Student lettering in FRC

[Hallry]

I know numerous teams out have tried, but how many teams have successfully gotten varsity letter recognition from their school(s)? If you're one of the ones that has, how did you do it/what process did you have to go through?

[Tommy F.]

Our team hands them out after 2 years of being a dedicated member and keeping your grades up to par.

I'm not too sure what my mentors did to get to the point of handing out varsity letters, but I know that we do get awarded with them.

[Taylor]

I hate to be :that guy: but please search (although it won't let me link to it here, typing "robotics letters" into the search feature brought up dozens of fantastic threads about the subject thanks Jason). There are lots of threads discussing this and white papers available explaining the processes used by various teams.
Good luck and see you in St. Louis!

[Jon Stratis]

Yes, our team hands out letters. We have a fairly involved set of requirements in our team handbook outlining what it takes to letter. Essentially, it comes down to one item: Be actively involved in the team. You have to be on the team for two years, meet attendance requirements during the build season, attend competition events (not all, but a reasonable mix of regional, champs, and off-season that allows for other circumstances like family plans or trips with other school groups), attend our summer/fall off-season program, and take on some sort of leadership role on the team (with leadership being loosely defined - we've found leadership spots for everyone that's wanted one so far).

Make up a list of requirements that shows your school you're serious about it, and serious about making lettering at least as challenging as in other school activities. Build your case with the number of hours put in and the reward to both the student and the school from the program.

[davidthefat]

The criteria for our team is to be Junior or Senior and not a rookie. One must have had a significant impact on the team that it is noticeable to the others around them.

I got my letter, I cherish it more than my football ones.

[Chexposito]

We've had them since we started, if i remember right, so 6 years so far.

[Red2486]

Does any one know the actual process of how their team got a Letter? Or who they had to go through (i.e. Principal, School Board, etc.)? My team has previously worked on getting one, but have not followed through. I was hoping to start the project back up again this year. Any help would be appreciated.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by Red2486

Does any one know the actual process of how their team got a Letter? Or who they had to go through (i.e. Principal, School Board, etc.)? My team has previously worked on getting one, but have not followed through. I was hoping to start the project back up again this year. Any help would be appreciated.

That's what I was really asking, how did you get the school to approve giving out varsity letters to robotic kids?

[fuzzy1718]

My old team got robotics recognized a year ago. It took a lot of convincing, a school board member, who is also quite involved with the team, at bat for us and a hooked on FIRST superintendent.

[billbo911]

This might answer the OP's question.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/21626

[staplemonx]

We think Robotics should be a full blown sport.
http://www.atomicrobotics.com/2011/08/considered-sport/

Do you think a varsity football player is going to solve climate change or cure cancer? I bet a varsity robot design might.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by staplemonx

url]http://www.atomicrobotics.com/2011/08/considered-sport/[/url]

In the article at the link above:
"If the US really wants to make a dent in the number of kids that go into the sciences, it needs to start to change its priorities from athletic to academic. –"


I don't agree. It isn't a zero sum game. We don't have to give up athletics in order to have academics / robotics.

We have a great WindRiver c++ programmer. She is also a varsity cheerleader. She has the best of both worlds..
.

[davidthefat]

Anyone ever suggest having a regional champion letter?

[staplemonx]

Originally Posted by ebarker

In the article at the link above:
"If the US really wants to make a dent in the number of kids that go into the sciences, it needs to start to change its priorities from athletic to academic. –"


I don't agree. It isn't a zero sum game. We don't have to give up athletics in order to have academics / robotics.

We have a great WindRiver c++ programmer. She is also a varsity cheerleader. She has the best of both worlds..
.

It sort of is a zero sum game, because sports are prioritized so much higher than other school activities. Sports do nothing but entertain our society. Yes they fund some scientific pursuits. But if we took the revenue of the top professional sports and gave it to NASA. Holy crap, we be watching astronauts singing Christmas carols on Mars by 2014.

I am not discounting the need for student athletics, our national diabetes rate dictates that physical activity must be a part of a balanced path forward. But stop ranking athletics a 9 with outrageous funding, insane celebrity and unhealthy national focus while ranking academics a 2 or a 3. It should b academics a 9 and athletics maybe a 5.

The letter issue is indicative of the value system that can be found when we look at how schools celibate math clubs, science clubs, rocketry clubs and so on. These clubs needs to be moved to the top of the food chain at every school level. Let cheerleaders and football players go get funding to let them run around and be thrown in the air. Or better yet cancel cheer leading and football and let them all join cross country so the only thing they need to stay fit is a pair of shoes. The schools should divert sports coaching funds, field maintenance funds and travel funds towards academic activities.

I know that's how most of Asia looks at this problem.

OK I am off my soap box. Sorry if i offended anyone. I played high school sports and it taught me a lot of things, never paid a dime and traveled all over the east coast. But the high school debate team i was on required dues and all trips came out of my pocket, errrr my parents pocket. Looking back i see how bass ackwards that was. I learned more from two seasons of debate than i ever did playing sports.

[rachelholladay]

We got them this year. We thought there would be some process but all we had to do was ask our school administration and they said yes. We use our logo as the symbol and even got a patch in honor of our 2011 Chairmans win. Since we got them after CMP we gave a letter to any member who was dedicated, reached their hours, etc. We didnt discriminate by grade.