Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Young

Since the 2015–2016 Trash Trek season, Michael Young has been a familiar face at FIRST® in Texas events across the state. His journey began in North Texas when the Perot Museum served as the regional sponsor, and over the years, his dedication has taken him west and into the central region. In that time, Michael has volunteered as a judge, referee, set up/ tear down helper, judge advisor, event host, and emcee for FLL, "I have also been a reviewer for FLL Jr., and a yearly field resetter for World Festival FLL." 

Michael’s path into volunteering began with a spark of inspiration from a workshop that showed him the fun and excitement of FIRST programs. “I got started with FLL after going to an amazing workshop taught by Patrick Michaud. He made it so interesting and fun that I just had to start building teams and volunteering.”

For Michael, every event is an opportunity to uplift and celebrate every student who participates. Not every team will win an award or advance to the next level, but every team is a champion to Michael and he makes sure they know that. He states, "The looks on their faces is priceless when I have the audience stand and recognize every team. Every team is a champion and every champion deserves a standing ovation for their hard work and achievement."

Michael shares that the most rewarding part of volunteering is being part of each team’s journey—from their first build to advancing beyond the qualifiers. He always aims to bring energy and joy to every event, creating moments students will never forget. "It's exciting to see the smiles on their faces and to make them laugh.”

When asked how volunteering has impacted him, his answer perfectly captures his spirit: "I get to have the most unique fun at every event dressing up and making kids happy. I get to let my inner child out to have fun again. It's a joy to be a part of it all."

Through his years of service, Michael has brought energy, compassion, and creativity to every event, embodying what it means to inspire the next generation through robotics.