Dean's List Winner

[Anupam Goli]

I could go on a long rant about this, but i'll try not to.

The Dean's list winner is the individual who most recognizes, practices, and preaches FIRST and FRC's ideals. The Dean's List winner recognizes FRC as the competitive sport it is, practices gracious professionalism and coopertition, spreads the notion of FRC being a Varsity Sport of the Mind to the team, school, and community, takes it upon him or herself to spread the message of FIRST in the community, inspiring his or own peers to strive to be the best and to respect the STEM fields, and doing whatever s/he can to improve his/her team.

The Dean's List winner, in my opinion, should be VERY ACTIVE in FRC. As an FRC member, they should be a leader and an inspiration figure the team looks at. This team member should be phenomenal, always willing to work and do their best to win, always completing his/her tasks, and inspiring fellow team members to strive for the best.

As a representative of FIRST, the Dean's List winner, in my opinion, not only engage in outreach events, but should also have a story where FIRST and STEM affected his/her life. They should always attempt to bring respect to STEM and change the culture of their peers and the community.

FIRST is about changing the culture. FRC is a mechanism to change the culture; one that provides a STEM Varsity Sport. The Dean's List winner has to know what the two are, and as such, represent both in the best way possible.

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Remember what FRC and FIRST are. There is a difference between the ideals of them and that difference is what makes the Dean's List award so unique. Some teams nominate individuals who do NOT make a significant contribution to the FRC team and do not see FRC as a sport, even if they see FIRST's message. Likewise, some teams nominate individuals who only know FRC and not the parent program FIRST. It has upset me that there are individuals like this who are nominated on teams rather than one that is really what the Dean's List judge panel is looking for.

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