Volunteer Spotlight: Lorrie Button-Edelson

For many volunteers, the path into FIRST® begins with curiosity. For others, it begins with enthusiasm. For Lorrie Button-Edelson, it began with what she humorously describes as being “roped in, kicking and screaming.” In 2005, Lorrie stepped into the unexpected role of faculty sponsor for FRC Team 624 CRyptonite. Her first regional event took her all the way to Phoenix, Arizona, where she quickly realized something important. FIRST was not just another extracurricular activity. It had a profound impact on young people and their futures.

Since that first season, Lorrie has stayed connected to CRyptonite in one way or another. When her son joined the team in 2009, her husband David also jumped in to help. Today, he works more closely with the team than she does, while Lorrie has found her own calling in volunteering at events. Over the years, she has taken on many roles including safety glasses attendant, queuer, scorekeeper, and judge. With time, standing for long shifts has become more difficult, so she discovered a new favorite role. Scorekeeping allows her to stay involved, stay sharp, and stay close to the action that makes FIRST events unforgettable.

What keeps Lorrie coming back year after year are the people and the moments that define the FIRST experience. She reconnects with familiar faces. She meets new friends. She shares victories and disappointments with teams who pour their hearts into the season. She watches quiet and uncertain teens transform into confident young adults. And she collects memories that stay with her long after the season ends.

One of Lorrie’s most meaningful memories comes from a student who queued with her at several events. He had a talent for breaking down matches and studying how teams approached the game. His insight taught her more that season than any other. Now an engineering student in college, he remains someone she still keeps in touch with. His father even encouraged them to exchange numbers so they could continue celebrating exciting moments from District events and World Championship together.

Volunteering has become a family tradition in the Edelson household. Lorrie and her husband spend most of their free time supporting FIRST events, and they are now watching the next generation get ready to join the journey. With three grandsons in the wings, the excitement is growing. The oldest just turned eleven, which means it will not be long until they are part of CRyptonite and standing beside their grandparents as volunteers themselves.

Lorrie Button-Edelson’s story is a reminder of what makes FIRST so special. It brings people together. It shapes futures. And it creates moments that last a lifetime.