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Chris Siegert

About
STEM Hall of Fame profile picture for Chris Siegert inducted in 2009.

Chris Siegert is a retired avionics and control systems engineer with 25 years of experience at Lockheed Martin, where he was named Engineer of the Year in 1981. After retiring, he dedicated his time to mentoring competitive robotics teams, including Team 599 Robodox at Granada Hills Charter High School and Team 1508 Lancer Bots at Grant High School in Van Nuys, California.

With more than a decade of experience in robotics education, Siegert was recognized as Mentor of the Year at the 2009 VEX Robotics World Championship. He also maintains “Vamfun,” a robotics blog where he shares insights on engineering and robotics.

Beyond robotics, Siegert is an advocate for quality management in schools and environmental sustainability, particularly in reducing plastic pollution in oceans and rivers.

Details

Wisdom: I did some mentoring within a school system. Then, I figured out that robotics was an area where I could apply my professional engineering background and also help kids learn. Kids love to be around VEX robots, and there are not many platforms that integrate all the STEM elements so nicely in one package.
Award: Mentor of the Year
Year: 2009
Organization: Granada Hills Charter High School and Grant High School
Team: Team 599 and 1508 | Robodox and LancerBots
Location: California, USA
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2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
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