[M. Mellott]

The downsizing of awards in general over the years is annoying when compared to the high cost for each event. Having our Smokey Mountain Regional Championship trophy sitting next to the larger finalist trophy from a couple of years ago is sad. Try explaining that this award is just as important or moreso than the one from a few years ago to a new student. They've already gone from participation medals to pins (really guys...hat pins?!?) and charging for medals, now further downsizing? What next...will they be downsizing the Woodie Flowers trophy as well (they better not!)? Smaller banners? District-level Lego League trophies are bigger than many of this years' FRC awards!

I don't want to sound ungrateful, but what's happening to the "Recognition" in FIRST? Recognizing our champions and those teams who others aspire to become is just as important as recognizing our students, mentors, or volunteers. The truth of the matter is that those trophies are important to a lot of people.

Perhaps give out only one trophy but give the option of a receiving a second one after the event, but enough already.