A quarterly newsletter to keep you informed. Dig it.
Did you miss us?
|
|
It's a brand new quarter and a brand new newsletter!
And it's more fun than a tumbler full of clams.
|
Where We Are Going From Here |
The FIRST GAME CHANGERS season is winding down, and what a season it has been! As we work on plans for next season, there is always important news to share- FIRST Chesapeake Awards Ceremony and End of Season Celebration Sponsored by Triangle, Alumni Ambassadors Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton, Qualcomm's SWVA RISE Up Mentor Program Info, Triangle Educational Foundation Scholarship, Award Semi-finalists, Calendar of Events, Hails and Farewells, and more- whew!!
So grab your Rubik's cube- and keep reading for these topics and more.
And please pass this newsletter on to teams, parents and students.
(a web link is at the top of this email- the "click here")
To subscribe to the newsletter, just fill out this form.
|
|
May 4th Awards Ceremony and End of the Season Celebration Sponsored by |
|
|
This fun-filled broadcast will include:
-
The FIRST Chesapeake Cultural Award finalists
-
Winners of the Jim and Laraine Schubert Above and Beyond FIRST Chesapeake Mentor of the Year Award
-
Winners of the at-home FIRST and FIRST Chesapeake challenges
- Dean's List and Chairman's Award finalists
- Senior Shout-Out Celebration
Want to recognize your team's seniors on our show?
|
|
Triangle FIRST Robotics Scholarships
Triangle Education Foundation is offering four (4) $2,500 scholarships for students of FIRST robotics as they seek continuing education in STEM areas. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of holistic achievement and demonstrated passion for STEM. Award winners are selected without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.
Applications are due May 31, 2021.
Click here for detailed requirements and application link.
|
|
Return of Meet FIRST Chesapeake and the "Educated Guess" Drawing Sponsored by PwC
Starting April 14th we invite you to get to know some of our volunteers, staff, and board members! Follow the clue on each profile and enter our weekly "Educated Guess" contest (up to 3 guesses per week) to be eligible to win a Starbucks card.
|
|
|
*NEW THIS YEAR*- All "Educated Guess" entries will be entered
in a final GRAND PRIZE drawing!
|
|
Are there things from the 2020-21 hybrid season that you liked and that you would appreciate being incorporated into future FIRST Chesapeake seasons?
|
|
Thank You, Alumni Ambassadors!
The Alumni Ambassador Program Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton returned for the 2020-21 season and provided critical support for everything from remote/hybrid FTC events to moderating the FIRST Chesapeake Chats Sponsored by Newport News Shipbuilding. Still other Alumni Ambassadors completed the volunteer requirements for the program by using their expertise derived from their FIRST experience, or from their academic and professional careers, to pass on what they have learned to the next generation of FIRST team members. Ambassadors provided virtual mentoring assistance on subjects like CAD and mechanical engineering, and presented during the virtual Chats series on topics ranging from video editing to medical robotics.
There are many talented and committed FIRST alumni who contribute their time as event volunteers and mentors throughout the FIRST Chesapeake District. The Alumni Ambassador Program allows us to highlight the range of experience and accomplishments that are representative of FIRST alumni as they inspire current team members to become the engaged mentors and volunteers of the future. Some of our Ambassadors were students on teams outside of the FIRST Chesapeake District before relocating to DC, Maryland or Virginia for college or jobs. The Alumni Ambassador Program engaged those alumni to become involved as volunteers in the FIRST Chesapeake District and put their passion for FIRST to work.
|
|
In a year that was like no other, the Alumni Ambassadors made it possible to complete hybrid FTC events for 130+ teams and to keep teams, volunteers and sponsors engaged through informational programming, virtual mentoring and engaging commentating for the FTC broadcast events.
Each Alumni Ambassador who completes the program requirements is recognized with a $1,000 team grant awarded to the Ambassador’s team of choice, given in honor of their service. Watch the FIRST Chesapeake social media platforms for announcements about Alumni Ambassador service and the grants they have awarded to deserving teams.
If you are a FIRST alumni within ten years of your high school graduation (or will soon be a FIRST alumni) watch for the invitation to apply for the 2022 Alumni Ambassador cohort in fall 2021. For more information on the program, email Katarina Spears at kspears@firstchesapeake.org.
|
|
Volunteering makes an immeasurable difference in the lives of others - but did you know it comes with a lot of positives for your OWN health?
|
|
Important Info for Southwest Virginia Teams
by Tim Farmer, RISE Up Mentor Program Manager
It has been great talking to those of you that I've been able to reach via phone and email. Qualcomm has presented us with a great opportunity to help sustain and grow teams in the Southwest region of the Commonwealth, and I am looking forward to working with you to help prepare your teams for the 2021-2022 season.
We are in the final phase of getting Qualcomm grants to teams and advancing our plans to help teams that have asked for assistance. We will be contacting teams regarding grant awards, and equally important, about ways we can support and link teams with mentors and coaches on April 15th.
Because Qualcomm has provided such a unique program for funding and support, I would like to pull together a contact list to ensure that everyone in Southwest Virginia who is interested is receiving timely emails and follow up information. Please take a minute to register here to receive email updates, including funding opportunities, potential workshops and scrimmage details, and more information on our Southwest Virginia remote forums.
Also, please mark your calendars for 6pm, April 22nd, for the next Southwest Virginia Mentor and Team Forum Sponsored by Qualcomm. This Forum is a time for us to touch base, hear your thoughts, and discuss areas of need where we may be able to help. During these meetings, I would like to schedule individual times to meet with your teams, discuss potential scrimmage and workshop dates, and identify teams in need of mentors or teams willing to act as mentors. I would love to speak with each of you in the near future, so please be sure to register here and always feel free to reach out to me at tfarmer@firstchesapeake.org.
|
|
|
|
Here are some upcoming* FIRST and STEM-related events. Click through the links for more information or visit the FIRST Chesapeake Events Calendar for even more event listings.
*subject to change
|
|
Dean's List and Chairman's Award Semi-Finalists |
|
Congratulations to all the FIRST Chesapeake District Dean's List and Chairman's Award Semi-Finalists!
|
|
|
Gulu Gambhir, Director, Professional Services Aerospace & Satellite, Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Paul Chi, Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, have completed their terms as members of the VirginiaFIRST/ FIRST Chesapeake Board of Directors. During their tenure, Gulu and Paul helped shepherd FIRST Chesapeake though the transition to the FRC District model, as well as tremendous FTC growth. Beyond being valued members of the board, these gentlemen were also FIRST Chesapeake volunteers and generous supporters of the FIRST Chesapeake annual fund. We are grateful for their service and hope that they will visit our events as spectators (or maybe judges!) as soon as it is safe to hold public events.
We are sad to share that Janet Latham, a former FIRST Senior Mentor for the District of Columbia passed away in March. Besides her work with FIRST, Janet was also a STEM pioneer as well as the former Executive Director of ByteBack. Most recently before she retired in 2017 she was the Department Chair of Computer Science and Robotics Coach at Archbishop Carroll High School. Our sincere condolences to her family, friends, students, and colleagues.
|
|
Gulu Gambhir volunteering as
an FRC Judge
|
Pau Chi with FRC 2537 Space RAIDers mascot Fred |
|
Shop at smile.amazon.com using this link and Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to FIRST Chesapeake—no fees, no extra cost.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
