UFH: Ian Mackenzie

[Arefin Bari]

"FIRST is a fantastic place to learn teamwork (there’s no way to avoid it!) and to have the experience of working on a large, exciting project with a great group of people, but it would be a mistake to lose track of the excellent pure technical experience that FIRST can provide." - Ian Mackenzie


Very True Ian. Even though i dont know you, but after reading your nomination i realize that you are very well deserved for this honor. Serving FIRST as student, volunteer, and mentor for the past 7 years is a long time. but when you are busy with soemthing that you love to do, time passes by very fast. Congrats Ian. we are happy to have someone like you in our FIRST community...

[J Flex 188]

Ian is one of the nicest and most gracious people you will ever meet in the FIRST family. It's always fun to stop by the simbotics pit and joke around with him and the team about our matches, and as I'm sure everyone else is aware, the ribbing doesnt stop at all. But at the same time, he's always ready to help out, with materials, and the workshops in his profile. We just wish we could steal him and Karthik back for the 2005 season =P

[jonathan lall]

My first year in FIRST saw Ian coming to meetings almost as frequently as I, to contribute to our robot's function and showing up halfway through the build season with two ridiculously complex gearboxes he'd built in the background, with six motors each. What?!

For those of you who don't know Ian, he lives FIRST. Not only has it totally shaped his career path and education, but he even has his parents into it. He's known to throw parties for others in the FIRST family. The amount of work Ian has put into 188's development (and don't forget 1114's monstrosity last year, for which Ian is largely responsible) is nothing short of staggering. He's a major factor behind 188's and 1114's success in Canada.

Ian so deserves this. Congratulations.

[Steve W]

Ian, what can I say. All that I hear at Team 188 is Ian this and Ian that. He is definitely FIRST at its best. If I can make 1/10 of the impact that he has made I would be honoured.

Congrats and a tip of my hat to you Ian.

[JVN]

Also, props on the picture choice.

Now whenever I open up the portal in the next 15 days I get to see that beautiful robot.

[Tristan Lall]

It's nice to see Ian congratulated by the people of ChiefDelphi; I've had the opportunity to work with him for several years (since 1999, I guess...) with Woburn, and to help him with some of the Canadian Regional kickoff activities.

As it turns out, I learned all about gearboxes by playing with Woburn's first 3-motor examples, designed and built by Ian. He even invited me to his house to learn Pro/ENGINEER, and to give me some tips on designing my own.

He's definitely deserving of our recognition.

I can think of at least one better picture for this, though: how about a shot of Ian dancing to that 'NSync song (Bye Bye Bye?) beside the playing field at the Nationals, circa 2001...I wonder if we still have that photo?

[shyra1353]

Congratulations Ian... This is well - deserved ...

[Vince lau]

Congratulations Ian

[Karthik]

What can I say about Ian? I've worked with Ian for the past seven years. We began as high school students in 1998 (I was in grade 13, Ian a lowly grade 10). As one of the team veterans, I was always tentative to let go, and trust younger students with important jobs. Ian changed my outlook on this. His mechanical genius (yes, i do mean genius) was to bright to ignore. It was obvious that Ian was going to become a star. Over the years, Ian was responsible for many of the most creative (four big balls in 2001) and efficient designs, not only in Canada, but in all of FIRST. In 2002 he was responsible for the 6 drive motor monstrosity that was blizzard 3. He came up with this revolutionary design as a college freshmen!

Ian is by far the most gifted designer that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. When I realized that both Ian and I had been hired by GM, to lead Team 1114, I jumped nearly 40 inches in the air. Once I knew Ian was on board, success was inevitable. Everything he touches seems to turn to gold.

While working with Team 1114, Ian and I lived together. During the initial design of SimSwerve, our 2004 drive system, Ian went a period of 38 hours without sleep. He stationed himself at his dual monitor terminal, and designed, and designed. I tried to stay up with him, but to no avail. Eventually I had to leave, because he repeatedly threatened my life. (All in good fun) Having the chance to run a team with Ian was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The four months which made up the 2004 Season will never be forgotten.

Ian's involvement in FIRST is not just restricted to Robot Design. He is an amazing recruiter, which can be seen by the successes achieved by himself in Mark Breadner in helping the Canadian Regional grow. We are currently working together to extend this success to the Waterloo Regional.

Despite Ian's overwhelming genius, he has one quality that's even stronger. Ian is the most dedicated person I know. Ian let's nothing come between himself and his priorities. This does not only apply to FIRST, but academics and his friends. Ian is the kind of person who will always go out of his way to help someone. I consider myself lucky to have him as a roommate, a colleague, a teammate and most of all a friend.

I could go on for hours with stories about Ian, but I'll leave it at this. Congratulations Ian, on a well deserved honour.

Your friend,
Karthik

[Holtzman]

Let me tell you about the first time i met Ian. I was one of two students from 1114 attending a seminar mobility systems. I walked in and remembered thinking to myself "What a dork". My opinion Ian soon changed though. It was our rookie year, and i hadn't really been exposed to FIRST at all. I didn't even know what gracious professionalism was. Ian changed all that. Of all the mentors I had, I think Ian taught me the most, not just about robot design(which was alot), but also what it means to be FIRST. I can't thank him enough for all he did for me and for 1114.

One thing I remember clearly from that first seminar I attended. He showed a video of Wildstangs 2002 robot, and its strafing system, and I remember him saying how very difficult it was to construct a strafing system. Then one year later and 6 weeks later, we shipped the first Canadian strafing robot. And I don't care what anybody says, 6 motors is cool and all, but not as cool as going sideways. Ironically enough, Ian designed the two coolest drive systems in FIRST Canadian history.
(188's hexadrive and 1114's simswerve)

[DCA Fan]

Congrats Ian, though I prefer the pic Karthnik posted to the UFH one above

[Greg Perkins]

Hey congrats Ian!!!

Heres to you from all of your friends, soon-to-be-friends, and admirerers from New Hampshire!!!!!


What an awesome accomplishment!!!

Whoopie!!!!

[rourke]

Well, I like to think I can spot talent. Looks like I might have been right about this guy. Congratulations Ian! When I look into my crystal ball, I can see a bright future for you. Definitely a future Woodie Flowers Award Winner. And with his engineering skill and intellectual capacity, I think he's also a future Woodie Flowers.