Honor, and Chivalry in STEM:

We are Team 2395, The Ninja Munkees. As a team we honor, recognize, and implement the FIRST organization’s mission to recognize, and inspire science, and technology. This intent is reflected in our outreach when we ask, "Are you interested in robots? "Students often respond with "How do I build a robot that will clean my room?" We explain that the FIRST Robotics experience can help them build one, but, more importantly, FIRST will expose them to technology necessary to solve problems in the future. Our efforts are mirrored in our preseason events where we hold robotics demos and workshops. Our efforts are also reflected in public events we host for our sponsors. On behalf of Oklahoma County 4-H, the team goes to a major shopping mall, and not only displays our robot but also the game field, and demonstrates the gameplay. For Boeing Aerospace, we participated with 12 other teams in the Oklahoma FIRST public event. On behalf of Team Tinker, one of our mentors has conducted STEM talks each year since 2013, the talks have reached over 2,300 people.  This event includes videos, hands-on demos, and how to use STEM in everyday life. Finally, our aspiration is reflected in the actions we use every day to implement the FIRST motto. To define those actions, our team uses a variation of The FIRST acronym --Foster, Ignite, Radiate, Support, and be Thankful.

 

Foster -Team 2395 Ninja Munkees fosters personal and intellectual growth in a variety of ways. Our mentors', and coaches' exceptional knowledge, and dedication has helped advance students' technical understanding, and analytical prowess. Our mentors and coaches come from a wide variety of disciplines: electrical, and mechanical engineering, college professors, computer science, manufacturing, robotics, and construction. Working alongside these experienced individuals is a unique opportunity. With their thought-provoking questions and advice, they lead us to analyze problems in a different light and develop within us a new way of thinking. In order to advance our understanding of CAD, we hosted robot building workshops and organized a CAD Camp for the team which increased our use of the tool. Furthermore, our team climate and our application of FIRST precepts foster growth, creativity, and respect for others. Working together as a team, we gain a greater capacity for patience, humility, and kindness, and lose our impulsivity, and close-mindedness. In the trenches of build season, our team learns diplomacy, conflict resolution, and time management. We grow to realize that every person's ideas should be treated with respect. The FIRST program fosters maturity, which leads to increased confidence, and encourages us to explore new ideas, and even professions we once thought out of reach. Because Team 2395 believes in developing other student’s interests in FIRST is important, we helped create and mentor FLL Team Mini-Munkees. Our team is a warm, and inviting group that encourages every person we encounter to maximize their talents and explore new ones.

 

Ignite - Team 2395 works to ignite and increase interest in STEM at every opportunity. We routinely demonstrate our robot to other 4-H clubs, scouting troops, homeschool groups, public libraries, bookstores, and STEM camps, among numerous others. We exhibit our robot at the Oklahoma City Homeschool Convention where more than 3,000 people see it! In addition, every year we demonstrate our robot at the Oklahoma State Fair, where our robot won a blue ribbon in 2013, 2014, 2015, and was viewed by hundreds of thousands each time. The Oklahoma state Capitol, Oklahoma Country Fair, Oklahoma Science Museum, and public schools have also enjoyed our robot demonstrations. A huge event that our team organizes is Sciencing on Saturday (SOS). Three times a year, our whole team plans, and executes a fun-filled learning experience for elementary-aged children in the community. At these all-day events, we bring science and technology to life with hands-on activities demonstrating concepts like force, friction, wind power, rocketry, and Lego robotics. Many elementary students leave our SOS seeking an FLL team.  By staying informed of FLL, and FRC Robotics Teams we can direct students to existing teams closer to their homes or in their schools.

