Celebrating our 2021-2022 FIRST Volunteers of the Year
June 30, 2022
Each year, volunteers around the globe go above and beyond to positively impact our FIRST® students and the FIRST community. The FIRST Volunteer of the Year award is a way for FIRST to recognize volunteers around the world who give extraordinary contributions of time and skills to the FIRST community. Recipients of the FIRST Volunteer of the Year award are role models to the community, demonstrating the core values of FIRST and exemplifying Gracious Professionalism®.
FIRST program staff and program delivery partners nominate and select recipients for the FIRST Volunteer of the Year award to be presented annually at the FIRST Championship. These nominations come from partners around the world and are selected based on the impact of their contribution to a FIRST program, their time or effort given, and their exemplification of the core values of FIRST. We are grateful and congratulate each recipient for their contributions to the FIRST Community.
We are proud to announce the 2023 – 2024 FIRST Volunteer of the Year award recipients:
Mehdi Troudi - FIRST® LEGO® League
Mehdi Troudi is a math teacher and musician from Tunisia. He loves to learn and share his knowledge with others. As an educator, volunteer coordinator, field manager, and event volunteer, Mehdi builds meaningful connections and is loved and respected by everyone he meets! FIRST® LEGO® League is honored to present Medhi with the program’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Clark & Peggy McChesney - FIRST® Tech Challenge
Clark and Peggy McChesney from Texas have contributed over 20 years of combined volunteer service to FIRST. They are thoughtful, kind, and devoted to the student and team experience. Exemplifying Gracious Professionalism, they are often described in their region as “integral pieces to the puzzle.” They have both served in multiple volunteer roles in their state, including as Volunteer Coordinators, League Managers, FTAs, Referees, and more. Having volunteered at FIRST Championship as Judges, Dean’s List Interviewers and FTAs, Clark and Peggy provide empathetic and practical advice to other volunteers. Clark and Peggy have been a key part of advancing FIRST® Tech Challenge and are worthy recipients of the program’s Volunteer of the Year Award.
Scott Goering - FIRST® Robotics Competition
Scott Goering is a FIRST alum who has been volunteering for more than 15 years, serving on the planning committee for events, and as a volunteer in many different roles including Scorekeeper, Pit Admin Supervisor, Game Announcer, Judge, FTA and more. As one of our two Chief Field Supervisors since 2019, he helps create and deliver training for Field Supervisors, Lead Queuers, and FTAA’s. His feedback helps ensure that teams have a more consistent, positive experience across all events and emphasizes the health of the participants and volunteers around him. Congratulations to the 2024 FIRST® Robotics Competition Volunteer of the Year, Scott Goering.
