[Nick Lawrence]

1503 chooses it's drivers on lots of different criteria. In no particular order, we evaluate potential drivers on skill, commitment, mentality under stress, how well they work with other students. Generally, two students are chosen who are friends with each other, and work well together in the shop.

The actual selection process is kind of neat. First, candidates must email our head mentor during build season outlining why they want to be a driver. Then, that mentor interviews the students with several questions, much like a job interview. After that, all the mentors on the team converse and select drivers based off the information given in the interviews, and their general observations in the shop, etc.

I had the pleasure of working with a new operator this year, who proved himself during the fall VRC season up here in Canada. He's a phenomenal kid. We never really spoke during matches, unless it was about what we wanted for lunch or dinner later. We simply always knew what one another was going to do on the field. We were like this from day one of practice to our last match at Champs.

-Nick