[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 82 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO THE OLATHE NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL RAVONICS REVOLUTION 
ROBOTICS TEAM UPON THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE `FIRST ROBOTICS' NATIONAL 
                              COMPETITION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2007

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this 
opportunity today to recognize the Ravonics Revolution robotics team 
from Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, KS. The Ravonics 
Revolution team was one of over 1,100 schools across the country to 
participate in the 2007 FIRST Robotics competition, and were so 
successful that they were named Midwest Regional Champions.
  FIRST Robotics, which was founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the 
Segway, is creating programs where kids can compete in sports-like 
environments, using math/engineering/technology/science skills rather 
than traditional athletic skills. The organization's vision is: ``To 
create a world where science and technology are celebrated . . . where 
young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.''
  Olathe Northwest High School formed their FIRST Robotics team two 
years ago and has been led by Sue Rippe, a Kansas Teacher of the Year 
in 2000. Sue and her husband, Cliff, have dedicated themselves to this 
program, providing guidance and support, but the kids are the real 
leaders of the team. They appointed a CEO, COO, CIO, CFO and other 
leaders within their group to divide responsibilities.
  The team raised their own money to attend competition--more than 
$38,000 this year--and obtained sponsorships from over 25 companies and 
individuals. And, their hard work and dedication has not gone 
unnoticed. In addition to winning their regional championship in 
Chicago, IL, earlier this year, they won other awards in 
entrepreneurship, website design, video production and safety. They 
were further recognized at the championship event in Atlanta, GA, with 
the Autodesk Visualization Award for Best Lighting (CG Animation).
  Success isn't enough for them, however, which is why they will be 
hosting a robot scrimmage this summer for all area teams to encourage 
more students and schools to join the FIRST Robotics league.
  Thanks to their teacher, Sue Rippe, the leadership of the Olathe 
school district and the FIRST Robotics organization, these students are 
able to focus on subjects they enjoy and on what they're good at. The 
program not only allows kids to be surrounded with teachers and classes 
that help to build on their strengths, but it also brings together kids 
with like interests so that they can learn from each other and develop 
their leadership and teamwork skills.
  A very wise man once said that the really fundamental debts, like the 
ones that students owe to their teachers and parents, can't be paid 
back. They are too big for that. They can only be paid forward to those 
who will come after us. I know that each of these students will find a 
way to ``pay forward'' the debt they owe by using their amazing talents 
to help explore worlds and ideas we never thought possible.
  Madam Speaker, the Ravonics Revolution team at Olathe Northwest High 
School is an example of what happens when students work together to 
create a highly talented, focused team and seek to achieve a goal 
greater than themselves. I join the residents of the entire Third 
Congressional District of Kansas in applauding the Olathe Northwest 
High School Ravonics Revolution team for their success in the 2007 
FIRST Robotics competition and look forward to their continued success 
in all future endeavors.

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