.

I love u Kim

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim! A well deserved award...thanks for all your help (if you remember, our robot broke down in the finals of the GTR :( lol which you did a great job of finding out what went wrong). I've heard from a lot of people that you're an awesome mentor too!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK :):):)

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kudos Kim

Nice Picture.

Should I dig one up from '96 ????

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

I will pay "big thunder bucks" for anyone coming-up with funny (embarrasing) pics of Kim from her years in FIRST......so, sure...dig through all those great archives of FIRST and laugh along with the RollingThunder team.

Pics will be posted to our three 19" LCD video wall at 2006 championships.

No, Kim, you can't have the password to the pit PC to delete them.....ROFL

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

I'll throw down also.....

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Wow..... thats about all I can say :)

Thanks to all of you for your kind words... Its funny to see how broad a spectrum FIRST has become, and its amazing to see how many people have such cool memories and stories (gosh, even just when I was volunteering at GTR! yes-I do remember all those teams!), and amazingly kind words!! jeez did I really do all that??

And yes, I actually picked that picture... I looked for a nice one like Ellery had, but all of them Im either buried in a pile of teammembers, hugs, or whatever... or there was this one that all my kids seem to love :) I think the silly pictures look better anyway! I want everyone to remember to have fun... especially at this time of year!

Thanks again everyone... I just hope Im giving as much back to FIRST as my mentors (as Mr. Pease indicates!) gave to me!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Okay so i got looking through some pictures on our website and realized hey that the unvieling of the robot in 2000 was when i decided I wanted to do FIRST. You know it wasn't the greatest robot, but I saw that everyone on the team had been brought together to focus on a common goal. And i found it interesting.

Also at that time Kim was talking while they were trying to get the robot to function correctly (if i remember right). She said something along how FIRST was here to help inspire students to become more active in the science and technology world. But she also said it was also here to help kids out, and to build lasting friendships, to educate them, and to get them hyped about almost anything you could think of.

But anyone who wants can check out our gallery if you wanna try and find some good pictures of Kim.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

searching for picture of ball paints.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

A very well deserved UFH award.

Kim you've always been a great sounding board, and a great friend. Thanks for all the advice over the years. And thank you for founding 229, it was a heck of a ride the four years i've been here. Any kids we suceed in inspiring now, we couldn't have done with out you. Kudos

Chris C.
Team 229

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Its about time!!! Congrats Kim!!

You definetly deserve it.....

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kim,

This is wonderful, and you are so deserving!

As I tell people you are a Master Mentor, you not only encourage and inspire the students but everyone around you including all of the Mentors!

It is a privilege to know you and to work with you :]

Keep up the great work!

Congrats! :)
--Mike

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kim,

I haven't met you yet but reading your description sent excited shivers down my spine. I hope to meet you one day =).

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim!! You really deserve this. Thanks for getting me hooked on FIRST!
I really wish that I had pictures from one of your Christmas parties to contribute :D

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! I have heard amazing stories about your dedication and participation, but this nomination really takes the cake!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Very nice Kim. Congratulations. You are hands down the hardest working FIRST person I know, sorry Ellery. Thank you for everything you do, you have a greater effect than I think even you know. Never stop.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim! You really deserve it.

I don't think that there is anyone who is more dedicated to FIRST. Kim puts in a lot of blood, sweat and tears for FIRST. (And more hours than anyone can count) :)
She inspires us all - It's truely an honor to work with Kim!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations! I remember that the team members from 1511 spoke very highly of you and after reading the description I now know why. :)

GO 1403!!!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Good to see another old school New Englander getting her due! Way to be Kim, a well deserved honor!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O\'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! A well-deserved honor to a FIRSTer!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim!!

Can't wait to meet you in Atlanta!

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations, one of the hardest working people I know in FIRST and and proud to know you. I hope you continue to inspire and guide many kids through FIRST in the future.

If one day Kim has kids and she treats them as good as here robotics team(s) she will be a good mother.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim! It's well deserved.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congrats Kim!!!!!!!!! :D

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim!

Through your passion, the impact of FIRST has thundered through our community...
the sidelined cheerleader who is now headed for Clarkson (happy b'day AC!)
the mentor who shatters engineering stereotypes to wear a selfmade camo tuxedo,
Penfield HS giving the robot floor time during its typically sports only pep rallys,
the 3 new middle school lego teams...
and that's only a few examples and only from the past two years. If the first 8 were similar in impact, WOW :ahh:

You definately deserve this recognition!

Cynette

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations Kim! Your drive and dedication is unmatched. This truly is a deserved recognition.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

I am so happy you finally got this! You deserve it!!!

April is a good month, my brithday, championships.. you getting UFH. I couldnt want more. :)

<3

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Kim,

Well deserved. There are times in life when you feel that you've got nothing in the tank left to give. Then you see/read/experience a powerful personal story that truly shows you how much one human being can do. You've had a lasting and powerful impact on three very different communities through FIRST. You've willingly stepped forward on CD with tremendous input that mentors thousands more on a daily basis. All of that impact in such a short time on this earth so far. It's obvious there is more to come. I'm truly humbled and honored to be motivated by your story.

Namaste, Kim.

Re: UFH: Kimberly O'Toole
 

Congratulations! You are truly a source of inspiration to all.

Pat Chen