[Solace]

in the long run, the answer is usually just getting more students involved. There will always be kids who aren't that interested and/or motivated, and there is very little you can do to change that. our team, for example, usually starts out the year with about 40 kids. While not a huge number, it is big enough so that when crunch time comes around there are still at least 7 to 10 that are dedicated enough to do whatever it takes to get the bot done in time.

short term, though, you do indeed have a problem. there is one thing that could help you out, though. while you may be 'just a lowly student' in the grand scheme of things, you are certainly not lowly in comparison with the other students. kids often take the critisism of their peers to heart much more quickly than they do the criticism of adults (perhaps they're just too used to being scolded by adults that they've grown immune?). in all likelihood, you - as a student - probably have more sway over your teammates than your mentors do. if all else fails, don't hesitate to send them on a guilt trip - after all, the fate of the robot is literally in their hands.