Chesapeake WF Award

[tkwetzel]

As most people already know, Dave is an amazing guy! He stays busier than anyone else I have ever known and still takes his time to help FIRST, team 116, and it's members. He is greatly into enineering and building things, that when approached by a student, or even former student, to help with a project he is willing and EAGER to help. I have never seen him turn anyone away when being asked for help or guidance.

I went to college this past year and built a chopper with a friend. It was a lot of fun and everyone has seen that Dave enjoyed it too! I went home over thanksgiving break with the thought that I was owning it (my friend was the one who initially purchased everything) and took it back over to Dave's house with some ideas in my head. I had previously given him two sets (8 wheels) of alloy car wheels to melt down in his forge or to use for whatever. I was thinking that if the wheels had not been used or a project planned with them, I could melt them down in Dave's forge and cast/machine some custom wheels for the chopper. When I got to Dave's house and told him of the idea, he quickly got to thinking and asking questions (he wouldn't just give me answers). He said that they may be too soft and weak to support the chopper, so I said that it would be fun to do anyways just to say that I made custom wheels for my chopper and I would use them if I could and would use the current wheels if the custom ones were too weak. I told him that I would like to learn a lot about metalworking which was part of the reason I wanted to make the wheels. Dave helped me think a lot of things through and said he was ready to help more, but I needed to have a drawing to go any further. I ended up scraping the idea when we decided to sell the chopper (which never happened) and have not returned to it since. But Dave's willingness and eagerness to help me and devote time to such a project shows his passion for engineering and helping others.

CONGRATULATIONS DAVE, you really deserve this!!! You have inspired me!

[richardp]

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVE! I know that he has inspired me. The fact he is so happy and eager to help, sets him out. I don't think that there is anything that I can say that wasn't put into the essay for the award. I know that Dave has had an impact on me and has inspired me though out the years I have been on the team. I still am amazed that he didn't even know we submitted him for the award, I don't even know if he knew we submitted for the award at all. I really hope that Dave can win this award at Atlanta!

[Rich Kressly]

It's cool when good things happen to good people.

[Kyle]

Congratulations to Dave Lavery! I left Chesapeake early on Saturday so I was not there to see who won, but once I herd that it was Dave I knew It was a great choice. Although I do not know him very well, every time that I have met him he has taken time to talk to me and answer any of my questions. Last year at Chesapeake I approached him during lunch time and He invited me to sit with him and talk even though that was probably one of his brief moments of rest. So once again Congratulations Mr.Lavery

[Billfred]

I'm with Heidi...I thought you'd have gotten this far years ago.

Congrats, Dave!

--Billfred
(who is weighing the pros and cons of having twelve Dave Lavery pictures in the caption contest hopper)

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I'm with Heidi...I thought you'd have gotten this far years ago.

Yeah! Now that you've quit slacking off, I want to see some real contributions

Congratulations, Dave

[dlavery]

All -

Thank you very much for your comments and congratulations. They are most appreciated. As I look at the (still growing) list of 2005 WFA winners, I am humbled to find my name listed among them. Earlier today, I finally saw a copy of the essay that was submitted by my team (there will be a separate reckoning later with all those that kept this a secret from me ). The narrative overwhelmed me. It is something that I will keep for a long, long time.

But in the mean time, it is time to put my "Grumpy" shirt back on, and get back to being a curmudgeon. Ya gotta stick with what you do best!

-dave

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Congratulations, Dave.
For me it was not a matter of IF you would be named, just WHEN. Thanks for all you have done for the organization and the students you have helped.

[seanwitte]

Last season I was surprised when I found out Dave hadn't already won the award. Seeing him in action shows me the kind of mentor I wish I could be. Aside from his high profile role in FIRST he is also an outstanding mentor to the students on Team 116. No matter how busy he is he manages to make time to answer even my dumb questions. Congratulations Dave and good luck in Atlanta.