[rmyoung]

This thread has really helped me with the message for my team next year. We went from doing the minimum because we had to write a submission for the NASA grant as rookies to a serious effort in the last two years (four year team). But hearing about the winners can be crushing to those kids who pour their hearts out and get good feedback from the judges and just can't win.

As much as I tell them it's not about winning, they care and are hurt. As many times as I say we don't do things to 'look good on the Chariman's submission', I still hear it.

My take-away from this is that we need to keep working on Chairman's every year because it does make us better, and we need to keep celebrating the teams that show us the next level. Preparing a Chairman's award submission is a great focussing tool for part of the team that may not touch the robot, but they really understand the greater goal of inspiration and outreach. I'm not going to let them quit.

Is it worth suggesting some way to recognize the next tier teams, the 'almost there, keep going'? Not adding more awards or taking away from Chairman's, but sending the message that you're on the right track, or that you reached a milestone? Judge's feedback is nice but very brief and a bit vague, and ours has almost always been the same - nice job, keep it up, start some new teams.