Ronald Arscheene

Utica Center for Math, Science, and Technology - 10 years participation in FIRST

What we've heard about Mr. Arscheene:

Ronald Arscheene is still organizing the chaos of our chicken coop and keeping all the chickens in line. Using his many years of experience, he leads team members to find their own way to solve a problem. Continuing to inspire others, this year, Ron has guided the construction of three other teams' robots, including two rookie teams. Ron has also helped to create a new team in the Utica Community School district. He continues to make the FIRST family bigger. He helps the new students to realize their problem solving abilities. Jumping in whenever asked, he keeps at a distance so that the students are able to solve their own problems with minimal intervention. He shows students the true meaning of FIRST; It's  not the destination that counts but how one reached it that matters.

As William Arthur Ward once said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." Thankfully, the ThunderChickens have daily inspiration in the form of one very special mentor, teacher, and friend, Ron Arscheene. He is considered by many to be a humble, selfless father figure and the heart and "glue" of the team. He has been there for every ThunderChicken student, driving each of them forward to achieve the inspired, fulfilled life they choose to pursue. Mr. Arscheene is a nearly indescribable whole-hearted human being whose main goal is to ensure that everyone has a positive experience. He allows us to focus on the future and never dwell on discouragement; he can often be caught saying, it's nothing we can't fix. 

It is with pride and reverence that we nominate Mr. Arscheene. Anyone can be a mentor; however, it takes more than that to be an exceptional person. Not only is Mr. Arscheene a beloved mentor, but he also balances the roles of a loving father and husband, a dedicated AP physics teacher, and a current college student. Mr. Arscheene notices when a student isn't feeling up to par, and even finds time to check on each student. Mr. Arscheene began the team in 1999 and this dedication continues today. He inconspicuously and humbly spends more than 30 hours per week mentoring the students with advice and clever wisdom, watching them learn, progress, and work together to complete the robot's construction before the infamous "ship date."
 
Whenever the students become overwhelmed and are unsure "if" anything will turn out satisfactory, he always remains positive and is often heard saying, "It's not IF we succeed, it's when." One team member recalls, "There have been times where I'm stressed to the point of breaking down and walking out, and Mr. Arscheene will say, 'No, not like that, you're not,’ and spent time consoling me one-on-one. He is always there for us." In always being there for us, it sometimes seems that if he was not one of our main mentors, our team would struggle to survive. Someone like Mr. Arscheene who transcends mentoring and exudes such passion about what he does daily is a rare find. The most impressive way that Mr. Arscheene improves the lives of his students is how he provides advice. Whenever Mr. Arscheene is prompted with a question, he always replies with a question of his own which leads the person to their own answer.

If a student does not know the difference between a bearing and a bushing, Mr. Arscheene would be the first to teach the mechanical and engineering differences between the two until the student completely understands and can explain them to others. Many students can perfectly recite a proverb Mr. Arscheene often tells them: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

They say that the future lies in the hands of our generation, but if it weren't for the generation before us, we wouldn't have amazing leaders like Mr. Arscheene to learn from. Grasping knowledge is one thing, but retaining it and applying it to the real world can only be taught by those like Mr. Arscheene, the brightest and the best. He has faith in all students and challenges them to infinite lengths. He is the catalyst of great thought and the inspiration for success.