a BIG thank you!

[the_short1]

First off, bear with me if i forget someone/something .. please correct me.

I would just like to say Thank You to all the teams, volunteers, sponsers, and mentors that have made my FIRST experience amazing. From the kickoff of my rookie year (2005), it was a great feeling to be a part of something this global and impact the way the world thinks about engineering.

The decission to join the robotics team was simple, I figured ide fill the boring winter months, and meet a few people along the way. What i didnt expect was to learn a vast ammount, and have the time of my life.

FIRST has had a definate impact on my life, and i try to share the same Gracious Professionalism with all those that i can, and i have made the decision to follow the Engineering path, either in Software or Electrical deciplines. My university choices varied, but after going to Waterloo regional this past week, i was able to sample a part of the Waterloo lifestyle and atmosphere and im pumped because its my first choice for universities when i grad.

To all the friends ive met through FIRST, thank you for brightening my life and further extending my network of aquiantances.

Susan Lawrence (the midwest director of FIRST): as meeting you at GLR 2006 and being able to talk for 15minutes really put a highlight on my day.

Steve Warren and the other field announcer (?name escapes me at the momment) @ Waterloo Regional, for keeping our spirits high and the energy level even higher, without you i doubt our team would have won Spirit award after the many crushing defeats on saturday. As well to everyone at Waterloo regional, as it is now our team favourite for having a reliable field, fun teams, and fair gameplay!

Govenor of michigan: stopping by our pits to talk with us was an amazing opportunity

Our team's mentors: for guiding us through the year and teaching us the skills we needed

Our drivers: for their effort, and for dedication, even though the whole team might be upset at you for doing poorly on a match.

Our sponsers: thank you for giving us the ability to attend 2 regionals and build 2 robots (1 competition, 1 practice) your valued support is highly appreciated on our team. GM, CEF, LEGO, Algoma Steel, ADSB, others (see website)

THANK YOU to Chief Delphi, for connecting everyone and allowing the network of students, mentors, and information to flow.

All the teams that gave us peer awards, Thank you for making each day at our regionals great, and your support really makes our team proud to be a part of FIRST.

HOT (67) - Best Rookie, GLR 2005
???? (????) - i know im missing one, ill find out tomorow
Waldo (1547) - Favourite Rookie, GTR 2006
Spartronics (1503) - Spirit, GLR 2006
Oaktown Crewz (1188) - Spirit, GLR 2006
Lightning Robotics, (862) - Coolest Team Uniform, GLR 2006
Truck Town Thunder (68) - Overachiever, Waterloo 2006
????? (????) - we got a second one at waterloo, but i was not told which


Futhermore, i would like to thank all the alliance captain's who picked us over the last 2 years as you have made my team very excited about the FIRST project by giving us the energy and the will to continue on to each regional irregardless of not winning one to date. Also the teams that in combination allowed us to set highest scores, as they just boosted our team's spirit up a level;
703 - GLR 2005 (Alliance Captain)
447 & 121 - Nationals 2005 (Highest Qualifying Match Score) - Galileo
835 - GTR 2005 (Alliance Captain)
1219 - Waterloo 2006 (Alliance Captain)
1680 & 1114 - Waterloo 2006 (Highest Match Score)

and lastly;
Dean Kamen for creating an awsome game and enspiring teenagers to express their passion for engineering.

and to anyone i missed, THANK YOU
Kevin F.
Team 1596

edit: if you have a thank you, feel free to post it here as well.

[the_short1]

wow.. im kind of surprised no one i thanked replied to this thread... i hope (those teams/people) get to read it.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by the_short1

wow.. im kind of surprised no one i thanked replied to this thread... i hope (those teams/people) get to read it.

Kevin,
I am sure they stand in awe of the great job you did thanking everyone. I know that so many of these people are still working hard on the last week of regionals and may have missed your post. I agree with you for many of these people I have also met. I am happy that so many have participated in making your First experience so great. It is what we are supposed to do. Do not forget what you have learned here. Go on and do great things.

[SugaRaXie]

Wow, this definitely means a lot man. I thought I had replied to this...but I guess not [$@#$@#$@#$@#, I replied with 'thanks' to your button collections thread instead!] --

Seriously...this means a lot; though, there's no need to really thank us -- I know I've said this several times -- but, seriously, we wouldn't have gotten as far as we did without 1596 -- and it was definitely a disappointment to not see you guys at GTR.

I have to admit -- the past four years for 1219 were amazing. First year we managed to nab the rookie-all star award [Friday] at the Canadian Regional. Second year we were the only school with two seperate teams [1219 - Iron Eagles - for boys, 1309 - Diamond Eagles - for girls] -- probably one of thee, if not thee, biggest teams in FIRST. Third year -- horrible at GTR -- but Atlanta was beyond amazing. 5th of 85 [4th alliance captain] definitely brought our spirits up -- placing higher than any other Non-US team in the History of the Championships made our FIRST experience beyond amazing. Fourth year -- this year -- 2nd of 30 in Waterloo and getting the Innovation in Control Award -- amazing. It's a shame we can't go to Atlanta this year...we didn't have the money so we didn't put our names in when the tier's opened up and what not; it definitely would've made the year of all those graduating this year [like me].

We definitely wouldn't have done it without any of the teams that helped us along the way...it was definitely because of you guys we did as well as we did; we all learned from each other.

2004 Canadian Regional:

• 1114 -- Derek Bessette -- THANKS A LOT. I don't even thanks covers how much you helped 1309 [Girls team] out in 2nd year! Thanks a lot -- I doubt we would've gotten as far in the competition as we had without your help.
• 843 & 758 -- we were beyond happy when you guys asked us to be on your alliance. We thank you BEYOND words!

2005 Championships:

• 1507 & 694 -- we made it to the semifinals because of YOU guys! You guys gotta admit...winning that quarter-finals match was an amazing feeling...especially since we were up against some amazing teams.
• 854 -- although we didn't all get along; it was still awesome we all went down to Atlanta together. If we were all [you guys and us] were all going this year again -- we should've all bussed together! Maybe this time we'd have a second chance to make a first impression -- since our first impressions to one another went sour. None-the-less, we'd like to thank you guys for accompanying us to the Championships last year!

2005 Wonderland Off-Season Invitational:

• 865 & 1680 -- Thanks a bunch for picking us at Wonderland -- it was awesome.

2006 Waterloo Regional:

• 1596 & 912 -- we made it as far as we did because of you guys; trust me when I say this. If we hadn't had our problems in the regional, I think we would've made it farther than just the semi's -- then again, all we can do is speculate now eh. It was awesome working with you guys -- I hope to come back next year and mentor so I can work with you guys again -- hopefully on the same side of the field rather than the opposite end!
• 68 -- Thanks for the 'Play of the Day' award -- haha, we proudly displayed it at GTR!

2006 Greater Toronto Regional:

• 1281 & 45 -- it was AMAZING working with you guys! Its disappointing we didn't get as far as we had hoped, but it was still a fun experience! Too bad we won't see you guys in ATL, since we aren't going. It was a fun run -- thanks for picking us -- I think we had a pretty solid alliance!

Man, now that I think about it -- its gonna be so sad next year. Busy with uni...FIRST was a beyond fun experience! I hope there is a 1219 next year -- a bunch of us want to come back and mentor the new/up-coming kids and make it as awesome for them as it was for us. And...fine, I'll admit it -- we aren't able to let FIRST go! haha, as I told many of my friends -- I'm not letting FIRST go until 1219 [or any team I'm on/mentoring] wins a regional -- I refuse to let my FIRST career/experience die without winning a regional!