FIRST Robotics names Volunteers of the Year

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Scott Borden

At the recent FIRST Robotics Finger Lakes Regional, ESL Credit Union’s Dante DiLella was named Volunteer of the Year. He is a long-time supporter of the regional event and the FIRST program. DiLella is the event lead referee. Presenting the award was Elayne Stewart, a 2014 awardee, and also the regional’s head judge.

RIT’s Matt Campbell and ESL Federal Credit Union’s Dante DiLella were named Volunteers of the Year Awardees at the recent FIRST Robotics Finger Lakes Regional competition. Campbell has been involved with the FIRST organization since 2007 as an event judge, and then starting in 2011, he became volunteer co-coordinator for the Finger Lakes Regional event. DiLella, also a long time supporter of the event, involved since 2006, is the regional event’s head referee.

This year’s two-day competition took place March 27-28 at RIT’s Gordon Field House and Activities Center.

The award is given to the volunteer that impacts the organization through personal commitment to teams, leadership and contributions to FIRST events.

“It was a surprise to receive this, but the volunteer group should get the credit, too. This team has been together for years, it just clicks,” said Campbell, who has also participated as a judge for FIRST Lego League events, one of FIRST’s activities for middle school age students, locally and regionally.

DiLella has also participated as an official for multiple FIRST competitions. As head referee he oversees a team of five field referees who must learn the new game each year to ensure points are awarded properly and rules are enforces in the fast-moving, multifaceted sport.

“It’s an honor to be picked from a field of amazing volunteers that we have here in the Finger Lakes region. I’ve loved serving the FIRST community nationally as well as locally here in Rochester,” said DiLella.

Outside of his FIRST activities, Campbell ’03, ’12 (computer science, network and systems administration) works as manager, infrastructure applications and data center technical services, in RIT’s Information and Technology Service department. He oversees the coordination and management of RIT’s green data center and part of the department’s technical support team.

An avid hockey fan, he is a long time member of the Corner Crew. Campbell also is technical director for the Avon High School theater group, coordinating several plays a year, and coaching his son’s hockey and baseball teams.

“I can’t say no,” he said laughing.

DiLella is an operations analyst at ESL Federal Credit Union. He started his career at ESL in 2008 as a teller, moving up in the branch network as a member service representative and assistant branch manager. In his current role, DiLella works on process and procedure improvements for the 325-plus employees for ESL’s Branch and Contact Center. He is also responsible for budgeting and data analysis for the department.

DiLella has another FIRST connection, starting with the organization in 2003 as a student. He along with several other students and mentors founded Team #1126, SparX, Webster’s high school team. Since graduating in 2005, he has been a mentor for the team as well as a head referee for various FIRST regionals and the World Championships.

At the recent FIRST Robotics Finger Lakes Regional, RIT’s Matt Campbell was named Volunteer of the Year. He is a long-time supporter of the regional event and the FIRST program. Campbell is co-coordinator all event volunteers. Presenting the award was Elayne Stewart, a 2014 awardee, and also the regional’s head judge. Scott Borden