[Jimmy Nichols]

We have won the EI twice, Midwest in 2008 and Smoky Mountains this year. Our program works to instill the mission, vision, values of FIRST in all of our team members. Team members is defined as students, parents, and mentors. We have several alumni who have gone off to earn degrees in engineering, education, business, Animation, and Graphic Design and many who are still pursuing their degrees. Over the last 4 years our graphics team as compiled a Team Yearbook that highlites a years worth of team activity. In the fall we have 2 months of training with our team. In Novemeber we volunteer at an annual fundraiser to support the International Adaoption Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. In december we host a mock kick-off for area teams and an FLL Qualifying tournament. Of course the build season and competitions. In the spring we have our awards banquet and in the summer we do several demos and have team building events, paintball, game nights, movies, picnics, lan parties, etc.

All of this is documented and put into a yearbook that is made available for the judges. We always bring 12 or more copies so that each judge leaves with one. We also include this in our RCA presentation as a handout.

This past year we lost our space at the school and everything was put into storage at one of our sponsors warehouse's and a 16 foot enclosed trailer. But despite this we continued to perform outreach efforts, demos and held a condensed version of our fall training, all while working out of a trailer. Fortunately we was able to find a space and move in about 2 weeks before this past season's kick-off.

At Smoky Mountains the judges were impressed that we continued to perform outreach and inspire our community and students despite our hardship and awarded us the EI.

Sometimes you never know what the judges will pick up on and run with. Most judges only FIRST experience is the regional they judge. So you really have to hook them in and give them your A game.