Day 98 in 2024

Celebratory flowers from the guy who holds down the fort at home during the robotics season.

Day 97 in 2024

States! I couldn't be prouder of my child or his team. They worked hard, they were down but not out, they never gave up their spirit, and in the end they not only took second on their district field, but won the State level Engineering Inspiration. That means our season isn't over because this team qualified for the World Championships twice—once based on points earned in play of over the course of the season, and a second time for being awesome enough to win EI award at the state level. I can't think of a better end to a senior year season.

Day 96 in 2024

Fine tuning vision code on the practice field at the end of day 2—our record doesn't reflect our capabilities right now, but we were picked to join the fourth alliance on our district field, and we're ready to go.

Day 95 in 2024

State Championship kick-off!

Day 94 in 2024

NHS farewell night.

I've been noting all the final moments, all the lasts, and this is a big one. Or, actually, this is a first. One measure of the last school year is all the last times—the last halftime show, the last band concert, the last robotics competition. But another measure is the firsts the herald the end—the first senior skip day, the first college acceptance, the first awards night. Tonight's NHS farewell ceremony was a first and only, and it fell unfortunately, on the eve of the Robotics State Championships kick off. We were supposed to already be in our hotel in Saginaw, but while Calvin was more than willing to skip the walk across the stage and instead pick up his cords from the office some nondescript day at school, he was gracious about letting me have this moment before we hit the road. There won't be many of these moments, so each should be savored.

We are so proud of him.