[rsilverstein]

At each regional there should be an award (like the judges award) called: you didn't win, and you don't necessarily have the best "program", but you have a GREAT robot that deserves to go to the Championship.
Maybe make it an optional award, but, for example, team 968 didn't qualify for Atlanta, but they have an amazing robot that the whole country/world should be exposed to. Robots like that should be able to go.

yes, I know, 968 and 254 are the same robot, but you get the idea.