[Soukup]

time to clear this up

in order to win the GRAND PRIZE your animation had to win at the regional level. If you were a rookie team, then your animation could ALSO be considered for the GRAND PRIZE and RISING STAR.

Under the rules that autodesk has had for the past 4 years when I was involved, a rookie animation is the team's first animation. Even if they are not a rookie team (like 639). Rising star is completely different and has its own set of guidlines. Most rookie animations cannot win at the regional level, and the purpose of the rising to star is to select the best rookie animation. Autodesk justs assumes that rookie animations won't win (because its their first year) and has this award to give to rookie teams. If you won at a regional, congrats, but don't be bitter for others success. You'll learn in time that autodesk doesnt always do the right thing that we would expect, but they have done it this way the entire time I was involved in FIRST.

Hope that brings closure.