Volunteering: Best Seat in the House

 Eduardo Rodriguez, a professional engineer in Lubbock,Texas, has been a part of the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for years. As Professor Alan Barhorst notes, Eduardo �was an early adopter of the FTC outreach. He willingly volunteered to help in the Head Referee position even though it was a position requiring certification.� 

That willingness to take on a challenge sets him apart as a volunteer. However, Eduardo admits that at the beginning, �the thought of not knowing what to expect made me very nervous. My nerves were quickly gone following the first match.� Yet, that nervousness does not translate on the field. For those watching him in the midst of a match, �Eduardo is a perfect Head Referee. He is calm and makes the critical calls in fair fashion. He has a dignity that exudes fairness among the teams. The other referees enjoy his leadership and the games are usually hitch-free.�

As a referee, especially the Head Referee, Eduardo is constantly moving and focused during a match. However, the position is not without its perks. �As a referee, we have the best seats in the house, we can touch / interact with the robots and the field, and we are in the middle of all of the action.� 

When you volunteer for FTC, you are bound to have a blast with the people who help put on these extraordinary events, the impressive students participating them, and the mentors/coaches and family who support their efforts. As any volunteer will agree, Eduardo sums up his experience with, �I am happy and proud to help volunteer and it is great to see the FIRST Organization put this program together in promoting Science and Technology."