Engineering Inspiration Award

[Alex Burman]

I was looking through the rule book and I saw the Engineering Inspiration award. I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on the award besides what it says in the rule book. Also how does this award differ from Chairmans. Thanks.

[AmyPrib]

Originally Posted by Grayswandir-75

I was looking through the rule book and I saw the Engineering Inspiration award. I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on the award besides what it says in the rule book. Also how does this award differ from Chairmans. Thanks.

This is like the ultimate question that a lot of people have, as many people refer to Engr Insp as the "runner up" to Chairman's. I'm not really a fan of that description though, but I don't have the perfect explanation for the differences.

Basically, the way I interpret it is this: Chairman's is more so about spreading message of FIRST and Engr Insp is more specifically about what efforts are made to pull/encourage kids into engineering and technology, and inspiring an appreciation for it in the kids... as well as community outreach.

C.A. is how do you spread the message of FIRST, why should other teams want to be like your team, how great is your partnership with sponsors, teams, and community, and other specifics that they outline.

Engr Insp is less specifically about spreading the FIRST message, but more of spreading the engineering/tech message.

I don't know if that makes sense. There are definitely overlaps in those two, which is why I think many people see it as runner up C.A. I think teams that are candidates to win C.A. are usually candidates to win E.I. and vice versa, mainly because a lot of the activities you do to spread FIRST message are also activities that advance respect for engineering. To be candidates, you must effectively and clearly communicate the team efforts and activities that represent why you should win the award.

A big difference is you don't have to submit any written info for Engr Insp. Also, Chairman's you're only eligible at one regional that you attend, whereas E.I. you are eligible at every event.

I think judges can definitely pull a lot of info from Chairman submissions to use for determining E.I. winners, but that doesn't mean teams who don't submit C.A. at that regional can't win E.I. Either way, teams might showcase or have info available about the things they do that make them E.I. winners and talk to the judges when they come around asking questions.

There has always been confusion about the differences. I'm sure others will provide their interpretation here as well.

Anyone have a better explanation besides "chairman's runner-up", since from what I hear and see, it really should not be considered that? Veterans and mentors?

[Dan Petrovic]

Think of it as a Chairman's Runner-up.

[Alex Minot]

The award qualifies you for championships...which is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

[RoboMom]

EI is an open submission award, meaning there is no submission required. Chairman's Award submissions are not to be considered part of the criteria. The judges will consider all teams.

That said, teams can help the judges by communicating with the judges during the pit interviews why they should be candidates for this award. Handouts that tell your story sometimes can be helpful and if you submitted a Chairman's Award entry, you can give to the judges in the pits. Or develop a handout that is more concise. Read the criteria closely.
Hope this helps.

[AmyPrib]

I think the real question is, what is the difference between the criteria for each award? The general differences are relatively obvious, but the criteria differences are not. Criteria that you have for Chairmans may also help you win E.I, but criteria you have for E.I. may also help you win Chairmans. So what are the judges guided to look for in an E.I. winner that is different than what they'd look for in C.A winner? (besides the fact you submit something for C.A.)

Our team won E.I. last year at Midwest, and while I know reasons why they would choose our team for E.I., they are the same reasons I'd think we could be chosen for C.A. someday. What sets apart E.I. from C.A?

Also looking to see if there's any good explanation as to why E.I. shouldn't be called "runner-up" to C.A.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

Think of it as a Chairman's Runner-up.

So can teams that had previously won the Chairman's award can win the Enginerring Inspiration award? Because they no longer qualify for the Chairman's award.

[Chris Fultz]

I think people get confused because Chriamans is the highest team award, and Engineering Inspiration is the second highest team award. That does not mean runner up, and in reality, the same team could win both at a regional (unlikely, but possible).

Chairman's has several criteria, and they are detailed in the Awards Guidelines. Chairmans criteria are far-reaching and consider just about every aspect of your team. "True meaning of FIRST through the impact on students, community and school...",

EI has criteria as well, but it is focused on what a team is doing specifically for engineering. "advancing respect and appreciation for engineeing and engineers... efforts to recruit students to engineering, success of those activities".

Also, previous Regional Chairman's winners can repeat, but Previous Championship Chriamans winners cannot submit a Regional Chairmans.

[Robocat1]

Our team won the EI award 3 years ago, at a regional we has submitted CA to. This year we won it in Detroit, where we had not submitted the CA. So, I don't think the judges see it as a runner-up, since we weren't competing for CA there.

Now, we are beginning process of finding the $$ to go to nationals! Tough since we've already raised over $20,000 and have no corporate sponsor to step in and save us!
We know from the year we won the regional CA that FIRST doesn't allow canceling an upcoming regional so teams can afford National registration, etc. We hope we can go to Atlanta!

I also have a question. I had thought that the EI award (national) made a team continuously qualified for future nationals, but I don't see that anywhere in the rules/qualifying info. Anyone know if this is true, or perhaps it was true in the past, but has changed?

Also, do all teams at nationals compete for the EI, or just those who won it at a regional?

Has any team ever won the EI at nationals who wasn't also competing for the CA?

Thanks to anyone who can help me figure any of this out!

[Wayne C.]

Alex-

The EI is a high honor. It says that you are well on the way to the criteria of the Chairman's Award. And, unlike the Chairmans which requires a submission, it can be awarded to any team at an event at the judges' discretion. It says that you definitely impressed the judges and that is a very good thing.

Congratulations to 75 for achieving this in NJ. It is a sign of good things to come.

WC

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by Robocat1

Also, do all teams at nationals compete for the EI, or just those who won it at a regional?

Any team is eligible for EI at the Championships, regardless of being a Regional CA or EI winnering team or not.

I would think the judges might first look at the Regional EI winners,
but there is no limitation to who can win.

Good luck to your team -

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

Any team is eligible for EI at the Championships, regardless of being a Regional CA or EI winnering team or not.

I would think the judges might first look at the Regional EI winners,
but there is no limitation to who can win.

Good luck to your team -

Is there an interview for the EI award?

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Is there an interview for the EI award?

Just the judges in the pits. Not a special interview session like CA.

[SugaRaXie]

To anyone who's won the EI award prior to, what kind of things have you guys mentioned? Not exactly -- just some general things that you felt contributed to you winning the award and what not.

[Alex Burman]

WOW my team just made history:

winning 2 regional EI awards at back to back competitions, Trenton and Boston.

We started out by answering their questions which usually related to working in the school and then segwayed into talking about everything detailed in our chairmans submission. At Boston we even gave the judges a typed copy of our essay.