UFH: Eric Rasmussen

[CD47-Bot]

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Eric Rasmussen.



Name: Eric Rasmussen
Date Honored: 10-31-2005
Years involved w/FIRST: 13
FIRST Team(s): FIRST / Other (0000)
Role: Senior Computer Systems Analyst, FIRST
Quote: “Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.”
Bio: Eric Rasmussen sees a side of FIRST that many of us can't fathom. Eric has been working with FIRST for 11 years now, longer than many of the people we call 'veterans'. Through the past 11 years, FIRST has undergone many changes, but Eric has been a guiding force through it all- to make sure that FIRST participants have an educational, fun, and inspiring experience. Starting out on Team 190 from WPI, Eric mentored as a grad student for two years before moving on to FIRST. He's just a do-it-all kind of guy, as you'll see. He even sent us a picture of him employing his niece Ella to test E-Stop buttons on the 2003 field.

Eric told us how he got started in the FIRST program: "I was a graduate student at WPI while on the team. I served as mentor and chaperon to the students, and helped with the robot design, testing, and fabrication. One of the students came back over the summer and I taught him basic computer programming. I also helped produce the team T-shirts and supplied them with day-glow pink safety glasses."

Eric also had a unique memorable FIRST moment, from a side of the action most of us don't get to see. "I was working late one night answering rules questions for a team update. It was a little after 3 AM and suddenly the phone rang. It was a team from New Jersey (sorry, I don't remember which one) up late working on their robot, and they had a rules question. Boy were they surprised when I answered the phone and answered their question. I still laugh to myself when I remember it." It takes dedication and immense effort to keep FIRST going.

While his contributions to FIRST are innumerable, Eric gave us a short list of his accomplishments. "I was a mentor for a team during the first two years of the FIRST Robotics Competition. At FIRST, I have been involved in putting together the kit of parts, game design, writing the rules, answering rules questions, helping design and implement many improvements in the robot control systems, traveling to events to provide rules and technical support, helping design and build several generations of event scoring systems, creating and maintaining the FIRST website and registration systems, maintaining the FIRST computer systems, and attending a number of team-run events including every Rumble at the Rock and BattleCry@WPI."

When asked to describe FIRST to an outsider, Eric told us, "FIRST is the real deal when it comes to positive, life-changing experiences. It teaches you the importance of teamwork, that you don't need to be Einstein to overcome tremendously complex problems, and that hard work coupled with creativity can produce an extraordinary amount of fun."

Lastly, Eric gave his fellow FIRSTers a bit of advice. "Participating in FIRST is something you will never forget. It is a very fun and rewarding experience, and that leads many people to spend a huge amount of their time being involved. Be involved and do good things, but don't overdo it."

Congratulations to Eric Rasmussen, our 45th Unsung FIRST Hero.


Nominated By: confidential

[MikeDubreuil]

Wow this is awesome. Eric is the man when it comes to FIRST. I remember back in the day when he actually designed the control systems. That was before IFI and when you had to return the control system to FIRST. Congradulations Eric!

[Steve W]

Eric is a living example of GP. He is one of the nicest guys at FIRST and one of the most helpful. This award could not have gone to a better choice. Congrats to you and hope to see you again back in Canada.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Congratulations, Eric!

[Brandon Martus]

Congratulations, Eric. Well deserved.

[Amanda Morrison]

Congratulations to Eric Rasmussen for being honored as our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

[tiffany34990]

Congrats to Mr. Rasmussen. You like all of the UFH deserve this award.

[Andy Brockway]

Congratulations Eric! Thanks for all your help through the years!

[Greg Ross]

It's about time! Congratulations!

[Andy Grady]

I remember back in the day when there was no new fangled question and answer message board with procedures for blah blah blah. Back then...you would call Eric up on the phone, and you would get your answer! To many of us old timers, Eric is right up there with Dean and Woodie. Its good to see him get his due.

Thanks for everything Eric!

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

I remember back in the day when there was no new fangled question and answer message board with procedures for blah blah blah. Back then...you would call Eric up on the phone, and you would get your answer! To many of us old timers, Eric is right up there with Dean and Woodie. Its good to see him get his due.

Amen. Those days are missed, as that is a casualty of having more teams in FIRST. While those were "the good old days", having more teams is better (imo).

Eric has been a valuable contributor at FIRST ever since the beginning, and he seems to enjoy being behind the scenes. Therefore, he is the ideal "Unsung FIRST Hero". All of us owe gratitude to Eric, as the robot controller, field controller, robot software, scoring system (the old ones, not recent), event planning (the technical portion), and other parts of FIRST have all benefitted from Eric's expertise. All of FIRST has Eric to thank, and many FIRSTers don't know who he is. This recognition is a good start.

Congrats, Eric.

Does anyone have a pic of Eric with his "fish tie" he used to wear at WDW?

Andy B.

[Mike Martus]

Eric is a legend in FIRST for sure.... wait he is still giving 150% at all times. Can he be a legend?

Congrats Eric, you are a very special person in the Community of FIRST.

[Karthik]

Congratulations Eric!

Andy and Andy summed it up best. Back in the day, Eric was FIRST team support. If you had a question, you phoned Eric and he answered it. I have no idea how Eric accomplished everything that he did, because it really seemed like he was doing it all.

FIRST would not be where it is today if it wasn't for all your amazing efforts in the early days. For this, you cannot be thanked enough.

[David Kelso]

Eric...
Congratulations....word on the street is that when the FIRST Action Figures hit the market next year, you will become a true legend.

As one of two or three remaining FIRST Staff members from the real old days, it was always interesting to go in and visit you....but not beyond the special door way.

I also recall bringing back the FIRST control system and r nets that got destroyed when my house got struck by lightning in the mid '90's. I figured I was out some real money. Eric did not harass me at all.

Again...good luck and I hope you stick it out another 10 years.

[Wayne C.]

Eric has been on the phone in NH as long as I have been around. It wouldn't be FIRST without him.

(we might have been that NJ team he mentions!!)

Congratulations !

WC