FIRST Robotics Outreach
I work with students, mentors, volunteers, and local teams to expand FIRST Robotics programming in Ottawa and build stronger connections between the community and Carleton University.
Building programs that connect students, mentors, and competition teams.
I have been involved with FIRST Robotics in the Ottawa region since 2015 as a mentor and alumnus. My work now also includes refereeing, event organization, volunteer training, and regional planning.
I currently serve as President of CU FIRST and Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton FIRST Steering Committee. These roles connect student programming at Carleton with the practical needs of local teams and events.
Reestablishing FIRST at Carleton.
I reestablished CU FIRST as an accredited Carleton club in 2024. The group brings together FIRST alumni and Carleton students who want to support teams, volunteer at events, and make robotics more visible on campus.
The work is practical. CU FIRST members help with robot demonstrations, event setup, volunteer preparation, technical mentoring, and outreach with students who may be seeing a competition robot for the first time.
- Connect Carleton students and FIRST alumni with local teams.
- Support mechanical design, fabrication, programming, controls, and project management.
- Prepare volunteers for FRC, FTC, and FLL events.
- Run robot demonstrations and engineering outreach activities at Carleton.
Supporting teams on and off the field.
My team mentoring began with C4 Robotics, FRC Team 3543, my alumni team in Arnprior. I have also provided informal mentoring for Merge Robotics, FRC Team 2706. The goal is to help students develop sound engineering habits while leaving the important design decisions in their hands.
I also work at competitions as an FRC and FTC referee, FLL judge, event organizer, and volunteer. That experience informs the planning work I do with CU FIRST because it shows what teams, volunteers, and event staff need for a competition to run well.
From robot demonstrations to regional infrastructure.
In November 2025, CU FIRST and Carleton's Faculty of Engineering and Design delivered the Ottawa Regional FIRST Robotics Showcase in Richcraft Hall. More than 250 high school students took part in live robot demonstrations, robot driving activities, campus tours, and engineering outreach.
Current work includes official FRC Kickoff activities and a mobile 26 × 57 ft practice field for local teams. The field gives students a place to test full size robots, work through game challenges, and share technical knowledge with other teams.
Working toward a district event at Carleton.
Planning is underway for a proposed FIRST Robotics Competition District Event at Carleton in 2028. The proposal would bring up to 32 high school teams to campus for a three day competition.
The event would build on Carleton's existing FIRST activities and give teams in Eastern Ontario another regional competition opportunity. Dates, agreements, and operating details remain subject to approval while the planning work continues.