Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I can't believe that Fredi hasn't won this before now!

Congrats to him and his team.

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I couldn't be more proud. We have been grateful to perform so well as a team and to make such an impact, but it wouldn't be possible without him. Over the past years with our team (Don't forget his prior coaching of 1018), he has made such a tremendous impact that many people were left saying "Why not sooner?"

Seeing my coach win this award has made this my best year of my past four seasons on Skunkworks.

<3

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

This weeks crop of outstanding WFFA winners:

• George Chisholm - Team 1334 (Waterloo)
• Amir Abo-Shaeer - Team 1717 (Los Angeles)
• Gail Drake- Team 1885 (DC)
• Ms. Elaine Owens - Team 368 (Hawai'i)
• Gerald Becker - Team 1675 (Midwest)
• Roy Powell - Team 564 (Long Island)
• Tim Bennington-Davis - Team 1425 (Oregon)
• Gene Falendysz- Team 343 (Palmetto)

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

Congrats to my Dad.....


Fred Needel (768) for winning at Chesapeake.

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I'm glad last year's WFFA winner from Florida (Cathy Beck - my Mom) was able to give it to him! It was a great experience for the whole team! :) I love you both so much. :)

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

What a wonderful mentor. I've had the opportunity to meet him at the Kickoff - if you all remember, he's one of the 'stars' of "The New Cool" by Neal Bascomb - a book all of us FIRSTers should definitely check out. Definitely a well-deserved award!

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

So happy for our Elaine - FRC member for two years, FRC mentor for seven, and now the Hawaii Lead Robot Inspector. Not to mention, an all around nice person.

Way to go Elaine!

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I'm proud to be the first to congratulate Mr. Michael Schuh of Team 971 Spartan Robotics on receiving this outstanding award at the Silicon Valley Regional!

Mr. Schuh has been a driving force on the team for many many years, and is a huge inspiration to every student who passes through the program, myself included. He does so much for many teams in the Mountain View/Los Altos area, both FRC and FLL. I had the privilege of first submitting him for this award back in 2006, and I'm absolutely ecstatic that he finally got the recognition he deserves. It's been a long time coming!

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I'm proud to congratulate 2011 North Star WFFA winner Mr. Will Preska.

Mr. Preska has been around since the founding of 2175 and has been instrumental in both the team's success and in the founding of a number of other teams in the area including 3130 and 3206. Mr. Preska has continued to selflessly give of his time and talent despite numerous job changes in the past few years.

Congrats Mr. Preska!

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

Congratultions to this weeks mentors

Toronto West Stan Hunter 2056
Toronto East Stephanie Thompson 1503
Silicon Valley Michael Schuh 971
Connecticut Not listed yet...
10,000 Lakes Kevin Swartley
Northstar Will Preska 2175
Las Vegas Mr. Floyd "Dango" Matsumoto 359
Smokey Mountain Kevin Kelly 234

Another fine bunch of people. Thank You to all the students who are writing those fantastic essays, we are all proud of you.

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I'm fairly certain Mr. Swartley is from team 525 the SwartDogs

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

Yes, you are correct. The students wanted to name the team after him but the only way he would let us is if we came up with an acronym. Thus "Students Working Around Robotics Technology" came to be our slogan and our name became the Swartdogs.

Also, little known fact, Mr. Swartley's first name is Kenton. :p

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

I always wondered where 525 came up the name SwartDogs from.

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

Congratulations to Mr. Kenton Swartley, founder and leader of FIRST team 525. Kenton is the physics teacher at Cedar Falls High School. He heard about FRC in 1999 and showed his students a videotape about it. Kenton challenged the students to raise the entry fee. They succeeded and team 332 was formed. They competed in Orlando that year. In 2000, the team did not find enough donations to continue and therefore did not compete. In 2001, the team found enough funding to continue and was given a new number - 525. Kenton has been outstanding in encouraging students to participate and lead the team throughout the year from summer outreach, fall meetings and build season to the regional and championship events. The students always wanted to name the team after him and he resisted. He told them if there was an appropriate acronym, he would agree. Immediately one of the students came up with Students Working Around Robotics Technology and the team officially became the Swartdogs.
Unfortunately Kenton injured his back less than a week before the Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional and was forced to miss what would have been his 20th FRC event in 12 years. I suspect the pain of missing the event was nearly as much as the pain in his back.
I was honored to be able to accept the award for him at the 10,000 Lakes Regional. The students are anxious to celebrate and present the award to him this week.

Re: 2011 WFFA Congratulations.
 

Congratulations to this week's winners:

Colorado Regional ----------- Bryce McLean ---------- 2996
Boston Regional ------------- Robert Zapor ---------- 1099
North Carolina Regional ---------- ? ------------------- ?
Buckeye Regional ----------- David Fort ------------- 1001
Philadelphia Regional -------- Alan Ostrow ------------- 341
Dallas East/West Regional --- Phil Harris --------------- 704
Utah Regional --------------- Gary Duquette --------- 3374
Virginia Regional ------------ Matt Wilbur ------------ 2363
MI State Championship ------ Ken Platteschorre -------- 74