Boy introduced his parents to robotics. Mom and Dad now honored for volunteer efforts

Wyatt and Crystal Durgan’s aspirations to be supportive parents for their son’s interest in robotics has turned into a volunteer commitment that has encouraged hundreds of students in Lee’s Summit.

The Durgans are the Citizen of Year honorees for Lee’s Summit, which is presented by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation. The recipients will be recognized online at the 25th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala Sept. 26. Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird selected the Durgans for the honor.

“Citizens need to know what others are doing to help cultivate a spirit of community where giving and loving others is in abundance,” Baird says. “Wyatt and Crystal Durgan and past recipients do not give back to their communities for recognition. However, it’s so important to recognize them because it inspires others.

“Community is about looking out for each other and doing the little things to make the lives of others better. We need to always tell the stories and celebrate the generous actions of citizens to help maintain a healthy culture.”

The Durgans’ son, Austin, first introduced them to robotics.

After trying several sports that he didn’t like, Austin, an incoming fourth grader in 2009, came home with a flyer for a week-long Team Driven summer camp at Lee’s Summit High School.

“When we picked him up that first day it was totally noticeable that this was something he was going to enjoy,” Wyatt Durgan says.

Durgan says he and his wife knew immediately the program was more than just about robots.

“There is literally something for anyone,” Durgan says. “There are business things that occur, public speaking, project management, video, photography, animation, game strategy and the list goes on.”

Austin then joined Team Driven’s Junior Robotics League, a program for kindergarten-eighth graders. The Durgans began getting involved with robotics when Austin was in sixth grade. They hosted team meetings and robot build nights at their home, and they coached Austin’s team.

Austin graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 2016, but his parents’ interest in robotics continued — and it even sparked a job change for Wyatt Durgan.

When the head coach decided to retire, Durgan began transitioning into the role and also pursue a master’s degree in education.

He was appointed head coach for the 2018/2019 school year. He started teaching a year ago.

“It was really because of robotics that I came to quit my job and start pursuing a career in teaching at Lee’s Summit High School,” Durgan says. “My passion for the entire robotics program’s success and teaching students how things are happening out in the real world brought me to love my new job.”

Crystal Durgan, a volunteer coach working with students year round, thinks some people have misconceptions about robotics.

“They don’t realize all the available areas where you can get involved,” she says.

“You do not have to be a robot designer and builder. There is also a business side where students learn to run the team as a business. They also work on their communication skills to present to the public and many area businesses. Likewise, there is an artistic side of things with creating logos and T-shirt designs.”

This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.