An almost identical silver key hung on the bottom edge of each of their silky red lanyards. The size of the key covered their lungs with the tip of the jagged edges approaching their navels. If the key was this big then the door which it opened must be grand. The only difference between their attire was the result of a transaction between father and daughter - the passing down of Tim Allison’s ‘82 Robot pendant that now hung around Amy Allison’s neck. “T Allison ‘81” was engraved on the back of the pendant and Amy has lived up to the heirloom by being inducted into the Robot Society on December 10, 2014.

Amy’s induction made Kettering University history as she and her father became the first father-daughter duo to be members of the esteemed Robot Society on campus.

“I was one of the few students who knew about Robots as a freshman,” Amy said. “It’s been my goal since freshman year to be a Robot.”

Amy and four other students - Mark Snyder, Nicholas Foggia, Lisa Mitchell and Savannah Brown - had their dreams come true when they were welcomed into the Robot Society at a formal dinner and presentation on campus. Parents and significant others traveled near and far to take part in the prestigious induction into a club that was founded on campus in 1927.

Mark Snyder, Nicholas Foggia, Savannah Brown, Lisa Mitchell and Amy Allison were inducted into the Robot Society in December.

Mitchell’s mother, Linda Mitchell, surprised her by flying in from Seattle on a red-eye for the ceremony.

“I was walking around campus and I saw her,” Lisa said. “She looked more surprised than I was.”

Dr. Albert Sobey ‘45 the son of Kettering’s founder and first president (1919-1950) Albert Sobey, provided the keynote address for the inauguration, urging students to be “lifelong learners” and insisting that the essence of Kettering education is its ability to teach you “how to learn.”

Who are the Robots?

“The word 'robot' means servitude,” said Bob Nichols '74, director of the FIRST Robotics Community Center and faculty advisor to the Robot society.

“Service that transcends self” is one of the three principles of the Robot Society. The other two oaths are: “Leadership, which is creative,” and “citizenship that demonstrates responsibility."

There are approximately 1,200 Robots initiated since its inception in 1927, selected from only the top one percent of the student body. The Robot Society is an exclusive leadership honor society at Kettering that exemplifies exceptional leadership, values and academic performance on campus. The official Robot “dress” includes white gloves to symbolize purity, a red bow tie to indicate that the blood of a leader runs through the veins of a Robot and a cane with the letter “R” inscribed on the topper.

The ceremony consists of certification, recitation of the Robot pledge and the signings of the Keys by all present honorary and active Robots in the room.

“The keys are a lot heavier now than they used to be,” said Tim, at the end of the ceremony. “I bet you are glad to finally take them off."

Bob Nichols (‘93 honorary Robot), Reg Bell (‘80), Nurudeen Huthman (‘12), Henry Kowalski (‘07) and Ed Preville (‘59) were all present to sign the Keys along with current active robots Julie Clark, Angad Mehrotra, Christopher Oskoian and Jordan Syrowik.

A Special Bond

Both of Amy’s parents attended Kettering in the late 1970s but it was not a foregone conclusion that she would follow in their footsteps.

“I never pushed her to Kettering. This was her decision,” Tim said.

Amy originally wanted to create her own path and pursue medicine until she participated in Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE), a summer program on Kettering's campus for high school females interested in science and engineering education and careers.

“When I participated in LITE, I realized that i wanted to come to Kettering,” Amy said. “Some of the women mentors I had were outstanding and I looked at them and thought ‘I want to be like you.’”

Like her father, Amy majored in Mechanical Engineering and is scheduled to graduate in December 2015. Besides graduating, her induction into the Robot Society might be her greatest accomplishment at Kettering.

“I wanted to be a Robot not only because I’m a legacy and it’s something that I will share with my dad now which is really special, but it’s also because I want to be distinguished and be known as one of the student leaders here.” Amy said.

Induction into the Robots only confirmed Tim’s inclinations about his daughter. He always knew that she would be a leader. Tim would drop Amy off at a school-run daycare  and he quickly learned that the classroom was called “Amy’s house” because she was constantly leading her infant peers.

“She was a leader of the group. She was 3-years-old and helping out with the infants,” Tim said.  “I remember making a joke back then that my claim to fame is going to be being Amy’s dad.”

“He still claims that,” Amy said. “It’s so cute.”

Now, induction into the Robot Society has confirmed what Tim knew all along.