I just wanted to say thanks for a great thread.
We're a rookie team, and though our kids have won some prizes in years past, they've never tackled anything on the scale of FIRST.
I agree with a lot of what y'all have said, and I want to add my own personal thoughts on what we've all accomplished.
Our team shipped a completely functional bot, and we've also submitted entries to the AVA and website awards cats. We'll see what happens at our regionals -- in Tel Aviv-- next month.
I mentored our web and animation crews, and since this is my first time mentoring, I just wanted to say how mind-blowing it has been to see kids and their ideas EMPOWERED.
They really had to leave the "I" at the door, and learn to talk team. To start out with one kid's sketch--like we did--and have that sketch evolve into a full-fledged mascot/mission/movie took time and teamwork--and vision. I am so proud that each kid in my two crews got behind
an idea--even if it wasn't his own--and helped to make it a group success.
I can see how proud THEY are too--and I feel truly blessed and energized by this whole process.