I posted this on the Official FIRST Alumni Network LinkedIn Group, but thought it was appropriate to share with the CD Community too.
Across Florida there are pushes to get FIRST Alumni clubs started at universities, and I applaud all efforts to do so.
I would like to congratulate the alumni of Florida Polytechnic University, being led by Zach Weingarten, for being the first club to be officially recognized by their university since the formation of the Florida FIRST Alumni 2 years ago. The club is called Robotics at Florida Polytechnic, and is the 19th official club registered with the Fl Poly Student Government Association.
This now brings Florida’s total count up to 2, the other being FIRST@FIT, which predates Florida FIRST Alumni statewide program by many years. FIRST@FIT is best known for providing the organization and manpower to host Panther Prowl, the annual off-season event.
FIRST alumni at The University of Central Florida and at Embry Riddle Aeronautics University have also organized, created club charters, and have had meetings with their university’s RSO (Recognized Student Organizations) to create official FIRST alumni clubs. The goals is to have both clubs up and running by March.
Robotics at Florida Polytechnic is the most recent of victories won for the Florida FIRST Alumni in 2015. This year we have reached nearly 300 participants on our own LinkedIn group, and have over 400 entrees in the online database. In March was the 3rd annual FIRST Alumni Social in conjunction with the Orlando Regional. In August we hosted a VIP Tour at the Kennedy Space Center which included a networking event with FIRST sponsors. I am proud to report FIRST alumni are applying for internships as a direct result of that event. In October FIRST@FIT held Panther Prowl, powered by FIRST Alumni. In November, FIRST Alumni are volunteering for FTC events who otherwise would not have known of the events if it weren’t for a statewide alumni organization calling for volunteers.
All of this on top of the many alumni who are already volunteering at events, as mentors, and on planning committees.