[FRC Blog] Chairman’s Award Submissions Definitions

[JB987]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Judges will have the rubric. I suspect they'll see through it if the team doesn't have any empirical evidence. Also keep in mind that it's pretty evident when judges read the essays ahead of time - so I bet they'll have pre-formed questions.

I'm not sure about needing empirical evidence...

"Submitted by Frank Merrick on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 10:24.
Hi Liron. We had talked about requiring some documentation briefly, but did not want to turn this into a legalistic exercise. Our working assumption is that most teams, in keeping with the ethos of Gracious Professionalism, will not mislead about their support for other teams, once presented with reasonable definitions they are told they must adhere to. With the number of teams applying for Chairman's Award, some percentage certainly will still intentionally mislead, but we don't want to punish those who don't by requiring additional paperwork. (Boldened by me). BTW, our Chairman's crew has had a 5" thick binder full of 'empirical evidence' for a few years now and the judges rarely examine it...maybe we should just reduce it to a 3x5" card?

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by JB987

BTW, our Chairman's crew has had a 5" thick binder full of 'empirical evidence' for a few years now and the judges rarely examine it...maybe we should just reduce it to a 3x5" card?

PM'ed ...

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by JB987

BTW, our Chairman's crew has had a 5" thick binder full of 'empirical evidence' for a few years now and the judges rarely examine it...maybe we should just reduce it to a 3x5" card?

We did the same thing. When we won at Champs in 2012, one of the judges specifically commended us for providing the evidence and said it made the decision easier. I know other teams have gotten similar comments. Your mileage may vary.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Karthik

We did the same thing. When we won at Champs in 2012, one of the judges specifically commended us for providing the evidence and said it made decision easier. I know other teams have gotten similar comments. Your mileage may vary.

We also have done the same thing since 2007, increasing in size until it was 15 pounds each (3 binders) when we won the CCA in 2011.
Even without competing for such an award, it has now increased to 5 full size binders.
We also have a PDF version where we scan each page prior to putting it together now.

I think the binders in general provide "evidence" as you mentioned, where judges can reference it if necessary.
During our interviews, we brought in team binders, but the judges only perused them, primarily listening to presentations and looking at our standup/pull-up poster displays.
They did however hold onto the binders back then, and I'm sure they reviewed it even further, so we've been told.

[MysterE]

Originally Posted by waialua359

We also have a PDF version where we scan each page prior to putting it together now.

Just as an aside -

I hope teams are doing this actively. In our exuberance at winning the Bayou Chairman's last year, we left our binder somewhere and never found it. Fortunately most of our documentation was saved - but we still lost some of our favorite parts (thank you notes and such)


-D

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by waialua359

We also have done the same thing since 2007, increasing in size until it was 15 pounds each (3 binders) when we won the CCA in 2011.
Even without competing for such an award, it has now increased to 5 full size binders.
We also have a PDF version where we scan each page prior to putting it together now.

I think the binders in general provide "evidence" as you mentioned, where judges can reference it if necessary.
During our interviews, we brought in team binders, but the judges only perused them, primarily listening to presentations and looking at our standup/pull-up poster displays.
They did however hold onto the binders back then, and I'm sure they reviewed it even further, so we've been told.

Originally Posted by Karthik

We did the same thing. When we won at Champs in 2012, one of the judges specifically commended us for providing the evidence and said it made decision easier. I know other teams have gotten similar comments. Your mileage may vary.

I can only speak for one specific judge from that era (my father) - though I'm 99% sure he's the judge Karthik is referencing - and in all discussions we had over CCA, the binders of 'evidence' really helped cement in both of those cases that these teams had a lot of support behind them, and deserved the recognition they were given.

I think whatever format you choose to showcase that support can be helpful, so long as the judges take the time to check it out.

MKI students have done it in binder-format as Glenn & Karthik are describing, but also digitally on a giveaway flashdrive alongside our printed material handouts. (Important note: Not on the same flashdrive as the video! Ours was separate, with a little tied-on note about what the drive contained & a thank-you for their consideration!)

[Karthik]

I've split the discussion on the newly discovered Chairman's Deadline to the following thread:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=138730

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JB987

BTW, our Chairman's crew has had a 5" thick binder full of 'empirical evidence' for a few years now and the judges rarely examine it...maybe we should just reduce it to a 3x5" card?

You should. Maybe not QUITE a 3x5" card but definitely reduce it a bit.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

You should. Maybe not QUITE a 3x5" card but definitely reduce it a bit.

Both IMHO. Card/page for quick reference, Binder for absolute proof (and dramatic effect).