Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Scott and Libby Ritchie.
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Name: Scott and Libby Ritchie
Date Honored: 09-30-2004
Years involved w/FIRST: 7
FIRST Team(s): Allison Transmission/Rolls-Royce/and 74 Proud Grandmas &, Perry Meridian High School (0234), Indiana Department of Workforce Development/Rolls-Royce Corp./BAX Global/BestBuy/K-T Corp. &, Greenfield-Central High School &, Morristown High School (0393)
Role: Scott: Leadership, Libby: Team Coordinator
Quote: “Leaders must be leaders before they are monuments.” "Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” JFK
Bio: Scott and Libby Ritchie are the dynamic duo of midwest FIRST. With a combined 14 years of experience behind them, Scott and Libby not only have had a huge hand in the making of the Indiana Robotics Invitational, but run two different teams out of one household. Libby is the team coordinator for team 393, the Full Metal Jackets, and Scott heads up team 234, CyberBlue. Both teams are notorious at midwest competitions thanks to the leadership of both these individuals.
Scott had a few great FIRST memories to share with us. “The first year in '99 is where most of my favorite memories come from. We won one match at the Kennedy Space Center Regional and celebrated like we had won the national championship. Also, we were back at Kennedy and we had the backpack thingy that I am sure some of you remember. Eleanor, the young lady that worked it, was doing some emergency repairs on it before we were ready to compete and in her excitement she swallowed all the screws she was holding in her mouth. The expression on her face was priceless when I asked for the screws. I would say that Jason Kixmiller and Collin Fultz winning the two Purdue Scholarships last year was a very special moment for myself and the program.”
Libby’s favorite memory goes back to her rookie year. “My favorite FIRST memory would have to be our entire rookie year (2000). We had no clue what we were really doing, yet we had so much fun together as a team. We went to Kennedy Space Center for one regional and then went to the IRI (in Kokomo), up to Michigan for their off-season competition, and then traveled to Arkansas to compete in the Baxter competition. (We camped in the mountains and worked on the robot at night around the campfire!) The kids from that team still keep in close contact with the engineers and I and I will never forget them!”
Scott’s list of FIRST accomplishments are numerous. “I have a hard time talking accomplishments that have happened with me or the team due to the fact that so many people have been involved in our success in the past years. Our first accomplishment was to get Rolls Royce on board here in Indy. They have not only been very instrumental in being one of our original sponsors but the sponsor of most of the teams we have started. Next, I would say winning the Chicago Regional in 2001 with Hammond and being part of the 710 match would be an accomplishment. That year we also won the National Delphi Driving Tomorrow’s Technology award. In 2003 and 2004, we won the Regional Chairman’s awards and a couple of website awards. I guess though the success of working with my wife’s team (393) and Andy Baker’s team (45) to bring the IRI to Indianapolis and have it grow into what it is today would also be an accomplishment worth mentioning, but that took a lot of people to make happen. Working to help start seven area teams in the Indianapolis area is something that I take a little pride in. When we started in '99, we were the only central Indiana team and now we have almost circled the city. I can say with out much hesitation that even though I played very little in the process the scholarships last year would be listed as my favorite accomplishment.”
Libby has a large list of her own. “I have come a long way since our rookie year in 2000! As a business teacher/guidance counselor, I really don’t have a strong background in anything mechanical. However, I do know how to organize a program and surround myself with good people. Being a co-coordinator of the IRI is a personal accomplishment that I enjoy and am proud of. I would have to say that keeping our team going is also a huge accomplishment. Our high school has an enrollment of 279 students, grades 9-12, and we are a rural school. Somehow, we are able to make it financially each year and we always have a lot of kids come out for the team (between 25 – 40).”
Scott gives a few words of advice to FIRSTers: “I think it is important for FIRSTers to remember to start playing the game. Not the game with the robots, but the survival game that will get you where you want to go. So many students get caught up in their limitations and shortcomings that they stop playing. I am someone that should never have been an academic hero of any kind, but I learned how to play the game and left my limitations behind and the excuses that they brought with them and started playing the game. By playing the game, I mean to use FIRST to its fullest advantage. Know your engineers, take advantage of scholarships, get an internship, learn the software, get yourself into leadership roles, develop a portfolio, develop character references, and enhance your speaking skills.” Libby had a few more words of encouragement: “FIRST is such a wonderful program for you to participate in. Learn as much as you can from as many people as possible and have fun doing it!”
Congratulations to the dynamic duo, Libby and Scott Ritchie, on winning their Unsung FIRST Heroes Award.
Nominated By: Josh Hambright