 

Radiate - We radiate the joy, and excitement that comes from learning, innovating, and working as a team. During competitions, our daily lives, and robot demonstrations, our enthusiasm serves to draw others to FIRST. Our passion is evident when showing our robot at various locations as team members eagerly answer rapid-fire questions from excited spectators. Parents in the audience are always eager to learn more, and every year our team grows.  Over the years we have had several students who were drawn to our team and wanted to experience FIRST FRC. In many cases, these students lived a long distance from our meeting location or attended a school that did not offer a robotics program. As a direct result of their experiences on Team 2395, these students, enamored with FRC, were inspired to start a team at their own school or within their own hometown area. Teams that have formed containing students previously on our team are Radioactive Robotics (#2765), LightSabers (#3660), and Jankopotamus (#3498). Additionally, our 2012 Team Captain -- with the encouragement of our coach -- applied for, and won both the Local/Affiliate, and the National "2012 NCWIT (National Center for Women, and Information Technology) Award for Aspirations in Computing." Prior to becoming a FIRST captain, she was very shy and reserved. By the end of the robot season, she learned to be outspoken and truly led the team.

 

Support - Team 2395 readily offers support to anyone, whenever they need it. We eagerly offer manpower, parts, advice, and encouragement to other teams. One example involves the 2013 Oklahoma City Regional when a rookie team (Dove Science) arrived with a half-built robot. It lacked a way to score, bumpers, and failed to meet specifications in many ways. Without hesitating, several of our team members jumped in and helped Dove complete their robot, and pass inspection. Throughout the competition, we continued to help them improve their robot. On the final day, Team 2395, and Dove Science were in an alliance together. Our team collaborated with Dove to devise a strategy that ultimately won a match against an opposing alliance who possessed a highly ranked, undefeated robot. For several years in a row, our team has actively assisted rookie teams in the rapid quick-build session on the afternoon of FRC Kickoff. One of our team members serves as an assistant coach, and mentor to the FLL Team Mini-Munkees. In this position, he works directly with the younger students explaining scientific concepts in a way they readily grasp. We have also been privileged to mentor the following rookie FRC teams: Radioactive Robotics (#2765), Mortal Combot (#2986), Robo Rockets (#4612), and Viking Robotics (#4349). Most importantly, we support each other. Team 2395 is a family. Those are not just words -- when one of us has a trial or triumph, it affects us all. This summer when one of the team’s parents were out of the country, the other had surgery on her knee, and the team rallied around it offering to bring meals and go pick up groceries. The team is small, so our parents are very involved, which serves to strengthen our bonds with one another. Coaches and mentors take a personal interest in helping each one of us to maximize our skills, make us better people, and someday, better employees.

 

Thankful - We are very thankful for our reliable sponsors, devoted mentors, and selfless coaches. Without them, Team 2395 would not be possible. Team 2395 is honored and grateful to have such highly qualified, educated mentors and coaches. They devote countless hours helping us learn, and implement our knowledge. Even after a long day at work, they still find the energy to work with us, often late into the night. They inspire us with their commitment and enthusiasm. Working with them is a unique opportunity that we do not take for granted. Furthermore, so that we never forget who makes it possible for the team to exist, our coach routinely mentions the contributions of our sponsors. To demonstrate our regard, and allow team members to personally express gratitude to our sponsors, Team 2395 hosts an annual Sponsor Appreciation Supper and presents each sponsor with a plaque. Students also write letters to thank them personally.  We are privileged to be supported by several high-tech aviation sponsors along with many other generous organizations. Two of our sponsors have graciously allowed us to utilize their facilities for meeting and robot building. Because we are not a school-sponsored team with an allotted classroom and build area, space is a precious commodity. After each meeting and build session, we ensure that the facility is "better than we found it," thereby showing our gratitude, and respect for their property. Furthermore, another sponsor is so committed to our continued success that each year they assist us in raising additional funds by helping sponsor a gigantic garage sale at the State Fair Park. Both the sponsor organization and team members contribute many hours toward the success of this event. These organizations and individuals understand and value our team's FIRST objectives. They realize tomorrow's leaders, and technical manpower will originate from programs like FIRST.

Foster, Ignite, Radiate, Support, and be Thankful –

That is how we F-I-R-S-T.