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Another reason to submit a Chairman’s essay:

Few students join the robotics team because they want to create and perform a five minute presentation to a panel of judges. Yet, those who do wind up on the Chairman’s sub team seem to acquire skills and confidence that are priceless.
Just as teams recruit engineers to mentor the design and building of a robot, we had sought professionals who have expertise in making presentations.
Just one example:
When Cynthia was on the Chairman committee, we asked one of our sponsors, a major bank, if there was someone who could help the team with our presentation. A pair of major executives offered to help. Their help wound up being several meetings and “lunches” at some very nice restaurants. The tips on improving the presentation were invaluable, but the friendship and exposure to executive work was eye opening for the kids.
Cynthia, who graduated and went to ASU’s college of construction, felt a bit out of place, being a rare woman in the program and just about the only Hispanic. A few months into her freshman year, one of the professors asked her if she would be willing to help make a presentation to one of the colleges major contributors. She replied that she would but wondered why she was being recruited. The professor replied, “You went through FIRST and have experience with presentations and we need a student we can count on.” She was on the faculty team and they got their grant. Cynthia graduated last year and is now a project manager building a new Intel plant in Arizona. Her exposure to executives who are decision makers was as important than her exposure to engineers.
Preparing and delivering a Chairman’s presentation can be an authentic, important, life-altering experience that few students experience. It is perhaps more valuable than building the robot. It really matters little if the team wins the trophy… it’s the experience.