[Al Skierkiewicz]

From Section 6 Awards...

6.4.2 First-Year (Rookie) and NASA Grant Teams
Because the Chairman’s Award recognizes sustained excellence and impact, not just a one (1) year team effort, it
is not possible for a first year (rookie) team to receive this honor. FIRST does, however, invite and encourage
rookies to develop a Chairman’s Award submission which may be evaluated by the judges determining the winner
of the Rookie All-Star Award.

and...

Rookie Teams: If you prepare a Regional Chairman’s Award submission, you must print a copy to give the
Judges when they visit you at your Pit Station. Judges will not be viewing them online.
Teams receiving NASA Grants must provide a copy of this submission as part of the grant.

Judges will come to your pit throughout the day on Friday (of three day events) and Saturday morning. They want to talk to students so adults should step back and only answer questions directed at them or that the students cannot answer. In general, judges visit in pairs and wear blue shirts. They understand that you may have a match coming up and will instruct you as to when they will try to return to talk with your students. They want to hear what you have done right and what problems you might have had. They want to know what you have overcome and how the team interacts as a whole.