Now, I've been reading this thread some - and granted, I'm one of those liberal arts people turned to engineering with the help of FIRST. Alright, that's all fine and good. But I also believe that not all FIRST grads need to have a passion for engineering. I don't even think a majority of us need to. I apologize if I reiterate some of what was said already, but really - look at our teams.

Without the business-minded kids and adults, we'd all be too poor to even sign up every season. FIRST is not cheap - as far too many teams feel and learn each season.

Without the artists, we would not see the incredible animations each year - that I know I for one am completely amazed at with each season.

Without the public relations savvy -- there would be no press for teams. Nor would the Chairman's Award -- may I add the most prestegious award in FIRST -- ever take shape.

In essence, we need all these people to "sell" our teams, our dreams and ideas, to the world. Sure without the technically savvy folks, our bots would never run - never come alive off the paper. But really, FIRST is about bringing all aspects of the "real world" into play where high school students can get a feel for it. And no matter how much some people hate to admit it -- management is a big part of the working world. Even for engineers ;) And for the products and machines the engineers design and wire, and the computer science people program with code....you need the artists to create something to appeal to the public. Then you need the business people to sell the creation.

None of us can really survive without the other. So even long after we may step away from FIRST - we really still exsist as a team.

~ lora

It's the content of the Chairman's Award, not the technical quality that FIRST is interested in. There's quite a big difference there. I think it's obvious why the Chairman's Award is the most important part of FIRST.

Matt