Jason Joye, an enigma in size 13 shoes. Best said by Warren Block, faculty advisor from Troy Athens High School, “He has the unique ability to instruct, inspire, and discipline, all with a smile on his face.” His commitment to our team is unmistakable. Mr. Joye interacts with our members on a year-round basis. Even with a full work schedule, he not only commits to the build season, but also attends summer meetings, off-season events, and volunteering activities. He helped plan and setup our FIRST Lego League Scrimmage and even stepped in as a judge when needed. Without him we would not have been able to compete at the Kettering Kickoff, an event we use to introduce our rookies to a FIRST style competition. He graciously volunteered to bring our robot and while there, assisted us in showing the rookies the principles of FIRST. Promoting student involvement, he tries to touch base with all subgroups of our team and works with as many members as he can. These are the kind of things that make him one of the most visible engineers, especially to our rookies. With unprecedented commitment and availability, one student was not afraid to call him at 2:00 in the morning, knowing she would get an immediate and caring response. “He wasn’t mad or grumpy at all. He answered my question and then talked for 15 minutes more, even though I had called so late at night. He’s always been there for us.” Approachable and young in age, Mr. Joye relates effectively with the students. He allows us to express the wildest ideas or concepts, and then decides what to say, or not say, to allow us to work through the problem-solving process. French author Antoine de Saint Exupery’s quote, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea” clearly shows Mr. Joye’s mentoring style. His compassion and humor can diffuse the stress of the most anxious student. “After working long hours on the robot, and all of us are so tired, but Jason is still upbeat and cracking jokes. He always sees the glass as half full.” Mr. Joye is a positive and supportive figure within our team. He sets an example by displaying professional and organizational skills in all his does. Leading without being over-powering, the students feel his passion for the project and connect with him on an intellectual level. Positive comments are his forte. Helpful, while allowing the students to learn, we have heard him say on many occasions, “If you break it, you break it. You learn from it. You get another piece, and you do it again.” He always seems to be the one we contact first. If we have a problem or question he is unable to address, he promptly finds someone who can. Not only accommodating with his time, he goes out of his way to help strengthen the communication links within our team. The sign of a good communicator is a good listener, and although he has aided our team is multiple ways, most of all, Jason Joye listens. For these reasons and many more, we, Team 226, the TEC CReW Hammerheads, nominate Jason Joye for the Woodie Flowers Award.
