User:Rizzo
Name: Mike Rizzo A.K.A: Rizzo
I started on my High Schools FIRST robotics team, Team 104 - Team Universal, after talking to one of my Physics teachers about clubs to join. I went to an open house night a few days later and watched the robot in action; I was hooked and have been involved in robotics ever since. My only regret is that fact that I didn't learn about the Robotics team until the end of my Freshman year and had missed all of the events for that year. Thanks Mr. Nagy
When I first joined the team I really didn't know what I could do to help build a robot. I couldn't decide what area I wanted to focus in so I figured why not try them all. When I started I really didn't know anything about power tools, electronic wiring, pneumatics and metal/wood working among other things. In my years on the team and as a mentor I have learned and gained so much and not just about the workings of a robot but the workings of a team working with constraints, deadlines, budgets, and working in very high pressure situations.
I now spend my time With team 1640 and I am now working side by side with as a mentor with people I used to call mentor and even though I am no longer a "student" there is still a lot then can teach me. I have still yet to find my area of expertise for robotics but I have a pretty good general knowledge of all of it.
Robotics Skill Sets:
Design Mechanical Electrical Programming Web Programming Fund Raising Public Relations Wood Working 3D Graphic Design Pneumatics Duct Tape Not Sleeping
- FIRST Team History
- Started With FIRST in 1999 on team 104 - Team Universal
- Continued with that team until Graduation in 2002
- Returned as a Team Member and Mentor from 2002 until 2007
- Discovered that a Previous Team 104 teacher, Paul Sabatino stated a FIRST team at his new High school in Downingtown
- Started as a Team Member and mentor for Team 1640 Sab-Bot-Age in 2007
- FIRST Volunteer History
- FIRST Volunteer since 2002, have helped at ever Philadelphia regional since
- 2003 - crowd control
- 2004 - scoring table
- 2005 - scoring table / real time scoring
- 2006 to current - Referee
- Have also Recently volunteered at several off season events
- PARC XII(2009) - Head Referee
- Monty Madness(2009) - Referee Assistant
- Bridgewater(2009) Battle - Referee
