[magnets]

We make cool little trophies to give out. We try to give them out for cool or innovative ideas, or to teams that have had to overcome obstacles with funding/time/resources.

I think they're great. They help build team relations, and they really drive home the gracious professionalism aspect of the competition and help set the awesome mood that goes along with FIRST.

As for the story in the first post, you should remember that a few students or even a few mentors do not always represent the entire team. However, it is the responsibility of that team to control its members and not to bring students who act like this.