05/01/2023
At the 2023 VEX VRC Middle School World Championship, Tim Krispin - one of our team's mentors - was presented with the 2023 Inspiration All Star award. Here's what he had to say:
I have many heroes in the VEX community. I'm honored and humbled when I think that one of my heroes nominated me for this award.
First, and most importantly, I work with a great group of students and parents. They're smart, hard working, and represent the very best of both 4-H and VEX in their work, attitudes, and results. I love giving them this great opportunity to learn and grow.
Secondly, there are many others who deserve to be recognized. This award is given to a mentor who was nominated, not the best mentor. Some of my heroes:
Chris Putnam, Hereford Middle School
Chris' passion for giving students great STEM opportunities is unmatched. He's been at this for well over a decade and has spent countless hours mentoring, coaching, hosting events, running the Maryland State Championships, fund raising, organizing equipment, equipping his teams with good tools and knowledge, running camps, and advocating for the expansion of STEM programs in his school.
Marty Brady
Although Marty's son finished with high school and VEX more than a few years ago, Marty continues to show up at tournaments, giving his time to set up the computer equipment, field controls, and live stream. He is truly an expert at Tournament Manager, and has quietly saved many events from going off the rails when that finicky software decided to misbehave at critical moments. I've seen him literally laying on a gym floor with back spasms, refusing to leave before he was sure that everything was working properly.
Eric Davis, STEM Gym
A few years ago, Eric mentioned to me that his retirement plans included starting a non-profit to give underserved students in Baltimore City opportunities to learn through hands-on STEM. Instead of waiting for retirement, he got started with making his vision a reality while holding down a full time job. He has started numerous programs throughout Baltimore, planned multiple tournaments, coordinated and helped to coordinate multiple Maryland State Championships. His impact on many students is already incalculable and growing. (Note: he won this same award in 2022)
Rodney Clause
Rodney started a hands-on STEM program on the Apache Reservation just outside of Phoenix, AZ as a mental health initiative after a survey of middle school and high school students showed high rates of depression, and desperately low personal ambition among those students. Without direct school support, he has had to navigate and overcome tribal relationships and traditions, limited support from the school district, COVID, and limited resources to keep the program running. His commitment to training and hiring Native mentors and coaches has had an impact that reaches far beyond the students themselves.
Rodney is the one who nominated me for this award. I'm humbled to think he considers me an inspiration. He has inspired me, as well.
The list of students, mentors, teachers, and coaches who have inspired me is much longer. I'd love to say more about them. They deserve the recognition.
How about you? Who has inspired or encouraged you? Take a minute and reach out and tell them "thank you". As I mentor, the most rewarding aspect of what I do is hearing about what former team members have accomplished, and how our little team encouraged and inspired them. I'm sure your mentors would love to hear from you, too.
