How did you thank your engineers/mentors/sponsors this year?

We always have a party after nationals to thank everyone and celebrate the end of the season. This year the students of the team went shopping and bought presents for all the mentors. I wasn't there, but the gifts that were picked out fit the people extremely well. I'd like to take the time to thank them here, too.

Gail Alpert- The driving force behind our team. Even after Gail's kids graduated she's been there everyday. She helps organize us everything, and runs the team. She may not be an engineer, but she has tons of experience from past competitions and is always ready to sit and help us with our problems in design, build, or strategy! (Usually at the sacrifice of all sleep.) So this year we got her an embroidered blanket, in addition to a poster board with a person thank you from each person on the team.

Art Ostrowski- Our main engineer. He's always there to help us work through design and build. We could never thank him enough for all the hours he puts in. So many in fact, that he doesn't sleep either. So, one of the gifts we got him was a pillow that a student drew "469" with bananas, gorrillas, and students on. He also had a poster board with personal thank yous.

Ed Hockman- Our beloved machinist! Of course, he also has a poster board with thanks from the team. In addition we got him a lighter, and a stuffed dog. All to thank him for more countless hours of welding and helping us assemble our robot!

Ron Thuringer- Our electrical mentor. Always willing and able to help us with the board! We got him a new soldering iron... can never have too many of those! We also printed out a book of the teams thank yous since he couldn't make the party.

Allen Richardson- A new mentor for us, and a programmer. Thank you for all your help, Allen!

George Tong- A 469 Alumni, who was there literally as much as any student. More than most. He was always willing to help us learn how to use a machine, or desmonstrate a better way to make a part. We got him a hello-kitty toaster for his dorm next year. Thanks George!!

Dan Kimura- Another 469 Alum who is always there to aid with strategy, programming, and just being all-around helpful. A great and funny guy, too. More hello-kitty merchandise!

Ludwig Stump- The father of one of our drivers and a dedicated engineer! We'll miss him next year, because he moved back to Germany. (Along with our driver...grrr.) But hey, maybe now we'll see "FIRST Deuschland"!

Also, many parents of students were always driving people back and forth to meetings (drives of up to an hour!), helping out to supervise, and just being generally useful! This never could have happened without their support!


THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MENTORS AND DEDICATED PARENTS!!!!