Zach, a 5-year veteran of the Manchester Machine Makers 4-H Club and FIRST Tech Challenge Team #16221 and a junior at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester Vermont, was recognized at the Vermont State Championships held on Saturday March 7 at South Burlington High School in South Burlington, Vermont as one of two FIRST Tech Challenge Leadership Award Finalists representing Vermont.

This award is a significant recognition of Zach’s dedication and leadership on the team and for the FTC community. He and Miles Vernon were both recognized by the Manchester Machine Makers as Semi-Finalists. To be selected as a Finalist from across all teams in Vermont is an honor which can lead to future opportunities in STEAM.

Congratulations!

From FIRST: What is the FIRST® Leadership Award?

The FIRST® Leadership Award recognizes the dedication and individual contributions of outstanding secondary school students participating on FIRST® Tech Challenge or FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. Students in 10th or 11th grade are eligible to be nominated by their team for the FIRST Leadership Award for excelling in areas such as leadership, entrepreneurship, and dedication to advancing the mission of FIRST within their communities.

There are four (4) levels of the FIRST Leadership Award.

• FIRST Leadership Award Semi-finalists – comprised of the two (2) students in their 10th or 11th school year* nominated by each team.
• FIRST Leadership Award District Championship Semi-finalists (FIRST Robotics Competition only) – The students selected at District events to be interviewed at the District Championship for Finalist consideration.
• FIRST Leadership Award Finalists – The students selected for each Regional and District Region.
• FIRST Leadership Award Winners – comprised of the ten (10) FIRST Robotics Competition and ten (10) FIRST Tech Challenge students selected from the applicable FIRST Leadership Award Finalists.

The students who earn FIRST Leadership Award status as a Semi-finalist, Finalist or Winner, are great examples of student leaders who have led their teams and communities to increased awareness for FIRST and its mission, champion FIRST Core Values such as Inclusion, and embody Gracious Professionalism®. It is the goal the FIRST Leadership Award Winners will continue, post-award, as great leaders, student alumni, and advocates of FIRST.

In 2019, the Woodie Flowers Memorial Grant was established for FIRST Leadership Award Winners pursuing STEAM fields of study.