[Amanda M]

I would like to comment on the integrity of team 254. I understand that this thread has moved on from the team-bashing and has come to a good conclusion regarding the flag question. However, I cannot let such a good team be bad-mouthed in such a way.

Being an alumnus of Team 60, from Kingman, Az, I have had the opportunity to work with team 254 on many occasions. During the 2004 season our students (and I say students because it was, in fact, our students who machined the parts) collaborated and created robots together. 60 doesn't have any engineers, and 254 has 1 and a bunch of college kids. Then, these STUDENTS drove from San Jose to Kingman in early August to build a shift-on-the-fly transmission as a prototype for their bots this year. If anyone needs any proof that these students are working for what they have, they can ask me. I was with them in the shop. We machined and worked for it together.

I've talked to them during the preseason when they are doing presentations, hoping NASA supports them and FIRST for another season. I talked to Adrian while he was putting together his Chairman's Award and Woodie Flowers Award applications for 2004. I know that these kids work hard.

They do have a lot of resources, but they use them for good. They supoprt LEGO League teams, and mentor other teams, supply machine shops. They do everything a good FIRST team is supposed to do, but why do they get the flack?

Is it because they have college students helping them with their robot? And engineers as well?
What is the purpose of a mentor, then, if you can't use them in the heat of the competition? Mentors are there to help you. They are there to have a design in their head, and to help you come to it, or to come up with something better. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP AND TO USE AS SUPPORT, NOT JUST FOR SHOW.

254's mentors (both college students and engineers) and their students work together as one unified team. They are not mentors AND students, but mentors and students working together for one cause, no segregation involved. And that's something every FIRST team should strive for. It's not something you see very often, but when you do see it, it works, and it works well, producing better teams and better bots.

I think that instead of being ridiculed, 254 should be praised for their unity and teamwork.