By Ginger Kozlowski
Staff Writer

Margaret DeFreest sat in the stands of the Verizon Wireless Arena, literally shaking, holding onto student Kelly Kozlowski’s hand for support. The Hooksett woman had spent the last six weeks, along with other members of the West High School FIRST robotics team, assembling an entry for the most prestigious award that FIRST gives out, the Chairman’s Award, and the moment had arrived to name the winner.

TOP AWARD – Sid Prabhakar, center, and Audrey DeFreest, right, of Hooksett, stand with Pat Ballard of FCI with their trophies for the Chairman’s Award on Saturday, March 5, at the Verizon Wireless Arena following the BAE Systems/Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics competition. The award is considered FIRST’s most prestigious. The team will also compete at a regional in Maryland, as well as Atlanta for the national competition. (Ginger Kozlowski Photo)

FIRST founder Dean Kamen of Bedford began his speech by saying the winner was an outstanding team that left the judges impressed. He began to name the various points made in the entry which showed how the winning team had worked to spread the word of FIRST, had emulated the mission of FIRST to encourage students into the world of science and technology, and had changed the culture of the school and community. As Kamen listed the team’s achievements, DeFreest clutched Kozlowski’s hand harder. DeFreest’s daughter, Audrey, along with Sid Prabhakar, who had made the in-person presentation to the judges the previous day, held on to each other in anticipation. The daily announcements on the school’s PA system, the worldwide newsletter updates done through sponsor FCI, the expo the team had attended, then the clincher – Dump Day – made it clear West had won. The team erupted in shouts of joy before they had officially been named.

Then, as Kamen called the West High School Power Knights the winners of the Chairman’s Award, horns went off and announcements were made telling everyone to leave the building immediately because a fire alarm had been set off. Everyone scrambled outside the arena without getting their awards. It wasn’t too long, though, before everyone was allowed back in, medals were handed out, and the celebration began.

It’s not just about robots
The FIRST competition is more than just building robots. It’s the most visible part of the competition, and the most exciting to watch. But the purpose behind all these mechanics is to bring the best young minds into the fields of science and technology to make a better world for all.

“We worked really hard to show it’s not all about the robot,” said Margaret DeFreest.

“The Chairman’s award was just awesome,” said Brooks Boucher, a sophomore. “It reflected commitment, dedication, leadership and volunteering, all of which is what FIRST is about.”

“Winning the Chairman’s Award means that we have been formally recognized as a team that truly exemplifies the spirit of FIRST,” said parent volunteer Kathy Thibaudeau of Manchester. “We work together as a team, always evolving and bettering ourselves. The team always comes up with creative and innovative ways to getting things done. I think it is just as important, if not more important, than winning last year’s event. It means that our team is not ‘just about the robot,’ which is what FIRST is really all about.”

“I truly believe in the mission and spirit of FIRST, as do the team members including students, mentors and family members who participated in all aspects of the team,” said corporate sponsor FCI’s Pat Ballard. “Entering a Chairman’s Award submittal for a team that has so many accomplishments was easy. In the final analysis, the Chairman’s Award Committee simply documented the growth and accomplishments of the entire team over the past five years.” The award was based on an entry West, along with 14 other teams in the regional, had prepared. Each team had to answer questions on the FIRST Web site about how FIRST affected team members, how it provided role model characteristics for other teams to emulate, how it affected the community, how it spread the message of FIRST, what its partnership is like, how the team communicates, and then write an essay. The Power Knights team outlined how they not only raise money for the team, but do community outreach through their fundraisers, such as helping Bedford residents at the town dump, wrapping gifts at Christmas and donating food to a shelter. The team has mentored the McKelvie Middle School Lego League team, displayed the robot at the Made In New Hampshire Expo and even got FIRST offered as a course at the high school.

The team’s entry will now go on to be judged against other regional winners around the world.

At press time, team members had decided to send at least a few people to Atlanta to compete for the national Chairman’s Award, and see if enough money can be raised to send the robot and more teammates, said Margaret DeFreest. She and the rest of the team were kicking into high gear to raise about $20,000 in time for the April 21 trip.

Last year, when West High won the robotics competition, the team was able to raise the necessary funds in a few short weeks to send the team to Atlanta, where the Power Knights went as far as the quarterfinals.