ROCKWALL, TX — Austin Taylor, a junior at Rockwall High, was awarded the Gold Presidential Service Award for the third time for his volunteering efforts in and around Rockwall. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a volunteer award program that encourages citizens to live a life of service. To earn the Gold level, one must volunteer 250+ hours in a single year. Austin has achieved this three times.
Austin participated in several programs for volunteering, but the majority of his time was teaching robotics to younger students. Austin has created two robotics teams one for elementary students – FIRST Lego League Explore 18878 Full Metal Jackets Jr. and one for middle school students – FIRST Tech Challenge 17715 Half Metal Jackets. He mentors both teams in robotics by leading practices and attending competitions with them. The past 3 years, Austin volunteered at FIRST and VEX robotics competitions throughout Texas, and with some local organizations: Lone Star Casa, Rainbow Room, Bikes for Tykes, Dobbs Elementary Gold Day, and North Texas Giving Day for Rockwall County.
When asked why he volunteers, Austin said, “I have some amazing mentors that help me on my robotics team, and I wanted to find a way to help others.”
Austin is a proud member of FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1296 – Full Metal Jackets and is the son of Terry and Danna Taylor of Fate.
