UFH: Jessica Jankowitsch

[DanDon]

Jess is an awesome mentor, an awesome friend, and just an all around awesome person whom everyone learns to appreciate within a short time of meeting her. She has contributed greatly to the Pittsburgh region both to teams and the regional itself by investing a huge amount of time in everything she could. Be it the efforts to recognize the mentors at the regional, going from team to team and helping out with whatever she was able to, or heading the volunteering efforts for the competition, the efforts are all noticeable and outstanding.

Congratulations on a well-deserved and awesome award Jess!

[Beth Sweet]

What a great choice! I've been lucky enough to get to know Jess a bit over the last few years and she's a great selection for a FIRST heroine. If there are any high schoolers, especially young ladies, looking for a role model, Jess is a great choice. Congrats missy!

[mayhemscout1519]

Congratulations Jess on a hard earned and well deserved award!

[Nate Smith]

Congrats Jess! I had the pleasure of meeting her at training/orientation at FIRST back in September, and even then, it was obvious how dedicated and knowledgeable she was about FIRST.

Welcome to the club!

[EricVanWyk]

I think my favorite part of UFH is that it provides me with an easy way to create my list of people I need to meet at the Championship.

[Liz Smith]

Congrats Jess, you deserve it.

Jess puts her time, effort, and heart into to FIRST in Pittsburgh and it shows.

[petek]

I am overjoyed to see Jess recognized with this honor. She is such an incredibly dedicated, friendly, energetic, frenetic, caring, powerful, motivating and (did someone mention energetic?) terrific human being whom I've had the good fortune to know since she was my daughter's BFF in elementary school.

I had to chuckle when I read this quote in Bharat's nomination:

she said “Whenever I start talking to someone new to FIRST – a potential sponsor, mentor, or student member - the definition I often supply is that it’s multifaceted robotics competition that provides unique experiences and opportunities to students in hopes of inspiring them to recognize the importance of science, technology, and other real world domains… but in reality it is much more than that. It is about meeting and collaborating with other people who share your passions, and exciting those around you to make an impact on their community and develop bright, promising futures.”

Now imagine her telling you that in about 15 seconds and one breath. That's Jess. It's a wonder that she never, ever, runs out of breath.

By the way, I take full responsibility for throwing her in the deep end of Pit Admin in Pittsburgh in 2006. I was a rookie FTA, the regional was critically understaffed and I was calling on friends to help out. Jess was a natural for that job and I'm happy that maybe it helped kick-start her rise to her current positions in FIRST. I really didn't have to twist her arm very hard.

I'm glad to know that Pittsburgh has Jess Jankowitsch making things happen and look forward to working with Mother Jess out there at the 2009 regional.

Petek

[ChristinaR]

Jess, you're awesome. You put such an incredible amount of work and heart into this organization. Your enthusiasm is so, so, so, so contagious. Your impact is clear, not just in Pittsburgh, but in all of FIRST. This is a long overdue, extremely well-deserved honor. Congratulations!

I couldn't have asked for a better mother-in-law.
And hopefully you've forgiven Bharat for nominating you by now.

[nparikh]

I was first introduced to Jess through a mutual friend (Bharat) and I have to say my life has changed since then. As a friend, peer, and practically a sister, she has influenced me in ways beyond what she can imagine. An incredible asset to FIRST, I don't know what we'd do without her. Her incredible energy, focus, dedication, and ability to inspire others is unmatched amongst her peers and she is a role model for many generations to come. I think many of us will strive to be the caring, kind-hearted, and truly amazing person Jess is.

Cheers, Jess! You truly deserve this!

[Mr MOE]

Jess:

On behalf of MOE 365, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Our team gives a MOE cheer to you.

Clap-Clap Clap-Clap-Clap Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap GO JESS!

Well deserved recognition!