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Re: Team 1511 loses Alumnus, Mentor and Friend
Keith was one of those kids that absolutely amazed me. I remember when he first joined, I thought he would never last... he seemed like one of those outside kids that didnt "need" a robotics team. On first impression, one might not have thought much, he had a lip ring and large gauge earings, and was often quiet. But as I got to know him, I found that he was a very intelligent kid, who was mature beyond his years. He spent more time hanging out with older students and mentors, but did always have time for the younger kids.
The summer after our Rookie year, we decided to go to Bash at the Beach. His friend Tommy had been one of our student coaches, and I think Tommy convinced Keith to come with us. It was then we decided to try and really hook him. We got him to be our Human Player, and he proved to have a great attitude and aptitude for it. So in 2006 we drafted him to our driveteam. He loved it, he was our rock, our no-nonsense no-drama kid on the drive team.
He also had a great sense of humor. I remember in Boston that year, he accidentally walked into the girls bathroom at the end of the competition, but when he realized it and walked back out several of us caught him, and one of our parents made him pose for a picture. I will never forget that grin. He knew he was caught, but he wasnt embarrassed, he found humor in it all, and that was so great about him.
One of our kids also remembered the story of when he got on the bus for one of our trips with a couple of cases of the Bawls Energy drinks and started "auctioning" them off. He was simultaneously their greatest hero, and our greatest villian!! (kids+first energy drinks=horrible crashes!!)
But I think my favorite thing about Keith is the two years after he graduated early, he would just all of a sudden show up at the start of build season, and would be there to help us through it all. He would push the students to take on tasks, and one of our girls told me he was the reason she first touched the robot. He made a seemless transition from student to college mentor, and was really good at the role of mentor.
We will all miss his face, his lip-ringed half grin, and his honesty. And we will always remember what he brought to our team.
Never forget your alumni... ever...
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