Congrats to Don Rotolo!

[galewind]

HUGE Congratulations to Don Rotolo for the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award for the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Championship!

Don has been a mentor for team 1676 since its inception 8 years ago, and has been their WFFA nominee for all 8 years! So congrats on the award that has been a long-time coming!

He is an incredibly well-deserving communicator, who respects and listens to students and mentors alike. He shares valuable information with other teams, and is always willing to lend a helping hand. He is incredibly encouraging, both in person and online (I first "met" him through congratulatory posts here on CD).

It was an absolute honor to have the opportunity to participate in the awards ceremony to add such a tremendous asset to MAR into the motley WFFA crew we have in the region.

Congrats to Don and to 1676 for this well-deserved award!

[Brandon Holley]

Big congrats to Don and 1676. Extremely well deserved.

-Brando

[ebarker]

yay Don !!

[nlknauss]

Huge congrats Don! After getting to know you more and more over our last few encounters have really enjoyed your thoughts and perspectives on many things FRC. Certainly someone for mentors and students (future mentors ) to look up to!

[tim-tim]

Congratulations Don!!!! This is a well deserved award.

You have always impressed me during our interactions in the 2007 and 2008 NJ regionals, and the 2011 VA regional. Congrats again Don, and (hopefully) see you in St. Louis!

[Billfred]

Congratulations, Don! One of the best pit neighbors one can ask for.

[IndySam]

That's awesome, congrats Don!

[George A.]

Congrats Don!

Am I the only one who is amazed he hasn't already won it.?!?!

[JaneYoung]

Looks like somebody deserves a box of chocolate covered maraschino cherries.

Congratulations, Don! I hope to find you in St. Louis and congratulate you in person!

This is great news.

Jane

[SteveGPage]

Congratulations, Don! Well deserved! That is awesome!

[Justin Montois]

Congrats Don! That is awesome news, so happy for you.

[vhcook]

Originally Posted by George A.

Congrats Don!

Am I the only one who is amazed he hasn't already won it.?!?!

I'm equally amazed. Congratulations, Don!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Congrats Don and welcome to the fold.

[GaryVoshol]

I'll add my congratulations. Great job.

[mhayon]

I have to echo the congratulations. I was going to start a post on this topic, but the fact that one already exists speaks volumes for Don's impact on the FIRST community.

I first met Don in 2005 (well, he was my neighbor first, but first time with respect to FIRST). Someone approached me and told me that this Don's company was interested in working with a high school to join this thing called FIRST. One night that week, I went to Don's company, where I sat in a room of the company's employees. Two volunteers from the state introduced FIRST and the benefits on the community. (Don was in that room, of course).

Fast forward to build season. Probably a dozen employees showed up to our first meeting. The number got whittled down every week. By the end of that week, the number of mentors from that company was down to one-- Don.

The next year, Don's company ended its partnership with the team. These things happen. But remarkably, Don kept mentoring the team, spending hundreds and thousands of hours mentoring a team that his company wasn't involved in, that he didn't have a child on. Rather, just because he enjoyed it.

And even more remarkably, Don returned to work with the team every single year after that. Yes, all 8 years the team has been in existence. And he has never waivered in his contributions to the team. We could probably count on one hand how many days of the build season and/or competitions Don has not been to in those 8 years.

To date, there has not been a 1676 without Don. For everything 1676 is known for, Don has been a major part.

Everyone that is currently working with the team or has ever been with the team, or just are related to the team, are exceedingly proud of Don.

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" - Isaac Newton, 1676