Greg Cesiel

Year you started mentoring the team: 2007

Sub-teams: Program Leadership, Mentoring, Programming, Electrical, Build

What are 2 fun facts about you?

I almost flunked kindergarten
I have driven thousands of miles in hydrogen power fuel cell vehicles

Why did you join the AdamBots?

My sons David and Ryan got me involved in mentoring the team.

What is your favorite memory from robotics?

Before our first match at a competition at Kettering University we were updating the robot software.  During the reprogramming process we discovered the computer erased the previous version but would not accept the new software.  Even the National Instruments representative could not solve the problem.  We solved it about a minute before the match would have started without our robot.  We did not reprogram the robot again during that competition.  We ended up the number 1 seed and won the competition.

What have you learned from being on the team?

You can store a lot of energy in surgical tubing.

Do you have any tips for the current AdamBots?

You can accomplish a lot if you are willing to work hard, collaborate with your team members and focus on your goals

What is something you would have wanted to do differently to reach where you are today? (career-wise or to get to the AdamBots)

Become involved in robotics earlier.

What is special about FIRST?

It exposes students to science and technology in a fun way.