[Robocat1]

On behalf of team 379, the Robocats, we thank Warren D.E.L.P.H.I. Elite for bringing our situation to the attention of Tim Ryan. We had given up hope after 3 weeks of intense efforts at raising the $12,000 needed to attend nationals! We’d even met with our senior team members just 5 hours prior to Mr. Ryan's visit to tell them that going to Nationals was just not going to happen. So, all of this was a surprise even to the advisors!

After raising about $20,000 in the past ten months, it seems we’d already drained every resource we could find. But, along came Tim Ryan to tell our team that he was there to help us achieve what the team had already earned.



His message to us was similar to the message he gave Warren earlier that morning: “nothing, not even football or basketball, is more important that what you are doing” (this after talking about his high school days as a football player).



Just for the record, Mr. Ryan did not call the media (TV Ch. 27 WKBN), we did (and they were there 45 minutes after we called – it all happened within 3 hours!). In addition to being a fundraising machine, we pride ourselves on being a PR machine too! We had been featured on 3 three-minute live TV spots on that station in March and called to give that station an exclusive, and there they were! We also had our city’s mayor, several Board of Education members, and city council members in attendance.



As for our team members’ reactions – let’s just say they were called out of class for a team meeting and then all these officials walked in. They tell me that at first they thought they were all there to present a certificate and thank them for a great season. But, even the city and school officials didn’t know the real reason for the meeting – they were just invited to come because Mr. Ryan was going to be meeting with our team! Quite a surprise for everyone! Or should I say shock!
I will say that once everyone left and the team was alone, it really began to sink in as to what had just happened, the excitement and the emotions just continued to build!


Finally, I want to add that Mr. Ryan is a truly genuine man. Over 4 years ago he drove our robot at “Niles Day at the Ballpark” and when I brought it up to him today he remembered! (No, it wasn't just a political act!)



This has truly been one of those days that makes being an educator, teacher and advisor worthwhile and I see that all of the efforts of the team members (and other team’s members) results in something truly extraordinary, amazing and worthwhile.