[Grim Tuesday]

EI is judged differently at every regional but there seem to be two main categories I've seen teams get EI for:

The first is a "runner up" Chairman's. The award is entirely about work with advancing respect for engineering in the community and has little to do with what happens on the field. I feel that sometimes the judges see this as (rightfully) similar to the Chairman's and give it to the team they think is the next best fit for Chairman's requirements.

The second way I've seen the EI given is as a "Advance Token to Championships" like the Monopoly card. Sometimes, through the combination of the interesting and effective robot and community outreach aspects of a team, judges will give EI to the team they think simply deserves to go to Champs.

I think the best way to win EI, if you're gunning for it, is to do everything you would do when trying to win Chairman's. If you're specifically trying for EI, push the aspects of your outreach program that advance respect for engineering in the community during your presentation to the team judges when they come by the pit.