S A Special Showcase Edition The RUSH Review 16 Monday, February 22, 2016 IR T F r s o i c RUSH Review b o t RUSH QUEST: To create self-confi dent leaders who inspire and excite the global community to value and celebrate STEM. Monday, February 22, 2016 w w w.te am r ush27.ne t Vol. 20, No. 6 20 Years of Inspiration Inspiration… 20 years ago, I had a crazy idea for an outcome of a class. Dennis Hughes wanted nothing to do with it. Here we are, 20 years later, I don’t teach the class anymore and we are the backbone of what these kids learn in robotics. We have gone through so much, being By: Linda Zabik tested beyond any emotional test most will never experience. Over By: Kyle Hughes Continued on page 3 YOUR team is our inspiration! Several years ago we had the Mentors Speak Out: What Inspired Them to Come Back to RUSH opportunity to learn about the FIRST “I started on the team before there was a team. The year was 1996. We program, by sponsoring RUSH. participated in a one day competition at Pontiac Central called the Chief Through our sponsorship, we learned Delphi Invitational (CDI). You had 1 day to build a small robot out of RC about the goals of FIRST and dump truck parts to play a game. After this, Mrs. Hughes said that we became even more committed. We were forming a robotics team that would play a game like CDI, but on a have added 15 new teams and are larger scale. I had a great time that Saturday and decided to join. It was working on sponsoring two more. probably the best decision of my life. It helped to cement my interest in We are now sponsoring teams in 3 engineering. I went up to Michigan Tech with John Nielson, Anthony Lapp, and Justin different states! Every team brings Ridley and we started a team up there (FRC 857 - Superior Roboworks), because their excitement and inspiration. It is FIRST had become our lives. After graduation, I returned to the area and returned to amazing to watch our young people mentoring Team RUSH in 2005. Up to 2013, I was traveling a lot for work and didn’t learn to work as a team, inspire each get to participate with the team as much as I would have liked to. 2013 was the fi rst other to rise to their personal abilities year that I came back as a full time mentor. I mentor because I want to and so much more. We also thank give others the same opportunity that I had. I also feel like I learn more Team RUSH for making a difference from the students than I can teach them. They help to keep my skills in communities by joining Genisys fresh. Things like 3D printing, and Arduino program I probably would not in several community outreach have learned if I wasn’t a mentor on the team.” programs, such as Walk for Warmth, -Jason Markesino 1996-1999 Team Member, 2005-2016 Mentor & Friend the Holiday Extravaganza, Hunger “Even though I now live in VA, I keep coming back (virtually Walk and so much more. Each most of the time) because the students keep me inspired and opportunity we have a chance to I want to connect them with real world applications of what work with the students confi rms and they learn as a part of RUSH.” inspires us, EVEN MORE, to continue -Pam Barclay 1999-2000 Team Member, 2010-2016 Mentor & Friend to partner with the FIRST program. “I came back to RUSH in order to give students an opportunity This year, we are also sponsoring one to have the same experiences that I had while I was on the of the Michigan District Events, March team.” 3-5, Waterford District, where we are -Josh Fritch 2001-2004 Team Member 2010-2016 Mentor & Friend partnering with McLaren Oakland on “I had a great time building robots as a student and found a project called “Distraction Driver”. Team RUSH to be a great opportunity for me to give back to They are sponsoring a simulator to the community, while having fun.” be available at the Waterford event. -James Slemons 2003-2006 Team Member 2010-2016 Mentor & Friend RUSH has started this whirlwind of “I owe a lot of opportunities I’ve had in my life to RUSH and excitement and have inspired all of us! want everyone else to have the same experiences.” -Bobby Pizzey 2006-2009 Team Member 2015-2016 Mentor & Friend “RUSH was and continues to be an amazing family that I have not been able to fi nd in any of the other teams that I have been on.” -Allie Ullrich 2008-2011 Team Member 2015-2016 Mentor & Friend weiveR HSUR ehT ehT HSUR weiveR 2 ,yadnoM yraurbeF ,22 6102 ehT HSUR weiveR 51 ,yadnoM yraurbeF ,22 6102 Let the FIRST Game Begin! Rock Solid Recognition Thank You to StudentStuden of tthehe Week:We • Once the Quest begins all of our StudentStudent of the Week is decidedd by the At more than 125 events around the - Illuminated lights on each defense Showcase mentors andand awardedawarded to thethe student who really world this season, Alliances of three reduce when an opposing robot fully hashas been a role model studentstudent forf others to emulate. robots are on a Quest to breach their crosses it for rst time Volunteers! The mentors don’t look forfor “time“time in”, but contributions opponents’ forti cations, weaken their - These lights go dark after the defense whichwhich may includeinclude enthusiasticallyenthusiastica trying new things, tower with boulders, and capture their has been crossed a second time, workingworking to getget othersothers involved,involved, trainingtrai team members and tower. signaling it’s considered damaged demonstratingdemonstrating leadershipleadership not throughthroug their voice but by their - Once any four of the ve defenses actions. TheThe mentors want to givegive a great shout out to the The Quest are damaged, the forti cations are followingfollowing students who have gonegone wellw above and beyond as recipientsrecipients of the StudentStuden of the Week: • Robots operate independently for rst considered breached and the charging Captain’s 15 seconds of the Quest Alliance is rewarded with points Choice CongratulationsCongratulations toto ALL of the - Alliances score points by: s s Choice award 20201166 BuilBuildd SeasoSeasonn Stutudent of the Week • Reaching opponents defenses The Tower oCaptain’ • Openings in the tower are available for RRececiippienients: • Crossing defenses i go out to a new student edswh a robots to score boulders • Scoring boulders through goals in g the captains have ident Jason RicRicharhards, Brandon Kirk, the opposing tower - Scoring boulders reduces a tower’s r “stepping up” that week, meanin BBenen HalcHalcrow,ro strength as indicated by decreasing n they saw great improvement in thei • Human drivers take control for the nal MaMadisondison MacDonaldMacD , 2 minutes and 15 seconds tower lights ocontributions to the team, they took o - The tower’s ag will drop when - Controlling their robot to: . new responsibilities and have worked t HHaleyaley Velelisekis ! enough boulders are scored and then • Defend their castle come out of their comfort zone the tower can be captured at the end • Retrieve boulders of the Quest Congratulations to ALL of the eciohC s’niatpaC nosaeS dliuB 6102 • Defeat defenses • Score goals from the opponents’ The Capture ipients: courtyard in tower Rec • During last 20 seconds of the Quest, Vargas anitnelaV ,gnueJ ylimE ,rieW ebaG • Capture and scale the opponent’s robots may surround and scale the tower tower to capture it AustinSchmitz, Drew Waite! • When capture is successful, their ag is The Outer Works raised on the opposing tower and even (outermost line of forti cation) more points are earned • Eight defensive options (over 18,000 The Alliance with the highest score at the possible eld con gurations) end of the Quest wins! - One permanent (the low bar) - One chosen periodically by the Way to go Parents audience Thanks to ALL our Parents - Three selected by Alliances just before each Quest begins for your help this season! All of the assistance with meals, construction, hardware runs, and organization help to ensure a successful season. We could not do what we do without all of you! RUSH Parents are the BEST A Special Thank You to all of our Team RUSH Alumni! The RUSH Review 14 Monday, February 22, 2016 The RUSH Review 3 Monday, February 22, 2016 • Hearing alumni success stories and kids, how to build a robot. To watch the FTC Mentorship Inspiration… Continued knowing had we something to do with development of these mentors over the years, we have seen students come Mentors helped FIRST Tech it. Knowing that wherever they go, the years, under Dennis’ guidance – and go, some get married and have Specialized Team Training Challenge teams build and program they’re prepared, and ahead of their that is inspiration. children of their own, some return, some their robots. This year’s theme was peers. Knowing that they are going to keeping in touch online, some have • Inspiration – That ahaaa moment with Trash Trek. Teams needed to build make a difference in this world. moved on. We have seen every type of every small beginning. Learning each CNC Mock Interviews and program their robots to go around Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Students were offered leadership robot, teams, successes and failures. • Hearing from sponsors like Genisys, new skill, working with new people, the fi eld and complete task to win machine training was a learning training opportunities which included We have failed.