UFH: Derek Bessette

[CD47-Bot]

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Derek Bessette.



Name: Derek Bessette
Date Honored: 08-14-2006
Years involved w/FIRST: 4
FIRST Team(s): General Motors - St. Catharines Powertrain/Allied Marine and Industrial &, Governor Simcoe Secondary School (1114)
Role: Design and Build Mentor
Quote: Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself.
Bio: Derek Bessette is one of the extraordinary mentors from the successful team #1114. He takes on a lot of responsibilities for the team, and fills a lot of roles. He told us, "I am the lead Mentor for the Design and Build Sub-Team. I take the ideas from the NiagaraFIRST brainstorming session and review it with the design team. From these ideas we come up with a robot design, create drawings and pass them on to the build team. I help teach the team how to properly build parts and hone their skills on the use of the CNC and manual machines in our shop. I am in charge of parts acquisition and managing the GM sponsored portion of the robot parts budget. I am also the lead GM mentor for team 1114. In this role I work with Greg Phillips, the Governor High School teacher team leader, and the other mentors to help guide the team. Finally, I am the coach for the 1114 drive team."

Derek also has a very inspiring moment he calls his favorite. "My favorite FIRST memory is from the 2006 season at the Great Lakes regional. We worked very hard on this years robot and had great involvement and dedication by a large group of students. The regional started out fairly well. We were winning matches and the robot and students were performing great, except for one thing. We kept breaking our drive belts on the new tank drive train we decided on for this season. The problem slowly got worse as the regional went on and as we got more defensive attention put on us by opposing robots. Through the semi-finals and finals, it felt like we were changing belts between every match. As I discussed some strategy with the other teams, I looked over and saw two of our students, a teacher and a college student working to replace a belt. They were working in perfect unison at lightning speed. The stress level was high, but the students were calm as can be, working quickly but steadily to get the job done. I have never encountered so many problems at one regional event. But with the hard work of everyone on the team we were able to push through those problems and win the regional. I have never been so proud to be a mentor."

Additionally, he has worked hard to help guide his team toward success. "As a team, we have had many accomplishments over the last four years. We have won many technical awards and regional events due to the hard work of our team. We also won our first Chairman’s award this year at the Waterloo regional. We have grown FIRST in the area by starting two new FRC teams and running a local FLL tournament which has increased the number of teams in our area."

Derek had a concise, but distinct way of describing the FIRST program. "FIRST is by far the best program available for getting young students excited about engineering and technology. It’s a fun way to learn for kids of all ages."

Lastly, he had this to say: "My advice to FIRST-ers out there is work hard, have fun, and keep learning. This is a great program, however you won’t get much out of it without putting something in. Find a way to balance FIRST into your life and work as hard as you can to be a contributing member on your team. Be constructive with your criticism of others and be liberal with your praise. Always listen to the ideas of others, you’ll be surprised how a bad idea can lead to a great one. "

Congratulations to Derek Bessette, recepient of our next Unsung Heroes Award!

Nominated By: Karthik

[Holtzman]

That a boy Derek.

I've known Derek for almost 4 years, and in that time he's earned my respect and admiration. He began as just a mentor, now he's both a mentor and a friend to me.

He's an amazing designer, great coach, good with kids... and a great all around mentor, and very deserving of this award.

Congrats D... you earned it!

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by Holtzman

He's an amazing designer, great coach, good with kids... and a great all around mentor, and very deserving of this award.

... and a better singer than Karthik.

I had the pleasure to meet Derek this past year at IRI. This award is well deserved. Congrats man.

[Steve W]

He can work with Karthik. How much more can you say?

Congrats Derek !!!!! You deserve the honour!!!!!

[KathieK]

Congratulations Derek!

[Vince lau]

Congrats Derek, good job.

[Mr. Lim]

Congratulations Derek! Truly a deserved honour!

FIRST's most storied Canadian rivalry just wouldn't be the same without you .

I'm already looking forward to working with/against you next year .

-Shawn T. Lim...

[DanDon]

Congrats!!!

[Karthik]

I've worked with Derek for the past three years, since I joined Team 1114. He's one the best designers in this program and possibly one of the most unrecognized. A large part of the success of Team 1114 over the past four years is directly attributed to Derek. From the ingenious "paw" on the stacking wonder of 2003, to the deadly accurate shooter of 2006.

In 2005 Derek took over the coaching duties for Team 1114 from me. Those of you who know me, know how dedicated I was to that role. Derek has treated that role with the same amount of respect I have, and has done an amazing job. Coaching isn't just about winning matches, but getting the drive team to extend themselves to a new level. Derek's coaching has taught our drive team skills that they'll take with them forever. This is what I call "truly inspiring".

Derek is a leader of our team on and off the field. His dedication, attention to detail and drive inspire us all, students and mentors.

Derek, thanks for all you've done for the 1114 family. You're a great colleague and an even better friend. Some may even say, "you're the wind beneath my wings..."

I can't wait to see where our journey takes us next.

"and in the words of Ric Flair..."

[Beth Sweet]

Eeek! Congratulations Derek! I've gotten the pleasure of talking with you a few times now and I have heard much, much more from others (:cough: Karthik :cough: ). Everything I've seen and heard points straight to UFH/WFA. I'm glad that this went to such a great mentor, who seems to be quite unrecognized until now. Here's to the FIRST community knowing what a great asset we have in you!

[Ellery]

Congratulations Derek!
Another well deserved nomination! Also congrats on your wedding too, I just got married myself last year. The challenge now is how to balance FIRST with Work, Family, and grad school.... Hmm what a task.

Ellery

[Tristan Lall]

Congratulations, Derek!

I've also had the pleasure of working with him, both at GM St. Catharines and as an occasional mentor to 1114 and 1503, and I'll gladly echo the many well-deserved compliments that others have offered him. Keep up the excellent work.

[Lindsay Davies]

Congratulations Derek, and thank you for making my first year wonderful.
When build season first started, I felt very overwhelmed since I didn't know my way around the shop whatsoever. I didn't even know what vicegrips looked like. So when the time came when I was asked to do something, I would come to you with many of my questions and no matter how silly they were, you still took the time to help me.
I've learned a lot from you, and I hope to know more next year as well.
Thank you, and congratulations again, you deserve it.

[J Flex 188]

While I have been more of a passive reader and observer of ChiefDelphi this summer rather than an active poster, I simply had to come out and broadcast my thoughts about this particular UFH. As a student.. well a high school student at least, I would always see Derek working with, in, or around the 1114 pits, drive team or meeting area. While I didn't know or appreciate some of the finer points of his functions on the team before, I always noticed that he was already getting his hands dirty, explaining or repairing or teaching to members of his own and other teams. This year I got the opportunity to work with him and observe other members of 1114 more closely and came away more impressed than ever before with the professionalism and dedication that he espouses and instills among the students that he works with. I considered it a pleasure and an honour to work with him and look forward to many more instances in the future!

[Chris Sturrock]

Congratulations Derek.

all i can say is thank you, I have learned so much over the past 2 years, you've been an amazing mentor to all three teams.

you deserve this.