Mo Elhelw + Arianna Rothfuss, FRC 131
SPEAKER
Mo (FRC 1511 alum; 2022 Finger Lakes Regional Woodie Flowers Finalist) and Arianna (2023 Tech Valley Regional Woodie Flowers Finalist) bring a combined 25+ years of experience developing sustainable, award-winning FIRST programs. Together, they have led three distinct teams to seven FIRST Impact Awards, with a focus on building systems that scale across student leadership, outreach strategy, and award submissions. Most recently, they helped revitalize CHAOS’s Impact program following a 2025 submission hiatus, culminating in a 2026 New England District Championship FIRST Impact Award.
NEMC Presentations:
Coming Soon
SESSION
From Zero to Hero: A Systems Approach to Impact - Data, Messaging, and Theme
Coming Soon
For years, teams pursuing the FIRST Impact Award have been told to simply “tell your story.” While generally true, that advice obscures the deep strategic nuance and systemic process these successful teams employ.
This session breaks down a proven, repeatable approach to building a competitive Impact submission, focusing on three core pillars: data management, strategic messaging, and thematic cohesion. Drawing from real-world experience across multiple programs, we will walk through how successful teams organize outreach data, craft compelling narratives, and develop themes that resonate with judges.
