Quote:
Originally Posted by Ether
Are the nomination letters available online to read? It would be inspiring to read them.
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As requested here is the essay that we submitted for Brandon. Our students did an excellent job putting this together!
Brandon discovered FIRST in the fall of ‘01 as a member of FRC Team 11’s mini-MORT FLL team, joining their FRC team that same year. By his HS graduation in ‘05, he had been crucial in helping reorganize FRC Team 11 to their first regional and regional Chairman’s Award wins. That fall, he joined FRC Team 125 as a college mentor. Even with a full course load he was fully dedicated to the NUTRONS’ success. Now an alum, he remains one of our most devoted mentors. He is always the first in and last out of our lab and has worked to drastically improve our alum retention and participation.
His innovative methods have altered the team’s approach to both the robot, and the FIRST season. We have brainstorming sessions at the beginning of each season where he leads us in strategy and design discussions. He often says “Why not?” which surfaces throughout the build season when he pushes team members towards their goals instead of settling on an easy solution. He wants us to try new things such as cast our own shooter wheels and use new machining methods like water jetting parts. His encouragement drives us to be creative with our design, ultimately resulting in a better robot.
Since joining the NUTRONS, Brandon has held every position on the team, including captain his Sr. year at NU. This puts him in an excellent position to advise everyone on the team, as he is able to relate to them more effectively. He is one of the first to reach out to new members, bringing them out of their shell and making them feel more comfortable with the rest of the team. He always wants to include everyone and works at their pace in order to comprehensively teach them. As a member once said, “He had more
patience with me than I would’ve had with myself.” Understanding the “why” and the “how” is something he emphasizes when working with a student.
Brandon is heavily involved in the FIRST community. He’s an active member of the Chief Delphi forums, always willing to lend a hand to assist other teams. No matter what the problem, he has experience and advice to pass on. For the past 3 years he has headed up the effort to organize the Boston Area kickoff at NU, which hosts 35+ teams. He has also started a collaboration with his HS team, helping 125 and 11 perform at their greatest potential.
Brandon Holley has truly shaped the way the team functions today. With his guidance, our team members lead with their strongest capabilities, creating an energized atmosphere amongst everybody. His expertise and resources make it possible for our team to execute innovative designs that never cease to lead us further in competition. The challenging mindset and positive attitude he brings to the table push our team to exceed any goal we set.