Troy Douglas, age 28, was recently honored at the Long Island Business News’ 2016 Millennial Awards for his early-career leadership and professional achievements. He attributes his success in part to School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), an educational organization that fostered his interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields via its competitive FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics programs on Long Island.

Mr. Douglas is one of more than 40 Long Island candidates to receive the Millennial Award, which honors exceptional young professionals who contribute to the local community through public service and who have made meaningful strides in business. “There are so many people striving for and achieving success by making their own way and taking the road less traveled,” Mr. Douglas noted as a “little-known fact” about the millennial generation.

Mr. Douglas himself is an excellent example of millennial success. As a full-time Mechanical Engineer for the Customer Solutions Department at FESTO Corporation in Hauppauge, he designs custom automation systems for everything from handling systems to control cabinets for local, national and international companies. His hard work and dedication to the brand have not gone unnoticed as he earned a nomination for the FESTO Customer Excellence Award.  A 2012 graduate of Stony Brook University, Mr. Douglas holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, which he earned simultaneously.

Mr. Douglas hopes to further the education of young students through the FIRST programs, which have been an important part of his life since his early education. His extensive work with the FIRST Robotics Programs across Long Island and at the national level has proven his steadfast dedication to the STEM field.  Beginning with his role as a member of Deer Park High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team while still in high school, Mr. Douglas expanded his involvement after graduation by volunteering as a referee at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and FRC competitions in 2006 and 2007. Once he completed his higher education degree, Troy’s connection with FIRST evolved into the position of Head Referee for Long Island in 2013. Throughout his post-High School experience, Troy has dedicated his time to mentoring two local Long Island teams and volunteers as the Design and Manufacturing Lead Mentor for the Stony Brook Robotics Team. In recognition of his commitment to the FIRST programs, Troy was presented with the organization’s Robotics Excellence and Dedication in Leadership and Mentorship Award in 2010 as well as the FIRST Long Island FRC Regional Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014. In 2016, Troy was invited to join the SBPLI’s FRC Development Council, which each year coordinates the FRC Long Island Regional.

“I’ve grown so much through my experience with SBPLI and FIRST; it really helped me hone my interest in engineering,” Mr. Douglas reflected. “While in High School, I had the opportunity to work alongside remarkable engineers, teachers and tradespeople, who taught me all about the engineering design process and manufacturing techniques that I now use in my everyday life. I am currently in my ninth year as a volunteer and mentor, which affords me the opportunity to provide future generations with the same great experiences that I had. But, it feels almost as if what I can give back is so small compared to how much FIRST and SBPLI have given me.”