The Soft Pitch

Avnet Tech Games drew nearly 200 students this weekend to compete for scholarships in nine different games – a record number of students participated representing colleges and universities from across Arizona — there was even a team from University of Arizona in Tucson that trekked in for the event!.

Winners were announced this morning via press release and photos from the event can be found on Flickr.

My personal favorite – and of course for many of the on-lookers – was the robot obstacle race.  Under the direction of faculty advisor Bassam Matar, the Chandler-Gilbert team won again this year.  Their robot was one of the few that made it around the entire obstacle course and the only one to successfully to transport a red rubber ball around the 5-ft. course.  Robot races sound much easier than they are, apparently, as most of the robots couldn’t make it around the course at all.  The students had to use a robot kit with about a gazzillion Lego parts and some electronics to design and build their own robot.  Each team came up with their own design (they didn’t have to use all the parts) and had some interesting twists on how to capture the ball.  One team built a pair of pincer arms like on a scorpion (must be the desert influence) and another a little scooper arm like on a skip loader (didn’t work at all).  The winning team had a little trap contraption that descended on the ball (sort of like from the game Mouse Trap if you’re as old as I and can remember that game) and kept it from rolling away while the robot pushed the ball around the course. It was the only design to successfully grab the ball – earning it a great cheer from the audience.

All the teams deserve recognition and gained valuable experience in trying to solve real-world problems – well, okay, so maybe moving a rubber ball around a table doesn’t sound real-world.  But maybe some day, those students will be designing robot arms to perform delicate surgery or better yet, do the dishes.

Rudy Navarro from Chandler Gilbert CC puts the final touches on the winning robot.

Community pride…This is the 2nd time the Cardinal’s have been featured on our home page…for once it’s about their ability…let’s see what happend tonite vs Panthers.

Because Sports Illustrated put Larry Fitzgerald on the cover I would say our chances have diminished. That jynx is real.

The first time is what i want to write about…when we invested in a suite with them approx 8 years ago…it was our first time our company ever committed to a suite contract with a sports team for entertainment. The goal was simple to enhance and build our realtionships with customers and suppliers. Emails dont always do the trick. Being able to gab and interface with people without having to sit down was key and staying out of the hot sun of AZ was the best reason until they built a beautiful stadium. 

The NFL games are nice but the thing that swayed us all was the Cardinals support behind the scenes as a partner…let me describe the real key element; our Community Relations VP Teri Radosevich worked with the Cards on a program they consistently do. In this case Teri asked for over 60 7-8th graders from a school that was focused on kids who were homeless and living in shelters or even in cars, arrived after school to the Cardinal’s practice facility in Tempe. They got a Subway sandwich snack*, tour, saw the cheerleaders practice (of course I helped the kids get to them to that area on time) and learned different skill football lessons…they had quite a few helpers, but the leader of all this was their star quarterback Jake Plummer who also gave them a short speech on staying in school, teamwork etc.  He was terriffic and never jsut showed up and left…he really played with the kids. That was one of my best days in my career…the smiles were priceless.   

 * many took home for supper

The story and photos graced our site and started us on a path of a great partnership with the team and how to impact the community even more than just sending a check to an agency.  Our brand has been enhanced due to many community programs…well this is just one that kick started us here w sports teams. Locally the D Backs, Suns and Coyotes also have been there with us too.  Community involvement and partnerships can payoff in so many ways.

I do not know the on field players, but I do know or have met all the front office players…Mr Bidwill, Michael, Ron, Adam, Cari and many others….now they are all-stars….and have been those many years. Customer service and support is foremost to them. Thanks

You folks deserve a WIN in my book.   Go Cards