Woodie Flowers Award Nominees
Josh Popham
Jessica Popham
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Josh Popham is dedicated to inspiring and helping students proceed into STEM fields.Most of the students on our team call him the “Mom” of the team because of how much he cares for us and watches over us.Josh loves helping students learn more about the robot and problem solving.
He is a very supportive mentor who pushes us to create better robots.During the tough build season, he has been invaluable helping with the engineering side of the team.He is always open to helping someone learn.As our juinor representive said, “He has helped me when we were engineering last year's FRC robot, Toothless, by using the correct tools when repairing our robot. He showed me how to properly strip wires and connect them in the correct places for the robot will move smoothly.” Another team member said, “I do not have the best background in building or engineering in general which means I have a lot of questions.Josh is patient and walks me through whatever it is I need or allows me figure it out by myself if he knows I can.”
Josh always asks students a lot of questions to make them think about all the flaws in their designs. He allows students to think about it and plan it out before they try it and if he sees a flaw he asks them questions to help them figure out how to fix their design. He does this without pointing it out, however, and this helps them develop problem solving skills. He asks questions such as, “How will you accomplish this task?” and “How else can you do the same thing?” to make the students think.The team’s Vice-President says “Josh is an invaluable asset during build season. He offers insight into engineering the robot and giving an opposing point of view. He makes members think about why they are designing the robot the way they are, the possible flaws, and helps guide members to a solution. He helps to make sure that members produce an efficient and well designed robot.”
Throughout the years he's been mentoring Dragon Robotics, the students have also inspired him to become a teacher. Over this past year he has taken steps toward a career change from a warehouse manager and service technician to teaching engineering to high school students. Even with a new child, taking classes and working, he has dedicated countless hours to helping our team with engineering. Our students can see that he has the experience he needs to teach them through the time he spends at robotics, helping them with their own experience.
Not only does Josh work on the engineering side of the team, but he is involved with the image and inspiration side of the team. He guided our team with the making of our diversity plan. He brought to the conversation industry diversity ideas from corporate businesses. As well as helping with the diversity plan, Josh has helped students with the entrepreneurship award, and with our social media for marketing.
Dragon Robotics wouldn’t know where to go with our team without our mentor, Josh Popham (Mom), guiding us to the solutions.
“Jessica Popham is the heart of Dragon Robotics, she continues to allow our team's fire to burn.Her passion for this team has allowed us to have unlimited possibilities for 2375.She has been relentless on making us the best team we can be, because she sees the potential in us.She hasn't been only making us a great team, she is making us a better family,”says the team's Junior representative.Mrs. Popham became a part of our team in 2010, and helped our team focus on the spirit of FIRST as well as the robot.She helped transform our team into Dragon Robotics in 2012, where we began to volunteer at community events, host FLL and FTC tournaments, and apply for the Chairman’s award.Through all of this, she has inspired us to continue to improve.
Mrs. Popham works tirelessly to help students become leaders in robotics and in our school.As the teams Sophmore representive says,“I was worried about being a leader on the team next year, and told Mrs. Popham about it.She told me not to worry, and that she had trouble being a leader at first.Then she told me she had learned from the students and that she wouldn’t have learned without being in that position.Because of her, I have the courage to run for president next year and am inspired to be a great leader.”
Multiple students commented on the dedication of Mrs. Popham to the team.Saying things like“She never misses an important day.She goes out of her way to keep the team running, and takes extra special care for those team members that need a little extra help,”and“She shows her dedication by attending each meeting whenever she can.She keeps the family connected and emotionally stable.She keeps our focus on every aspect of FIRST.”These students know how much Mrs. Popham cares for our team, and her passion shows every meeting.
During meetings, Mrs. Popham encourages the students to be productive and balance their schoolwork as well as robotics work.She pushes students to be great leaders and great students. The team’s Vice-President says,“Despite just having her first child, she works tirelessly to balance her home, work, and robotics mentor responsibilities.She aspires to get the best out of team members and is not afraid to push them.She makes sure that everyone is held accountable and that they do their best throughout the season.”
Mrs. Popham helps inspire students to give back to their community.She has helped organize us to become a team that can go to over 30 community outreach events, inspires students to volunteer over 1600 hours of their time at events, and helping the students impact over 8500 people.She has helped pilot the district alliance in a way for the teams within our school district to share parts and resources to help other teams be successful during the stressful robotics season.
Without Mrs. Popham our team wouldn’t know where to go and wouldn’t be nearly as focused on spreading FIRST throughout the community.Dragon Robotics wouldn’t be the inspiring team it is today without her.