[Ellery]

I share both Ed and Ken's mentality - Every Team contributes to the FIRST community by spreading the enthusiasm and opportunity to the students. The fact that a team is offically recognized at a competition is great but it's not everything. Joe you are absolutely right to reinforce to your team your own successes. As they say you are all winners if you have made it to any competition to compete. That is a huge feat in itself.

Take it from us we've been through it all for the last 15 years (as someone pointed out in another thread about droughts- last year was the very first time our team has ever won a Robotics competition) Sure we've never come back empty handed each year but awards are just sugar on top of a fun filled yet challenging season.

Ellery