Perks for Graduating Seniors?

[Billfred]

2815 hasn't done anything yet, though I've toyed with the notion of issuing challenge coins to the rising seniors. I was issued one in AFJROTC back in high school, and I still carry it in case someone issues a challenge. (Unlike the article, our challenges were usually one-on-one and limited to a $1 drink.)

[FrankJ]

At the year end banquet, the seniors get to make a short statement saying what they have learned over the years & so forth. They also get recognized for their accomplishments. Occasionally they are roasted, but only the ones we like. Seniors are generally in top leadership rolls if they have earned that. They get what respect they have earned. Hopefully they take with them lessons they have learned.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by Billfred

2815 hasn't done anything yet, though I've toyed with the notion of issuing challenge coins to the rising seniors. I was issued one in AFJROTC back in high school, and I still carry it in case someone issues a challenge. (Unlike the article, our challenges were usually one-on-one and limited to a $1 drink.)

I'm personally surprised FIRST hasn't designed any coins like this... I see potential for a yearly challenge coin to be made and be sold with the potential for teams to personalize it. I have some really neat coins that I bought from NASA made with medal from the space shuttles, and can't imagine the cool coins they could come up with. It would also be a memento for the kids to have and say "I did this season"... What do you all think?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by runneals

I'm personally surprised FIRST hasn't designed any coins like this... I see potential for a yearly challenge coin to be made and be sold with the potential for teams to personalize it. I have some really neat coins that I bought from NASA made with medal from the space shuttles, and can't imagine the cool coins they could come up with. It would also be a memento for the kids to have and say "I did this season"... What do you all think?

I think that could be cool indeed, although having to carry around four (or nine, for me!) such coins to cover oneself in a challenge might get a little heavy

For display, though? Giddyup.

[cadandcookies]

Like several other teams, we hold a banquet/potluck every year, where, among other things, we hand out letter patches and talk about the seniors. We've done it a bit differently every year I've been on the team, but I'm a fan of what we did this last year particularly. We had thirteen seniors graduating, and one of the mentors from each of their subteams spoke a few words about their contribution to the team. We also gave them some memorabilia, such as a CMP booklet signed by (if I remember correctly, which I may not) Dean, which were obtained through the efforts of a few of our mentors at the Championship event. I think we also gave the leadership a team coffee mug or waterbottle (joking that they should have had it during build season). I'm curious as to what we'll be doing when our now-junior class graduates (there are like 30 of them!).

I love the giving back to the seniors-- just about every one on our team has put blood, sweat, and tears into our team, so we like to let them know we love them!