Lightning Robotics, FRC862, is proud to nominate Jay Obsnuik for the 2022 Woodie

Flowers Award. For 23 years, Steve worked to educate, guide, and mentor the students of

FRC862. As a mentor to the marketing subgroup and our FTC coordinator, Mr. Derry is a key

member of FRC862 and helps it to run sustainably and efficiently. He also assists in starting and

mentoring FLL and FTC teams. He helps spread the message of FIRST by not only helping

FRC862, but supporting other levels of FIRST in our community.

Over the years, Mr. Derry’s been a positive influence on the members of FRC862.

Through his encouragement and consideration, he’s an inspiration to students. Tooba,

Marketing Student Lead, expressed, “Mr. Derry always encourages the members of our

subgroup to learn from our mistakes.” He’s described as knowledgeable, helpful, and kind by

students, key qualities of an effective mentor. Steve Derry is a role model by encouraging

students to work together and communicate. Another member of marketing, Sravya, stated, “He

has definitely taught me to be more aware of others and by doing so I feel that teamwork came

with that awareness.”

 Steve Derry is vital to FRC862, as a mentor for the FTC Coordinator and the marketing

subgroup. Mr. Derry organizes student mentoring of our FTC teams, helps the student FTC

Coordinator, and communicates with FTC coaches. His contribution to growing our FTC

mentoring program has enabled students to gain experience as mentors. In Marketing, Mr.

Derry teaches graphic design, software, and project management. Our marketing team is

responsible for the imagery of our team, creating our uniforms, peer awards, and other

promotional material. He makes an effort to encourage students, follow their lead on the

direction of projects, and see “the kids succeeding in what they want to do”.

Mr. Derry has made an impact across all levels of FIRST in our community. Before

becoming a mentor of FRC862, Steve mentored his son’s FLL team and later helped start an

FTC team. After his son joined FRC862, Mr. Derry became a mentor, and aided the FIRST

community by helping create two FLL teams and numerous FTC teams, which FRC862 now
mentors through our FTC mentoring program. These teams have access to our build space and

student mentors. Mr. Derry as the FTC coordinator mentor provides a stable presence for these

teams which often see high turnover in parent mentors, keeping them from reinventing the

wheel. 

In one way or another, Mr. Derry has dedicated his services, time, and effort to every

person on FRC862. To him, the message of FIRST is about inclusion. On every FIRST team,

there is a place for everyone to thrive. By helping to start new teams and making sure they’re

are sustainable, Mr. Derry helps to spread FIRST in our district. For all he’s done for our team

and FIRST as a whole, we believe Steve Derry is deserving of this honor and we know he will

continue to impact the lives of students and the sustainability of FIRST in our community.