Award Recognition for Non-STEM Mentors in FRC

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by karomata

We are currently petitioning to help bring more recognition to non-engineering mentors within the FIRST community. In addition to the community’s skilled pool of engineering mentors, many teams have mentors who help with organization, financial management, community outreach, presentation, and the many other aspects that make a well rounded FIRST team. These mentors work behind the scenes to lead their teams, but currently have no opportunity for award recognition in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Join us in the campaign for NEMO recognition!

First of all, thank you for thinking of us NEMs. I've read through this interesting thread (even though it got a little off-topic!) and am thrilled that many NEMs have been nominated and recognized for their non-technical expertise as Woodie Flowers Award nominees and winners.

However, although the nominees need not be engineers, one of the criteria is: "Clear explanation of mathematical, scientific, and engineering concepts" - something I would never be able to do!

I'm not sure what the answer is - changing the criteria of the WFA or adding an additional award... But I encourage each of you who have non-engineering mentors (who may or may not be be engineers) to join NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) so they can provide support to one another! http://www.firstnemo.org

[hrench]

I think most people don't even realize that the WFA criteria says anything about STEM vs. not-technical mentors. I'm pretty sure our team normally considers all of the mentors.

But there are two other points I want to make that this made me think of.

One. Most other activities in life have plenty of ways to highlight and award individual performance. Sports, Debate, Theatre...the newspaper will write stories about the MVP or the lead actress in the play. The soloist in the Band.
Yes, we have WFA and DLF, but mostly, we're really lacking for ways to individually recognize people for outstanding achievement. Yes, we take lots of photos of the drive-team and the Chairman's group and rightly so, but we never say who the 'best' of anything was. Mentors or students. When the newspaper writes the story, they want that personal angle and story. We don't give it. Yes we're a team, but I think we need more spotlights. I don't have it figured out how, but that's what I think. I think it would attract more high-achievers.

Two. WFA and DLF are completely judged awards. I'm a science guy. I like things that can be measured. I like numbers. If I could say "Joe has 2043 midi-chlorians, he wins the WFA," that would be great with me. Even other judged activities--diving, gymnastics, fiddle contests...try to simplify performances for judging purposes down to scores that can be added up. We don't do that for these or Chairmans or any other activities? Or do the judges actually use numbers behind the scenes? I'm not a judge, I don't know. I can't think of things that we can measure for mentors or student team members that would give us numbers, but it's just a thought I want on the table. Judging with numbers would be good, I think.

After reading Sperkowsky's (try not to mis-spell ) remarks about DLA, I also point out that I know that there are people--even high achievers--that don't wan't the spotlight. I don't have a solution for that because in our society I think its important to laud the high achievers. It encourages more high achievement. If we give everyone a trophy, we might encourage mediocrity.

Not trying to hijack the string, but maybe we should discuss these somewhere.