Austin Kipp

Austin is an Applications Engineer at Microchip Technology Inc. He has been volunteering with F.I.R.S.T. for over 20 years. He has been a Lead Robot inspector in FRC, a judge and Ref for LEGO League, and a Lead Inspector for FTC.

Austin also volunteers with VEX Robotics where he has judged, queued, inspected, and Refed Worlds for VRC. He has been MC, Queuer, Ref, and was a World’s Ref for VEX I.Q. where he is known as “The Panda Man”. Austin has been an ROV Inspector and SCUBA Diver for the National Underwater Robotics Challenge for many years. Austin has been a Robot Inspector for the Arizona Robotics League since its inception.  He competed as a youth in FRC, Battel Bots, and CO2 Dragsters.

Austin is an eagle scout and worked as an Aquatics Director for the BSA Youth Camp “Camp Raymond”.

He was a Scout Leader and Merit Badge Counselor for over 20 merit badges. Austin was a welding instructor and Facilities Manager for the Hacker Space HeatSync Labs in Mesa. He worked for Mesa Community College as a Student Ambassador and was the Vice President of Fiscal Affairs for A.S.M.C.C.

Austin is passionate about empowering youth with the tools they need to be the leaders of tomorrow.