The Woodie Flowers Award is presented to an outstanding engineer or teacher participating in each of the robotics Regional Competitions. Students choose and write about a person on their team who best demonstrates excellence in teaching science, math, and creative design. In 2005, Team 237 nominated Kurt Eckert, their lead engineer mentor.

Congratulations, Kurt.

Essay

This is my second year on Team 237, but I have known Kurt Eckert since 1999. I was 10 years old when my sister joined Team 237. Often, one of my parents would take me to see how the robot was progressing. No matter how busy it was, Kurt would take the time show me what the team did, was trying to do and explain how it worked or why it wasn't working. I couldn't wait for my chance become a part of FIRST and Team 237.

There wasn't a Lego League team every year in my town, but I was lucky enough there was enough interest for one in 2003. We had students from the high school robotics team helping us at meetings, but occasionally Kurt would leave work early and drop by to see how we were doing. He would look at our ideas and discuss how we arrived at them. He listened to us and he helped us understand what we needed to do. He let us know that what we were doing was important. He helped us understand that our Lego project made us an important part of the larger community of FIRST.

It was when I joined Team 237, that I came to understand what Kurt was about and what Kurt meant to the team. I learned that FIRST was truly a passion for him. He was ready to go on day one. Kurt led discussions about the prior year's robot. He encouraged the students to explain what they liked or didn't like about last season. The student's reflections on the past year are important to him. He is one of two original mentors, so he has seen it all for Team 237. Kurt believes on building on the teams past experiences, in his words to "Step It Up". He makes us understand that each year is not a new year, but a continuation of the past years and the basis for the years to come.

Kurt is very specific about his role on the team. He is there to help build our robot. The students design the robot. The students decide how to play the game. Kurt is there to help us make it happen. He listens to and explores all ideas floated during build season. When it comes to building the robot, Kurt is there to teach and help with the mechanics. If a student can do it, or wants to learn to do it, Kurt makes it happen for them. In return, a number of students have pursued engineering and technical education careers.

What I have learned most from Kurt and FIRST is about process. To every process, there is a beginning point and there is an ending point. The interesting part is what takes place in between those two points. As a team, at the end of every meeting, we gather with Kurt and review where we are in the process. We discuss what we have accomplished, what we need to accomplish and by when we need to accomplish it. We learn to adjust and adapt. We learn to modify our path to accomplish our goals.

It is a lot to ask of an adult to devote the time and effort that a FIRST build season takes.
For the seven years that Team 237 has joined with FIRST, Kurt has been the keystone of the team. We hope that we have given him, as much as he has given us.

"If Kurt were duct tape, we would find a way to have him on the robot."

Submitted By,
Ted Boucher

Submitted Pictures