2008 Oklahoma City Regional

[Barry Bonzack]

Originally Posted by Cynette

Oh, Wait! Now I really have to hustle to learn how to do all the dances

Oh man! Hustle! I get it!

Just thought I'd chime in to say I'm looking forward to the long awaited Oklahoma Regional. I'm hopping on a plane EARLY tomorrow morning and I will be there on Friday and Saturday.

[StevenB]

Just FYI, video from today (Friday) is now up on SOAP108:
http://www.soap.circuitrunners.com/2008/movies/ok/

[Lora Knepper]

Finally free from the clutches of work! See all of you in Okie City tomorrow ;o) I shouldn't be too hard to spot...I'll probably have to dig up an old school FIRST tshirt to wear so I don't stick out too bad! I wish I still had my Florida tie dye....

This will be my boyfriend's first introduction to FIRST as well...who knows, if we get lucky and I can network, I may be back in time for 2009...

[StevenB]

All but one of the qualification matches are up on SOAP108.

[Richard Wallace]

Congratulations to 476 on the Regional Chairman's Award, and to Tonya Scott on the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Also, a big shout out to STL area team 1098 and their amazing racer 'bot. The represented us well by seeding #2, and showed they have top-notch scouts by picking 476.

Who won the WFFA? The FIRST site only shows that it was a 476 mentor, but lists the name of the team instead of the individual.

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by Richard

Who won the WFFA? The FIRST site only shows that is was a 476 mentor, but lists the name of the team instead of the individual.

Tonya Scott.

Congratulations to the winning alliance (1806, 2165, 2354) and 476.

I've got all of the eliminations up on SOAP108 now.

[UCGL_Guy]

What a great inaugural event OKC was - thanks to all that helped to make this an outstanding event. From the 10 X 15 pits, to the computers that were given away, the outstanding demonstration of good ol Oklahoma hospitality everything went very well indeed. A special thanks goes out to the teams from out of state that helped make this event tremendous 1098 - 1806 - 1666 Hopefully I did not forget anyone. The friends from around the country that came to help us was a sign of true graciousness. Our team and state look forward to many more years of helping to host this regional and making even more friends over the next several years.

ken york

[JaneYoung]

Tonya was also given the Outstanding Volunteer Award yesterday and FRC 476 was awarded the Chairman's.

The regional was a very special inaugural event and I was delighted to be there to experience it. Oklahoma City is beautiful. It is a sparkling treasure filled with fun - things to do, museums, art - fun. Bricktown is within walking distance of the event center and is a place to explore, eat, sit, visit, take a relaxing boat ride up and down the canal. Incredible.

Cynette, her friend, Shelley, and I went to the Oklahoma City National Memorial on Friday evening at sunset. We were told that it is a very special time to go as the sun goes down and the chairs softly begin to glow. It was a moving experience. Several of the people that were volunteering at the regional and were members of the teams, told me of friends they had lost that day. They were glad we took the time to go experience it.

Oklahoma is friendly - warm - friendly - beautiful - fun.
I wish many years of growth, development, maturity, and fun to the regional, the planning committee, and the rookie teams that were so 'AWEsome' to work with. Thanks to the veteran teams who were in the minority but were great role models and supporters of and for the rookies.

It was a very special weekend and an exciting competition.
Jane

[Tonya Scott 476]

The Oklahoma City Regional--A DREAM COME TRUE

Team 476 did finally win the Chairmans Award after 9 years!! WOW-it feels great. The team is humbled to be representing the inaugural OKC Regional! We will try our very best at the Championship!

There are some Thank You's that need to be given out.

There were 3 teams from out of state--thanks for being such good role models for the Oklahoma rookies! We hope you will come back next year!

The volunteers were incredible!! Thank you DELL for providing volunteers and giving each team 2 computers! (not to mention the computers given to students at the team social)

The Team Social at The Science Museum of Oklahoma was GREAT! Thank you SONIC for the gift cards & water bottles. The frozen Cheetos were also a big hit, along with Segway rides.

The Regional Planning Committee---an awesome group of people to work with!! Going out of their way to make sure the teams would be comfortable by providing a student lounge area, and an adult lounge area and 10x15 pits!

