Do any schools recognize their FIRST teams as sports?

[Wayne C.]

At our school Raider Robotix has become well known and reasonably well recognized.

Yes, we are still known as the "nerd kids" but considering the enlightened source those comments come from it is hardly worth bothering with them.

Anyway, we display our banners and trophies in what I fondly call "The FIRST Shrine" We have two 8 ft high display cases at the opening to the quad for our science wing and we simply took them over. The group made a backdrop of red and blue fabric and we plastered the walls of the display with photos and plans from each of the past six years' robots. Each year we put some spare part or remains of that season's robot to add to the collection and we use the glass of the case for posting notes to the public for dates and such. Among our most cherished trophies on display are a Buzz smiley face signed by the teams of the 2000 alliance, the remains of the first Mr. Volcano hat, the ball arm from our 99 robot Navarone which was a great idea poorly executed, and a ball from the 2000 Nationals signed by our California alliance partners. And, of course, each season when we get a new Hawaiian shirt design for the year we hang one in the case so our shirt sellers can show potential customers.

Our school never received National acclaim for anything until we won in 2000 and at the time we were applying for Blue Ribbon School Status. It all came together at the right time and the team has enjoyed a lot of local recognition for it.

Now if my advisor's club stipend was the same as the football coach's who works half the time for three times the money and less results...... Oh well, I'll have fun anyway...

(PS_ see the shrine next November at The Brunswick Eruption- local FIRST mini competition at NBTHS)

WC anything