UFH: Wayne Penn

[Erin Rapacki]

Congrats Wayne! Glad we have you here in the north

[KathieK]

Finally, Wayne had a bit of advice for his fellow FIRST participants. "It is the people in FIRST that make FIRST such a great organization. Take every opportunity that you can to meet and talk to students and mentors from your team and others alike. Everyone has a story to share or a lesson to be conveyed. Take the time also to show your appreciation for the diverse and dynamic group of people that you are privileged to call mentors, teammates, or FIRST friends. Remember, it is your actions, what you learn, and what you share with others on an everyday basis that defines you in FIRST, not what you will win or have won."

Another gem of advice to add to my cubicle wall. Thank you and congratulations, Wayne!

[Bethany Mc.]

Congratulations, you are a great person for this honor!

[roborat]

Congrats Wayne. We meet you in 2005 and had the pleasure of winning the pittsburgh region with your team as one of our alliance partners. You have been a class person every time i have meet you since. Nice job and congrats again. Rickey and team 1249 (RoboRats)

[Paul Copioli]

Congratulations Wayne. It's about time and you deserve it.

For those of you that don't know Wayne, he has been a class act since he was a high school student. Believe it or not, when I first met Wayne he was a shy, not very talkative, Junior in High School. While on the ThunderChickens he grew into an outspoken, passionate leader. Good luck on your new endeavors Wayne.

-Paul

[Mr MOE]

Way to go Wayne!!!!

Congratulations to a well-served recognition.

Thanks for everything you do, every person you have touched, and, recently, for being a fantastic emcee at the Duel on the Delaware!

Go Wayne!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Congratulations, Wayne!

"For those of you that don't know Wayne, he has been a class act since he was a high school student. Believe it or not, when I first met Wayne he was a shy, not very talkative, Junior in High School. While on the ThunderChickens he grew into an outspoken, passionate leader. Good luck on your new endeavors Wayne.

-Paul"

Why am I not surprised?!?

[StephLee]

Congrats, Wayne, this is very well-deserved.

I had the priveledge of meeting Wayne at the Pittsburgh regional last year, when he was pulling double duty as the MC and coach for 395. Hopefully I'll get to compete with them again; they really impressed me.

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by Erin Rapacki

Congrats Wayne! Glad we have you here in the north

We want him back! (You guys are so lucky!)
Wayne, you have left some big FIRST Mentor shoes to fill in NYC!

We miss you here. Where am I going to get another FLL Head Referee and Emcee?

Everywhere we turn, the NYC Committees see, remember and talk about your wonder work that catapulted the mission of FIRST in the NYC area. Your influence is not only in the Bronx but also throughout the whole city and New Jersey area.

I had a wonderful experience working with with you during all FLL and FRC events.
You are professional, courteous, and focus.
Oh, yet you’re a lot of fun too.

Congratulations, a well deserved award.
Best wishes in all you do.

[Liz Smith]

Congrats Wayne! You are truly someone to look up to!

[Noah Kleinberg]

I knew this was just a matter of time... Wayne was an amazing mentor and drive coach on 395 last year, and his dedication to and energy for FIRST is obvious. He managed to, at the Pittsburgh Regional last year, MC and coach on the field at the same event. FLL in the Bronx has grown at a tremendous rate, and 395's success overall has been hugely affected by him. The dynamic between Wayne and the students, both FLL and FRC (not just from his own team), along with the FLL coaches, is a testiment to the impact he has had on them and their enormous respect for him.

Congratulations, and good luck in the future!

[jgannon]

I had the pleasure of meeting Wayne at Pittsburgh last year, and he is an absolute class act. At both the regional and the championship, he went out of his way to make sure that our rookie team had everything we needed to be successful. This is a well-deserved honor... the man lives and breathes FIRST. Congrats, Wayne!

[mtaman02]

Congrats! You Deserve It.

[RoboMom]

Congrats to Wayne!
See you in Boston.

[petek]

Congratulations, Wayne! I'm really glad to see you get the UFH award - I can't think of a more deserving recipient.

As already noted, Wayne did double-duty at Pittsburgh last year; what people may not know is that he arrived with 395 expecting to just coach his team. Unbeknownst to him, our MC failed to materialize and and our announcer was ill - in other words, we were way up the creek. We really didn't have to twist his arm all that hard to get the "shy, not very talkative" guy to agree to bail us out!

Wayne defines "class act" in my book.