Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Lucia Sevcik.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/ufh/image/1118847412Lucia_Sevcik_JPG](http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/ufh.php?action=honoreedetail&id=40)
Name: Lucia Sevcik
Date Honored: 06-14-2005
Years involved w/FIRST: 8
FIRST Team(s): ExxonMobil/Halliburton/Hydraquip/Powell Electric/Walter P. Moore &, Booker T. Washington &, High School for Engineering Professions (0057)
Role: Business Manager, Volunteer Regional Director
Quote: Our youth is America’s greatest asset.
Bio: Lucia Sevcik is a ‘Soccer Mom Extraordinare’, serving as the Business Manager for Team #57, the Leopards. She describes her busy role as “the glue for the team. Our team is composed of dedicated teachers, mentors and fantastic students. As anyone that has worked with a FIRST team knows, this project is a tremendous undertaking. During crunch time the team is focused on building the robot, and things like the robot inventory, chairman’s submission, shipping arrangements, and feeding students can be overlooked. This is where my talents lie. I can multi-task and organize well but you need other ingredients to make deadlines. Those key ingredients are the students. Multi-tasking + organization + students = success.”
Lucia’s favorite FIRST memory is a story of excellent volunteerism and perserverence. “My favorite FIRST memory is when a fellow mentor and I met with FIRST New Hampshire folks at the National competition in 1999. The purpose of the meeting was to start a regional event in Houston. There was a regional event in Houston in 1998 but this event didn’t return to Houston in 1999 due to lack of funding. Houston teams did not have a close place to compete. We volunteered to take on the task of fundraising and organizing a Houston regional. We did this as volunteers. In those days, FIRST events were run by FIRST staff from New Hampshire. As a result of hard work, perseverance and great volunteer support a successful Lone Star Regional was held in 2000. Thus my career as a volunteer regional director was born and continues to this day.”
Lucia also had a very touching list of ‘accomplishments’: “): I have 230 accomplishments that I could talk about but there isn’t enough space to write about each individual one. These accomplishments are the students on Team 57 for the past 8 years. The greatest joy I get from FIRST is working with the students. I make it a point to get to know each one individually. I have seen all of these students grow, learn things, graduate and attend prestigious colleges and go on to successful careers in the engineering and technology fields. The greatest compliment I receive is when the students come back to visit the school and the team and tell me that they are now mentoring FIRST teams, volunteering in the community, and excelling at college and life. This goes to show that FIRST and I have made an impact on their lives.”
Lucia says she would describe FIRST to an outside as “…one of the most challenging volunteer experiences you will ever encounter. With that said, it is the most rewarding.” That truly speaks volumes.
Lastly, our UFH gives excellent advice to fellow FIRSTers: “The best advice that I can give to FIRST-ers is to make sure you know what you are getting into. Don’t take the FIRST plunge without researching the project. A lot of effort goes into assembling a team, fundraising, recruiting mentors, etc. You want a recipe for success not failure. This recipe’s main ingredient is sustaining your team. Teams that are not prepared and take the dive usually don’t last for more than a season or two. Setting up a long term team to turn out a stream or inspired kids makes everything worth it.”
Congratulations to Lucia Sevcik, our 36th Unsung FIRST Hero.
Nominated By: Kevin Sevcik