Harold Holley--our Regional Director--did a great job. His 1st FIRST event was the KC regional just 2 weeks before! You did a great job! Thanks to all the Show Ready people and FIRST staff! Steve & Beth--you were great! Thanks to Andy & Mark! We appreciate your leadership and guidance at the event.

Thanks to Team 476 for setting up and breaking down the playing field.

The rookies looked so good! They drove long hours to OSU for the TEAM SUMMIT last September for training, and stayed all day after the Kickoff to complete their Kit-Bot----you guys are "SUPER-ROOKIES". Thanks to Ed & Jean Latimer, Ken York, Mike Smith, Mark Pierce, Art Waldenville, Jason Raugh, Lane & Joe Matheson, and the many other veteran mentors that helped the rookies on kickoff.

Ron & Rhonda Markum, and the entire Thunderstorm Robotics team ----you guys are incredible! Thanks for everything you have done to help the rookie teams!

Thanks to Dr. Karl Reid for hosting all the FIRST Robotics events at OSU! Thanks for believing that we could have a Regional at OSU!

Thank you Jane, Cynette, & Shelley for flying in on your own to help us! I never did get the "Thelma & Louis" stories! By the way---can I get dance lessons?

Thanks to Paul & Barry for coming and helping with the game play by play.

Thanks to everyone that played a part! It was a dream come true for this biology teacher!

The Oklahoma Regional was a true success! We can't wait till next year.

Our goal next year is to have 64 teams!!! So veterans----get ready to come to OKC next March!

[Tonya Scott 476]

ONE MORE THING...............................

ED & KEN---

YOU GUYS ROCK

thanks for being there for all the teams!

[StevenB]

I finally got the last missing match up on SOAP108. Also, the Blue Alliance now has the video up on their site.

[Tonya Scott 476]

Teams that attended OKC--we need pics and video of the event. If you have any thing with our team--we could really use it!! Thanks

Just send to my e-mail.

Thanks for everything

Tonya

[WahooWa]

First off let me second all of the “Thanks” that Mrs. Scott just threw out. I know that our mentors have worked incredibly hard for the last nine years to get this regional pulled together, and their dream has finally come true in a spectacular fashion. Thank you Mrs. Scott, Ken and Ed for everything that you have done for the regional, the team, and for every student you have come in contact with including me.

Second, let me tell you a little about the regional from a student prospective.

IT ROCKED!!!

10X15 Pits were SWEET! The teams were awesome! But most of all the team social at the Omniplex was AMAZING! I mean talk about letting out your inner nerd in a frenzy of fun and excitement, it was awesome. Everyone received FIRST sport bags, Sonic gift cards were given out, students could win computers, and every team was given TWO FREE computers. Our team, 476, only made it into the semifinals, but rocking out with SWAT and everyone on the field was just as much fun as if we were competing ourselves.

That reminds me, let me give a shout out to SWAT. You guys ROCK! I mean two regional championships; you are doing awesome and winning in the right way. Gracious Professionalism at its best.

There were two practice fields set up so teams never had a problem, our judges were awesome with one of them being John Herrington, the first Native American astronaut to fly in space, and Bricktown is always a blast with amazaing restaurants and attractions to see.

To any teams coming next year, I would also encourage you to go to Celebration Station. I think that would rock to have an unofficial after-after party there because, believe it or not, spraying each other in bumper boats when its 40 degrees outside is a BLAST!

I want to encourage all teams across the country to come check this regional out next year. The Cox center is a great place to hold the regional, the state of Oklahoma is going all out to support FIRST, and if I and others who attended the regional can effectively tell you how awesome it was, Oklahoma City could easily become a Super regional. I am a senior this year, but I will without question come back next year and volunteer at this regional. Oklahoma City truly embodied the spirit, frenzy and the FUN of FIRST robotics.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Tonya Scott 476

Teams that attended OKC--we need pics and video of the event. If you have any thing with our team--we could really use it!! Thanks

hm....I just might have one or two pictures. <grin>
--
Not on the same topic, representatives of the Chickasaw Nation began the opening ceremony on Saturday. One of the refs was helping to explain some of the symbolism of the dances to me. I was wondering if any teams could give some insight into this incredible beginning on Saturday.

[WahooWa]

Oh and one other thing, thanks to Alec Carson, Brina Hoddy, Dara Marlar, and Chandler Demming from Team 476 for doing an awesome job with the National Anthem both days. Good job guys!