Congratulations to 2012 WFFA

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Congratulations to our newest WFFAs. Special thanks to their teams for making such a spectacular nomination.

Kansas City Pete Speer Team #1730
Granite State Ralph Newell Team #58
Smoky Mountain Sam Bacon Team 1466
Alamo David Yanoshak Team #2158
San Diego Bill Berggren Team #1538

[lynca]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Alamo David Yanoshak Team #2158

Congrats David and the AusTin Cans on their Chariman's and Dean's List.
That was a huge sweep at Alamo

Some of you might know David as the Jaguar guy !
http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=18532

But I've known David as a committed mentor since 2007 in the AusTin Cans FIRST Rookie Season.

It is interesting to look back at the Rookie All-Star Newsletter from AusTin Cans in 2007 !
https://sites.google.com/site/firsta...imans07PDF.pdf

To their current 2012 Form ! http://www.andersonrobotics.org/team-biographies/

[gorrilla]

add Dave Owen from team 1557(12voltbolt) at the Orlando regional.

[Josh Goodman]

Congratulations to the 2012 Finger Lakes Regional WFFA winner, Jeff Downs from Team #1511!!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I was very happy to be present for the Duluth Regional presentation to Mike Whitman of More Robotics, 1714. Congratulations to a great mentor who really cares about his students.

[Dave Campbell]

Travis Hoffman of the noteworthy Delphi Elite FRC Team #48, in Pittsburgh. Congrats to all.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

OK, Congratulations to Week 2 WFFAs,
Haim Derivin from Team #1574
Dave Owen from team #1557
Mike Whitman from Team #1714
Travis Hoffman from Team #48
Don Morrison from Team #610
Jay Cameron
Marco Ciavolino from Team #3941
Jeff Downs from Team #1511
Dale Yocum from Team #1540

[Taylor]

Yet another year full of "I can't believe they're not already WFFAs" WFFAs.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Yet another year full of "I can't believe they're not already WFFAs" WFFAs.

Our lead mentor has banned us from nominating every year, except he forgot to this year. I'm feeling very good about his chances at the Wisconsin Regional.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

On to congratulations for our week three WFFAs!

John Charlton Team #296
Eric Nelson Team #1072
Jose Ignacio Fernandez (team not listed)
Ed Barker Team #1311
Jason Zielke Team #1024
Steven Phillips Team #364
Dean Klein Team#1891
Kathy Ward (team not listed)
Jeanne Boyarsky Team #694

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

On to congratulations for our week three WFFAs!

John Charlton Team #296
Eric Nelson Team #1072
Jose Ignacio Fernandez (team not listed)
Ed Barker Team #1311
Jason Zielke Team #1024
Steven Phillips Team #374
Dean Klein Team#1891
Kathy Ward (team not listed)
Jeanne Boyarsky Team #694

I think that would be FRC 364, Team Fusion, Al.

Congratulations all!

Jane

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Thanks,
Corrected.

[Joe Ross]

Jose is from team 2576, Chilean Heart. He was able to hold his team together despite losing his father in the earthquake last year.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Thanks! And thanks for editing week 3 for our (NY) "one day later than everyone else regional".

[Taylor]

While some of the WFFA recipients are well-known to veteran CD-ers, several of them are unknown to those of us separated by geography. I invite all of you to describe the achievements of this year's WFFAs.

Please allow me to take a minute or two to discuss the Boilermaker Regional WFFA, Jason Zielke.
Jason tends to be a quiet, thoughtful, modest individual that most students may recognize by sight but probably would not know well.

Indiana has the luxury of having several close-knit, friendly teams who work together to raise each other up. We host at least three FRC offseason competitions, an annual workshop to educate and train team members, have regular mentor conferences - we're a pretty progressive and pragmatic state (it should be noted we're not exclusive - several teams from area states have participated in our projects). Jason looked at what we're doing, and saw how it could be improved.

Under his lead, we have greatly increased our presence in the community. He organized or helped organize FRC exhibitions at a Maker Faire, at Celebrate Science Indiana - a huge festival at the State Fairgrounds, an interactive 'mini-competition' at Interactive Intelligence, a company that Jason helped bring on-board to support many area teams, and more. He leverages his experience and contacts to bring in sponsors, supporters, and media. He takes pride in and celebrates all teams, not just the Kil-A-bytes. This year, a quarter of the 40 teams competing at the Boilermaker Regional were rookies. Jason had a hand in the creation of many of these teams. He has paired large organizations - such as Interactive Intelligence and the TechPoint Foundation - with IndianaFIRST, creating funding and celebratory opportunities with all teams, rookie and veteran alike.

I imagine there are several people on CD that can fill in pieces of info I'm missing.

It's hard to imagine Jason doing all the work he's done to help promote and fund STEM initiatives while keeping a full-time job. His career is pretty cool, too - his company designs and manufactures autonomous golf green mowers, and employs several FRC alumni and mentors.

Inside and outside the FIRST community, Jason exemplifies gracious professionalism and is truly a STEM hero and role model. I look forward to watching him cross the stage at the World Championships soon.