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...