UCS student earns national leadership honor in FIRST robotics

A Utica Community Schools senior has earned one of the highest national honors for his leadership in the FIRST Robotics competition.

Brett Davis, who attends Eisenhower High School and the Center for Science and Industry, was named a leadership finalist and the international competition’s World Championship.

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“Brett’s individual contributions have consistently strengthened the team as a whole.” said Mark Jozwiak, a mentor on the UCS high school Crevolution team.

The leadership honor represents one of the highest distinctions in FIRST Robotics, with each of the 3,700 FIRST Robotics teams having the opportunity to nominate up to two students.

Davis said the award is a testament to the work of his entire team.

“I wouldn’t be able to lead the way I do without the support of my friends, peers, and mentors guiding me along the right path, Davis said. “What makes this award different from winning a competition is that it reflects more than just technical ability, it represents the soft skills I’ve developed, like leadership, communication, and lifting others up. In many ways, it means more than competitive success because FIRST is about more than just robots. It’s about building people just as much as building machines.”

The award evaluates students based on their embodiment of FIRST CORE Values (Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun), his commitment to increasing awareness of FIRST, how his contributions impacted his team, and his mastery and experiences in STEM.

Davis was honored at the World Competition in May.

“What draws me to robotics is the opportunity to work as a team to create something truly incredible,” he said. “There’s nothing like showing up with your friends, putting in the work, and seeing something you built compete. Beyond that, robotics constantly pushes me to grow, whether it’s technical skills like manufacturing, electrical, computer aided design (CAD), and programming, or soft skills like marketing, business development, project management, and finance. That combination keeps me motivated and always learning.”

Davis, a three-year member of Crevolution, said he plans to continue his participation as a senior this year and mentoring elementary and middle school teams and volunteering at events. Long term, he hopes to either mentor or start his own high school team and eventually become a Field Technical Advisor.

This year, Crevolution were Safety Animation finalists – ranking number one in the United States – and won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the district for the first time in team history. They qualified for the World Championship after placing 26^th in Michigan.

“Our team had an incredible season,” he said. “These accomplishments made it a truly revolutionary season for our team as a whole.”

After graduation, Davis plans to be active in the FIRST Alumni community while he pursues a Mechatronics degree and establish a career in the STEAM field.

Source: Utica Community Schools
Http://www.uticak12.org
Superintendent Robert S. Monroe