This:
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Originally Posted by swethaly
I understand why they're doing it, but it defeats the purpose of the award. In the words of Woodie Flowers, "You get what you celebrate", and the description of the Dean's List Award states that its goal is to recognize the exemplary students who best express the ideals of FIRST. In that scenario, the expressing FIRST ideals and being an exemplary student is celebrated, so that's what FIRST would get. However they've been turning the award into a coveted title for college applications.
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My initial problem with the "we favor the Juniors" policy is that puts the Seniors at a disadvantage... and now excludes them entirely! But my real problem with it is that the driving reason why FIRST is doing it is to give themselves recognition (by being associated with these excellent students during the college application process)... FIRST gets little recognition by Seniors getting the award... but FIRST ideals are celebrated most by just giving it to the students who "get it" the most!
It's sad that a program as great as FIRST still has selfish people* making the decisions... who will sometimes stop acting in teams' best interests.
P.S. The interviews are probably a good idea. Probably volunteer-taxing to conduct... but worthwhile.
*For the record, I think all people are inherently selfish... This isn't a dig against FIRST, just me wishing it wasn't the case.