UFH: Mike Walker

[KaylaRenaud]

I met Mike at a FIRST Robotics competition. He doesn't remember meeting me that day... but I remember him. Maybe it was the glare from his bright orange shirt and green hair that prevented him from being able to take in those around him? Or maybe it was just the tunnel vision through which he sees the world. A tunnel through which only complete determination exists.

Throughout the seven years that I've continued to know him, he has spread this tunnel wider and wider - and now it seems as though there is no detail that will go unnoticed to him, especially if it needs improvement. He may not know at first exactly how to fix it; unlike most people, however, that won't stop him from calling it to the attention of those around him.

He lives to improve his world. And at the heart of it: what else is an engineer, really?

Congrats Miket!!!! I'm so proud of you!

[Dorienne]

Yay, Mike!!! How awesome!

Congratulations! I hope I meet you eventually. Well done.

[George A.]

I'll throw my congrats into the ring as well. Great to see another deserving UFH get recognized.

[mizscience]

Congratulations! Definitely well deserved!

[techtiger1]

I don't know whos happier Mike that he won the award or me knowing Mike Walker won UFH. Mike since the first day I met him has been a inspiriing breath of fresh air in FIRST. Always willing to help and go the extra mile for everyone, no one deserves this more then Mike Walker. Congratulations to a man who is really after FIRSTs own heart and who I would not mind seeing win the Woodie Flowers award one day.

-Drew

[JaneYoung]

Congratulations, Mike.

[Karthik]

A well deserved honour for a great guy! Congratulations.

[BandChick]

Congratulations Mike! Since I met you, yes, way back in 2003, it's been amazing to see all the things you've accomplished and have set goals to do. You are well-deserving of this award!

[Sayrah]

Congratulations Mike!

Who's got more bacon than the pan can handle? Mike!

Oink Oink BOOM!

Sarah

[wendymom]

Congrats Mike!!

I can say many things....and they mostly embarrass him....so I wont, but I will say that this is a well deserved honor. Mike is one of the most hard working mentors I know. He always has his hand in more areas than he can count. Bacon would not exist in its present form without Mike.

Fun Fact about Mike:

He came up with the Oink Oink Boom cheer

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by wendymom

Fun Fact about Mike:

He came up with the Oink Oink Boom cheer

One of the most deafening, er, defining moments of FIRST for me, was sitting next to Mike when Bacon was competing on Einstein. I haven't been quite the same since.

[Gary Dillard]

Mike is a mentor and a friend whom I admire and respect as a Jack of all trades, master of most of them, and just a really nice guy to hang around. Doesn't seem that long ago that he was that bright kid on CommBat who always seemed like a senior but kept coming back for another year of high school (kinda like George Wallace in college).

Congrats Mike. I'll miss you in Alabama, but I've still got your cell number if I get in trouble.

[Michael Coleman]

Mike has been a terrific volunteer at the FTC Florida Championship. He ran the scoring system in 2006 & 2007 and he has signed up for the 2008 State Championship before volunteer registration opened.

He built a Vex based, two-axis gimbaled sky-cam to provide overhead video of the robot matches. This setup was used at the FTC State Championship and Mission Mayhem.

Congratulations Mike!

Michael
FTC Affiliate Partner for Florida

[Barry Bonzack]

WALKER!!!

Thanks for everything you do to help plan the Florida regional.

Many don't know this, but he also also spent multiple occasions helping mentor team 1390, including some very long nights when things just didn't seem to be coming together on the programming side. He was willing to try things out of the box such as using a heat lamp to aid a sensor... the idea didn't work out, but it was an interesting idea at 2 am and walmart was the only place open. January nights in Florida actually can get pretty cold, especially in rooms without heating... The heat lamp he bought came in useful anyhow.


Interesting Exploding Bacon fact: in 1902's first year, mike walker was fresh out of high school after being a powerhouse cheerleader on combat. He was driving around the Orlando area thinking of the new team name "exploding bacon" and what the team should cheer that would be memorable and funny at their first competition. The rest is history.

He is a leader in FIRST, and on the UCF Campus. I am glad to see Mike get recognition for it. Go Knights.

[miketwalker]

Thanks so much for all the nice comments everybody. I was very happy and surprised when I found out about this award. Thank you Billfred for the nomination, it means alot.