In a celebration of exceptional mentorship and engineering education, College and Career Advantage’s (CCA) Robotics teacher Cody Eves has been honored with the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award at the Orange County Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. Out of over 100 mentors in attendance, Cody was chosen by a selection committee for this prestigious award. Mr. Eves has demonstrated remarkable leadership and technical communication skills while overseeing CCA’s thriving high school robotics program–one that serves over 100 students across four levels, with a waitlist forming every year.
The award, presented based on student nominations, recognizes Mr. Eves’ ability to inspire and empower students through outstanding communication in engineering and design. Below is the complete student essay by CVHS Junior Shiloh Huang that earned Mr. Eves this celebrated honor:
“Every organization needs a fearless leader — someone who is capable of standing strong even when facing the toughest challenges, all while keeping a smile on their face. For Team 5199, that leader is Mr. Eves. By combining his extensive experience in engineering with a remarkable sense of compassion, Mr. Eves has empowered our team to go above and beyond, ensuring that each of us are able to grow a passion for STEM.
Drawing from his experiences as an engineer, Mr. Eves approaches everyone’s questions with an engaging and clear explanation, turning complex processes into fun and approachable lessons. This not only inspires us all to ask more questions, but it helps us see engineering as more than a subject; it is a way to solve problems in the real world. Whether it’s sharing valuable career insights or going the extra mile to create a mini-lesson, Mr. Eves is committed to ensuring the success of every student. Through all of the late nights and early mornings in the shop, Mr. Eves has been a steadfast foundation for our team, inspiring everyone to perform to the fullest of their potential.
Mr. Eves’ dedication to FIRST is a lifelong commitment that extends far beyond the Robot Dolphins from Outer Space. For the past 15 years, Mr. Eves has been involved in every aspect of FIRST: he has mentored 6 FLL, 3 FTC, and 5 FRC teams, striving to inspire young students from a diverse background to explore STEM. Furthermore, between 2015 and 2023, Mr. Eves served as a head referee for FLL, previously overseeing the Southern California FLL championships. Additionally, he has also organized various regional events, including the Inland Empire Regional and, most recently, Southern California’s largest off-season FRC event, Beach Blitz, by serving on the planning committee and as a venue coordinator.
Aside from event organization, one of his most significant contributions has been encouraging us to approach problems from multiple angles. As an engineering teacher, Mr. Eves has opened many doors for students to explore engineering through different lenses. Often described as “wise beyond his years,” his advice helps our team focus on the bigger picture. While designing a driver station layout, Mr. Eves taught us to consider ergonomics and button spacing for differently sized fingers, leading to a more robust design. Thoroughly questioning every design decision, Mr. Eves encourages a deeper level of reflection on any piece. Despite not being an expert in every field, Mr. Eves is always able to offer new perspectives, offering valuable guidance that allows students to discover the solution on their own.
FIRST is so much more than just robots– it’s about the people, the lessons, and, most importantly, the journey that shapes us into the leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Eves has been the backbone of our team, and the contributions he has made for each of us as individuals are unparalleled.”
The Woodie Flowers Award honors the legacy of Dr. Woodie Flowers, a prominent MIT professor and one of the founders of FIRST Robotics, who passed away in 2019. Dr. Flowers believed that engineering isn’t just about building robots but about building people, a philosophy that Mr. Eves clearly embodies through his mentorship of CCA’s FRC Team 5199. Through his dedication to solving technical challenges and student empowerment, Mr. Eves continues the important work that Dr. Flowers championed—inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators. As a finalist, Cody will be in the running for the International Woodie Flowers Award at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston April 16th-19th. To follow their journey and get updates on future competitions, follow @team5199 on Instagram.