[Chris Herold]

If a team is entirely student run, these students show certainly a great ability but still they fail the purpose of FIRST. FIRST's goal is it to inspire students and introduce them into real world applications of engineering and engineering processes. I don't know how this should work without mentors that are very active.
I think our team found a great balance though and our business plans and documents, as well as the robot, are nearly entirely student created. Our mentors are always helping though and I think only by working together! You cannot be afraid of one mentor doing a job a student could have done too.

I think by telling about missing GP, you mistake in the FIRST standards I have seen in the Northwest and I am pretty sure against them in the whole world!
And having fun? Why are there so many people describing they are FIRST addicts and have so many students written in threads like "You have overdosed on FIRST when..." I don't know but Seattle was definitely the loudest regional ever and I have to admit that I learned more and I mean more about everything during the robotics season than probably the last few years at school!

I am really grateful that I got to notice FIRST in the way, I could during my exchange year here in Seattle!

Best regards,
Chris
Team 1983 - The Skunkworks