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Since our start in 1997, Team 007 has been aiming to bring Maryland business together, but also to bring students of all backgrounds and ages together. FIRST has helped 007 accomplish these goals. Over the course of ten years, the team has been able to bring dozens of different companies, small and large, together under one purpose; to spread the word of science and technology and to inspire students all over Maryland.
The team has recruited hundreds of students over the past ten years, and had over 50 mentors, most extremely dedicated to the point of returning every year for over 5 years! One mentor of ours has been with us for six years, since he graduated from Parkville High in 1999. He is an alumni of FIRST Robotics Team 007, and is always happy to come back and help the team. Talk about dedication! Other alumni return each year, about six per year to help the team in various needs, including mechanical and business. One mentor has been with us for six years as well, taking a two year leave of absence to mourn over the loss of her daughter and get back on her feet from being laid off from a job she loved very much. 007 loves their mentors, and rewards them with t-shirts each year and recognition letters, and in 2003, mentors were awarded a Volunteer Award from President George Bush himself, which included a letter from the President, a very special pin, and a very elegant certificate. Since 2005, Team 007 has thrown a "Tea with the Robot" celebration in honor of National "Thank Your Mentor" Day. Invitations are sent to teachers, mentors, alumni and sponsors to come and enjoy tea, coffee and delectable desserts made by parents of the students involved.
Team 007 has been more involved throughout the school as well. Mardi Gras is held every year, and the committee asked the team to display the robot. Hundreds of people from the community come, and kids love to drive the robot around. Also, the team was granted permission to distribute sports letters to team members that have been on the team for two years or more. 007 is proud to announce that 17 members will be receiving this honor! The team was asked by the special education class if they needed assistance, and the team has made them official members and lets them make the buttons and banners for the team, as well as distribute stickers to students saying "Go 007" and "Go Golden Gear" and "Go PHS", along with many other phrases. The students will be traveling to the Chesapeake Regional this year with the team. They are so excited, as is 007!
Students who enter FIRST Robotics at Parkville leave with new outlooks on life in the real world and lessons that they will remember forever. All who have come through robotics never have complaints and love doing what they do on Team 007. Many come through knowing nothing about science and technology, and leave with an amazing amount of knowledge and skills they take on to college and in the workplace!
Team 007 is known for its creativity, from the range of robot names to its creative sense of style. Since the Bond theme was taken up by 007, they developed very unique ways of displaying distinct things from Bond. In 2004, the team sported fun bowler hats in honor of their robot, Oddjob, and the drive team had professional suit jackets to wear over the fun t-shirts with ties on them. That same year a parent dressed up as Oddjob himself, giving out fun goodies for the leaders of the teams at the Chesapeake Regional. Every year the team looks for fun new ways of making themselves known.
Parents play a huge part on the team. Every year parents sign up for at least two nights of the building season to make a meal for the team. We have had a unique range of cuisines, from the Philippines to India. This year, the team's parent liaison created five different non-engineering committees, encouraging two parents to head each committee, and each student to sign up at least for two committees. The committees were effective, bringing more students to understand how important the non-engineering aspects of FIRST Robotics truly are. Parents have also become mentors over the years, stopping in a few nights a week to check on progress and give pointers on the robot. Also, they have provided transportation to various off-season competitions, as well as travel to prospective sponsors and companies to attempt to recruit them to join the hundreds of companies already involved in FIRST Robotics.
The team cannot wait to be more involved, and change the lives of all that come through FIRST Robotics at Parkville High School. |
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