Tag Archives: volunteer

FSR announces 2016 board

Posted on by
President George W. Bush, meets with the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), "Chairman's Award" Winning Team: MOE (Miracles of Engineering) Team 365 from Baltimore, MD at the White House, Monday, April 30, 2007, in Washington. Participants included Carol Kauffman, regional FIRST advisor (far left). Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls"

President George W. Bush, meets with the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), “Chairman’s Award” Winning Team: MOE 365 at the White House, Monday, April 30, 2007. Participants included Carol Kauffman, regional FIRST advisor (far left). Photo Credit: “NASA/Bill Ingalls”

The Board of First State Robotics has a new member for 2016. At the December meeting, the board voted to invite Roy Hernandez to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Carol Kauffman. Carol, a former regional director with FIRST, is an outspoken advocate for the power of youth robotics programs such as FIRST, to develop student self-confidence, career choices, and academics.

In a 2007 interview after traveling to the White House with FSR team MOE 365, Carol recalled the first time she attended a FIRST event and the encounter with two girls that got her hooked-

“I saw these two girls working on one of the robots…They were interacting with adults, explaining things like electrical systems… It turns out they… had never dreamed about going to college before getting involved in a robotics team. I thought that if something like this could inspire regular girls to read about electronics on their own and learn all of this, then it should be encouraged everywhere.”

Board president, Peggy Vavalla praised her years of service. “Carol Kauffman had a voice of experience, having been involved with USFIRST for many years. We will miss her enthusiasm, knowledge and ability to clarify an issue and identify the problem. We wish her great success in her future endeavors.”

Roy Hernandez, a Vice President in risk management with Barclays, comes to FSR with a wealth of experience as community leader and volunteer, having served terms with boards of the Latin American Community Center and Academia Antonia Alonso, a charter school in Wilmington. He is also the dad of an FSR robotics student.

In welcoming the newest member, Peggy noted, “Roy Hernandez’s background of service on various nonprofit boards makes him an ideal person to help us fulfill our mission. His previous experience with community outreach and education will help us look at new ideas and ways to move forward. The board is looking forward to his expertise and participation.”

Duel on the Delaware volunteer award goes to Carol Perrotto

Posted on by
Carol Perrotto (center) presented award by Rosanne Danner, FRC 316 and John Larock, FRC 365

Carol Perrotto (center) presented award by Rosanne Danner, FRC 316 and John Larock, FRC 365

 

Highlights from this year’s Duel on the Delaware October 17, 2015 at Salem Community College, Carney’s Point, NJ.

  • 34 FRC (FIRST Robotic Challenge) teams from the mid-Atlantic region competed in an annual off- season event
  • 20+ FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) teams attended a day of workshops and informal scrimmages
  • Over 11,000 pounds of books collected for annual book drive to support local charity, Success Won’t Wait
  • The Mike Wade Duel Master Volunteer Award was presented to Carol Perrotto, a founding member of MOE Booster organization, a Mid Atlantic Robotics and First State Robotics board member, and an FRC head referee at both regional and international levels.
  • See more photos and news items in Technical.ly Delaware and at NJ.com

 

Delaware’s FLL World Class Volunteer- China Genwright

Posted on by

photo by L Grusenmeyer

At Delaware’s FLL Champions tournament last February 14, China Genwright was recognized by FSFLL director, Eric Cheek, for the Championship Volunteer Award. 

Dr. Cheek explained that while this year was a major transition year with movement of leadership for FTC, FLL and Jr.FLL to Delaware State University and there was a lot to accomplish, his goal was to  keep the momentum that was going from the years past. 

DSU alum and VISTA volunteer, China Genwright, fully embraced this goal and all three FIRST programs.  She helped to bring FIRST programs to 15 of the 19 school districts in Delaware. She served as a judge in FTC and FLL events; coached students for FLL; served as a referee in one of the qualifiers; and when the head referee for the DSU qualifier became ill 2 weeks before the event, Deb Mousada– recently retired as head FLL ref– recommended China as the head referee for the DSU FLL qualifier. 

Before a crowded assembly room at the Delaware Championship FLL event, Cheek listed her many contributions and announced the award by adding, “For these reasons and the fact that everyone who works with  her loves her professionalism and demeanor, we have selected Ms. China Genwright  as the volunteer of the year for the World Class season in the Delaware Region.”