WARREN, Ohio — Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture (Delphi-E/EA) is supporting the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics program for the eleventh season this year, but it wasn’t until last year that the division began working with students at Champion High School in Champion, Ohio. In that short time the division and the eight Delphi-E/EA engineers who work with them have had the opportunity to make a big impact — an impact that was recognized by the Champion School Board during its monthly board meeting this week and by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) earlier this month.

Mark Baka, industrial engineer, has been awarded the OESCA’s Annual “Outstanding Leadership Award” for his leadership of the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics program at the school. Baka was originally presented with his award during the OESCA’s annual recognition brunch Nov. 12 in Columbus and was re-presented with the award at Monday night’s school board meeting.

The “Outstanding Leadership Award” recognizes current members of a local, city or exempted village board of education who have rendered leadership service. Special emphasis is placed on personal contribution beyond what is expected. Baka, who had been involved in F.I.R.S.T. through Delphi since 1999, introduced the program at Champion High School last year.

“Some other engineers and I decided it was time to spread the word about F.I.R.S.T. and introduce the program to a new school,” Baka said. “You hear reports in the news about how we are lacking in the fields of science and technology — and this is a way to grow in those fields.”

Beyond simply championing the program, Baka has helped recruit additional Delphi volunteers, formed collaborations with other area F.I.R.S.T. schools, and made “extraordinary” efforts to acquire funding for the program, according to his nomination form. But Baka isn’t stopping there; he and the four area F.I.R.S.T. teams are currently working with Congressman Tim Ryan to get funding for robotics programs at other schools in his district.

“It is a great honor to present this award to Mark,” said Vicki Giovangnoli, superintendent, Trumbull County Educational Service Center. “We are happy to have [him] in the county.”

“Mark has done a tremendous job leading the F.I.R.S.T. program at Champion,” said Steve Duca, director of engineering, customer satisfaction and program management. “I am proud of what he and all the engineers at Delphi have done for this program over the last 11 years.”

In addition to Mark’s award, the school board presented a plaque to recognize the division for its overall support of the F.I.R.S.T. program, including a donation of equipment earlier this year. (See archived article.) Duca accepted the plaque on behalf of Delphi.

“This award represents all that is good when business, communities and academia collaborate,” Duca said. “Of course, the most important constituents are the students whose lives continue to be enriched by experiencing F.I.R.S.T. As long as the schools stay committed, Delphi will be here to provide support.”