Very special thanks are due to a select group of FIRST alums, coaches, and students from other teams who volunteered (and travelled) for the Southern California Regional. Adding such experienced FIRST people to an already great collection of volunteers made a HUGE difference and made a big impact on the quality of the event.
From GRT 192 - Ken Kreiger, Brad, Dima. (no doubt you are a very deserving and worthy Chariman's Award Winner - as your continued efforts and actions to help other teams and events demonstrate!)
Bill Gold (258), Ken Leung (192 and others), Ashlee Snodgrass (973, 360), Sean Roberts, Amy, and the other students who helped from 330, Jon Lawton (668) - you guys made a big difference at both California Events and are true examples of the quality of students/people who come out of FIRST. (Bill - let us know when you stop having nightmares about badges)
Andy Baker (45) and Mike Soukup (111) - thanks so much for coming out and helping. Your expertise and experience were so helpful during inspections and just general assistance of teams. Knowing that teams like 45 and 111 have yourselves and other equally impressive people volunteering and working with their students makes it easy to understand why your teams are always at the top.
(note to others....NEVER sumo wrestle Andy Baker. he'd be tough enough to beat, which of course I didn't, but when he tells you in the heat of battle that he "used to do this to pigs" - it's awfully hard to keep your concentration....very sneaky, and somewhat disturbing)
To everyone from NASA JPL, NASA AMES, San Jose State, USC, University of Washington, and others who volunteered for the Silicon Valley, Southern Cal, and Pacific Northwest Regionals - thank you so much for giving your time to help give the kids a great experience.
JM