Chesapeake WF Award

[MissInformation]

Congratulations again, Dave, on winning this award. My first year on the team, I knew nothing. My second year on the team, I knew about all of the awards, but based on what I knew about you, sort of assumed this was the type of award you would have already won. Found out during my third year that team 116 had never submitted an entry for the Woodie Flowers award. Quite a few people were surprised about this, and we decided to change it come the 2005 season. The students voted, and you were their number one choice. Audrey, Joanne, Christine and I did talk about your role in FIRST overall, and wondered how they could not pick you, knowing who you are and what you do, but also wondering how they could pick you, for the same reasons. With this in mind, Audrey wrote her wonderful essay, for when it comes right down to it, whatever you give to FIRST, you give even more to our team.



And I have to share this with everyone because I overheard it and it was really touching and is just another example of why Dave is the type of person who makes you believe in heroes. After he got his award, people were crowding around to congratulate him. One of our students approached him to thank him and he just turned it around and complimented her on the work she did on the music for our team's animation. This student has a learning disability, and always worries she doesn't contribute enough (she is by far one of the sweetest people on the team, always ready to smile and compliment others). The fact that Dave took the time, during his moment of glory, to appreciate the work she did, did more for her self-esteem than the animation actually winning regional. I talked to her for a while about her future that night, and she is planning on going into graphic design (she also wants to one day mentor a robotics team) and while it's going to be a battle for her because of her learning disability, I think that the faith she now has in her own abilities will take care of half of the battle for her. I'm telling you, it was really moving, so much that I almost cried. It really brought home the realization that inspiration is a two way street. I go in hoping to inspire and find myself inspired, and I think that's the way it should be.

And while I am not that big on hero-worship, I am pretty darn proud to know Dave. However, this does not mean that I will stop picking on him (you know the old saying about leopards and their spots...) so yes, I did have a small part in this image. *

Heidi

<==========>
*find me in Atlanta for an actual button...

[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)

[JVN]

Originally Posted by MissInformation

...whatever you give to FIRST, you give even more to our team.

THAT quote is going to stick with me for a long, LONG time.
Thank you Heidi, and Congratulations Dave!

-JV

[Chris Fultz]

Congratulations Dave - You are the Person!

Great luck in the rest of the season and see you in Atlanta!

[Amanda Morrison]

Congratulations - an award well deserved.
Someone I know I certainly look up to.

[Wetzel]

Thank you Dave. Most people have no idea how much of a diffrence you really make.


Wetzel

[Katie Reynolds]

Congrats, Dave!

[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.