Improvements to the Dean's List. Your Ideas?

[Denise Bohnsack]

I have read all the posts above.
Concerning the Dean's List there seems to be two different perceptions.

1. The Dean's List honors a member of a team who demonstrates outstanding leadership, dedication, and efforts with a team. Should be a junior with technical expertise as this individual may most likely qualify for respective college scholarships and represent FIRST throughout their senior year.

2. The Dean's List honors the most outstanding member of a team who demonstrates leadership, dedication, and above and beyond efforts of team. Regardless of age, this person is the equivalent of a high school team member who reflects the same qualities as the winner of the Woodie Flower's award.

Either way, each of the above has it's merits, advantages and disadvantages. Since this is a Kamen chosen award, as Libby describes, honoring Jack Kamen and Libby's grandmother, the award should be whatever the Kamen family thinks it should be, whatever guidelines they choose and find most fitting.

However, if it is an award specifically given to a junior with technical expertise, I would ask a committee to consider giving another award(s), with the same qualities sought in the Woodie Flowers award, with no age or technical stipulation. I would also like to see a FIRST alumni, recognized in this way. (This might be another thread, "How to honor and outreach to alumni")
These awards would not necessarily come with the same "prizes" as the Dean's List winner, but more recognize this individual(s) for their significant contributions to their respective teams and FIRST, again more consistent with the Woodie Flowers version. Especially important, is to consider that alumni, who Dean mentioned very specifically at the Finalist award ceremony in length, are critical in developing the future of FIRST. However, a dedicated few of the thousands stay involved with the FIRST program after entering college or the workforce. Seniors are almost alumni, and how important a contribution they feel they can make to FIRST in the future, and how the teams feel about them now, will likely fit into their decision to continue as a FIRST volunteer/mentor or participate instead on a larger scale with the many other choices they will be offered as college students or young members of the workplace.

As a mother, one of the greatest joys I have experienced, is watching very young students grow up in the FIRST program, who have become devoted, wonderful adults who now mentor young people in FIRST activities. I am truly in awe and inspired by their commitment to mentor as they have been mentored in the these programs. Not all of these individuals have gone to prestigious colleges or gone into science and engineering, however, they represent some of the best young people I have ever had the privilege to know.
Thank you to the Kamens, and the committees, who are seeking ways to continue to support and encourage these young folks and their involvement in the FIRST programs. Just a Mom's opinion.