A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni

FIRST General Forum
1

Posted by michael ciavaglia.

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Interior Systems.

Posted on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST

First, I would like to congratulate Team 461 on a job well done. They did a superb job in their first event at the Motorola Midwest Regional. The machine was continually improved and team spirits ran high. The team worked with two local high schools and formed a great partnership. Because of their efforts, they were rewarded with the Rookie All-Star Award.

The team has been raising money to build and attend one regional and the national championships. They have built a competitive machine and have attended one regional. However, the team does not have enough money to travel to the National Championships. Right now they are about $3000 away from making it.

Dean Kamen always has a homework assignment for us. He asked us to contact our alma maters to encourage them to form teams. Recently, he asked current students, the customers of their universities, to convey the effects that FIRST has made on their lives and also get their universities involved.

We have a chance to hook Purdue. They have made the commitment to sponsor a team and spread the vision of FIRST. Hopefully, next year other universities will look at Purdue’s effort and join in the fun!

I am asking Purdue Alums and anyone else interested in making FIRST the NCAA of SMARTS to make the real ‘March Madness’ a game played by remote control robots and inspired high school students.

I am also asking others to open their pocket books and make sure that Team 461 will be at the Nationals. All we need are 30 alums to cough up $100 each. Dr. Joe and I make 2. Who will be 3? 4? 5? … 30?

Please make checks out to : Purdue Student Engineering Foundation - FIRST

Please send these checks to : Purdue University
1284 Civil Engineering Building
Rm G292B
West Lafayette, IN 47906

I know we can send a strong message to universities this is a worthy program.

Won’t it be cool when universities hold parades in honor of their National Champion ROBOT!

Mike Ciavaglia
MSME Purdue '99

2

Posted by Raul.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 3/28/2000 2:36 PM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

You can count me in on this worthy cause.

Raul
BSME '81

3

Posted by Darrell Noble.

Engineer on team #71, Beast, from School City of Hammond and Beatty Machine.

Posted on 3/29/2000 7:09 AM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

Mike and Raul fellow Purdue USFIRST Alumini - count me in as a fellow alumni from many years ago. My son,Chris and Peter Von, a teacher, were members of Team 71 / Beatty for four years. Now both Chris and Peter are on Team 461, my son being a freshman at Purdue. In Chicago Team 461 didn’t go against father nor were they an alliance, but maybe at the Nationals.

                      Go ! Go ! Rookie All Star Team 461 on a job well done.                                        
                                       Great idea Mike, check is in the Mail.

Darrell Noble
BSMET’‘77, EET’'79

4

Posted by Michael Ciavaglia.

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Interior Systems.

Posted on 3/30/2000 6:29 AM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

Thanks Raul and Darrell. The Westside Boiler Invasion is starting to put the coal in.

There are now 4 checks in the mail. Purdue needs to make sure they will receive the money so they can take care of the logistical things, i.e. book the hotel rooms, bus, etc.

We still need more support. Who will be 5? 6? 7? …30? If there are others sending checks, either respond to this message or email me at [email protected] so that we can have an accurate count.

Think how much time each of us spent on our machines. The students at Purdue, West Lafayette H.S., and Harrison H.S. have done the same. We all must remember how much time school work took away from our lives. And then, they used their ‘spare time’ to be involved in such a great program.

Please consider this opportunity, we can help these students. Why do we all go to a regional and ALWAYS make it to the Nationals? Because the Nationals are a great finale to the season and a reward for a job well done.

I know they will be back regardless, but going to the Nationals will only help to validate and solidify the program at Purdue.

To All: Please consider whether this is something that you can do. I know they would appreciate the support!

With some more support I can hear it, ‘All aboard the Westside Boiler Invasion. Next stop: Epcot Center.’

Mike C.

Please make checks out to : Purdue Student Engineering Foundation - FIRST

Please send these checks to : Purdue University
1284 Civil Engineering Building
Rm G292B
West Lafayette, IN 47906

5

Posted by P.J. Baker.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 3/30/2000 8:02 AM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

All of you who have sent checks or are going to send checks should see if your companies will match educational donations. Not sure that this would count, (or that the $ would get there in time) but it’s worth a shot and could reduce the # of donors needed from 30 to 20 or 15. Look into it.

That being said, I’m not a Purdue Alum, but I have visited. $100 sounds like a small price to pay to help some people get out of West Lafayette for a few days :). My check will be in the mail tomorrow.

6

Posted by Michael Ciavaglia.

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Interior Systems.

Posted on 3/30/2000 10:14 AM MST

In Reply to: Check company matching posted by P.J. Baker on 3/30/2000 8:02 AM MST:

P.J.,

Thanks for the support. Together we have and will continue to make a difference.

We are checking into the company matching the contribution. I think you might be onto something!!

We look forward to seeing you in FL and, Go Bobcats!

Mike C.

7

Posted by Shannon Schnepp.

Coach on team #461, Westside Boiler Invasion, from Purdue University/West Lafayette High School and Purdue University.

Posted on 3/30/2000 10:30 AM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

First, on behalf of the entire team #461, I would like to thank Mike for this wonderful idea!! Thank you so much for doing all you can to help our team be able to compete at Nationals!!! If you knew the excitement that you’re helping to instill in these kids I think you would be very impressed. Mike, you’re a great guy who helped us start this program at Purdue and it means so much that you are continuing in your efforts! Thank you from every single one of us!

Second, I would like to thank everyone who has responded and is also helping us!!! Let me just say that this means more to our team than you can imagine. We’re are all very pumped about competing at nationals and you guys are the ones who are helping to give us this opportunity!! We are very impressed and gratefull for you gracious professionalism and you truly fulfill the spirit of FIRST!

Thank you soooooo much!!! WE’LL SEE YOU IN NATIONALS!!!
Shannon Schnepp
Westside Boiler Invasion, Team #461

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Posted by Brian Beatty.

Coach on team #71, Team Hammond, from Hammond Schools.

Posted on 3/30/2000 4:22 PM MST

In Reply to: A Call to ALL Purdue Alumni posted by michael ciavaglia on 3/28/2000 10:52 AM MST:

Check is in the mail.

Brian Beatty BSME '82