2005 NASA Grant Recipients Released

[Amanda Morrison]

The list of 2005 NASA Grant recipients was released earlier today. You can find the list here:

http://robotics.nasa.gov/2005_sponsorships.htm

Congratulations to those who received support!

[dez250]

Aren't these grants meant for first and second year teams to assist in the formation of a team in their start to help "get them off the ground". Now with that said as i glance at the teams who received grants i am wondering why teams 71 and 93 received these grants.



this post is in no way a bash at either team 71 or 93 or NASA, i just thought these grants were designed for first and second year teams as assistance to start and develop a team.

[Cory]

Yeah... that's what I said too. No offense, but we all know Beatty isn't in need of the money. I have nothing against large, well funded teams, but these grants are for the teams that cant find a way to compete otherwise... to give one to one of, if not THE powerhouse teams in the country is absolutely absurd in my mind.

I can only hope that they recieved it because others didn't apply... if they got it over some rookies or teams that absolutely needed that money, there's something SERIOUSLY wrong with NASA's selection policy.

*awaits the outpouring of negative rep*

[Kyle Love]

Originally Posted by dez250

Aren't these grants meant for first and second year teams to assist in the formation of a team in their start to help "get them off the ground". Now with that said as i glance at the teams who received grants i am wondering why teams 71 and 93 received these grants.



this post is in no way a bash at either team 71 or 93 or NASA, i just thought these grants were designed for first and second year teams as assistance to start and develop a team.

I thought that same thing....as I understood, only first and second year teams were eligible. I could understand how 461 and teams hosting NASA events could get the grants however. Congrats to all teams who won the grants! By no mean was this post meant to "bash" any veteran teams who me too the grants.

-Kyle

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Cory

Yeah... that's what I said too. No offense, but we all know Beatty isn't in need of the money.

*awaits the outpouring of negative rep*

What the heck Cory?
You have specific insight into the funding of team 71?

Personally, I have no clue the financial status of these teams. If they applied for the grants, I'm sure there is a need, or a valid reason.

NASA could have said "no", but they didn't. Obviously the proposal was worthy.

John

[Vince lau]

is there two separate grants? one from NASA and on from FIRST?

[Alex Golec]

Congrats to all the teams who recieved the NASA grants! I have no insight as to why the veter teams may have recieved the grants, but who knows (other than them, of course)- keeping a team alive is a lot of work.

_Alex

[dez250]

Originally Posted by JVN

What the heck Cory?
You have specific insight into the funding of team 71?

Personally, I have no clue the financial status of these teams. If they applied for the grants, I'm sure there is a need, or a valid reason.

NASA could have said "no", but they didn't. Obviously the proposal was worthy.

John

I have nothing against you or team 71 or NASA, John, but when i see a team that can afford 2 regionals (the midwest regional and great lakes regional) and the championship event all ready but get a grant to attend a 3rd regional (that i was advised was a "rookie" grant), which they arent even on the list of competing teams yet (which im guessing means they are wait listed for) it makes me frown. So i am hoping this is either a mix up or NASA had an excessive amount of grants for the Purdue regional which couldnt be used for another event.

[Kevin Watson]

Originally Posted by dez250

Aren't these grants meant for first and second year teams to assist in the formation of a team in their start to help "get them off the ground". Now with that said as i glance at the teams who received grants i am wondering why teams 71 and 93 received these grants.

Some grants were given to established teams as an incentive to attend one of the new regionals.

-Kevin

[Alex Golec]

Originally Posted by Kevin Watson

Some grants were given to established teams as an incentive to attend one of the new regionals.

When it is given as an incentive, is this just "we picked you, we've paid for you completely, so why shouldn't you go?" If it is like that, it seems a bit unfair, but as said time and time again: there must be some reasoning behind it. Although paying for a third regional when many rookie teams are in the red paying for their first and only regional- this brings up some questions. Can anyone provide me with some sort of link to the criteria? I haven't been able to find it yet (ah the wonders of searching the net). What would clear up many doubts is if NASA was able to provide a short summary of their reasonings.

_Alex

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Alex469

When it is given as an incentive, is this just "we picked you, we've paid for you completely, so why shouldn't you go?" If it is like that, it seems a bit unfair, but as said time and time again: there must be some reasoning behind it. Although paying for a third regional when many rookie teams are in the red paying for their first and only regional- this brings up some questions. Can anyone provide me with some sort of link to the criteria? I haven't been able to find it yet (ah the wonders of searching the net). What would clear up many doubts is if NASA was able to provide a short summary of their reasonings.

_Alex

Originally Posted by dlavery

Note that these comments have to do only with the "Challnge Grants" that are being issued to first and second year teams that have applied to attend one of the NASA-sponsored regional competitions.
-dave

I believe that says it all

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Vince lau

is there two separate grants? one from NASA and on from FIRST?

There is a $1,000 FIRST grant, that's seperate from the NASA grant, available to both rookie and veteran teams. However, it will not be awarded to a team that has received the NASA grant or any other FIRST grant. See the "FIRST Team Assistance Grant" on this page: http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/grants.htm

Originally Posted by Cory

I can only hope that they recieved it because others didn't apply...

801, 71, 135, 93, 16, 461, 399

These are the only teams under 900 received the NASA grant.

The numbers in bold are teams going to the West Lafayette regional, who received the grant. Entertain the possibility, for a second, that there weren't many teams - let alone many new teams - that applied for the grant, for W. Lafayette regional. Subsequently, the grants were ... granted to the teams who did apply, low numbers and all, so as not to waste the grants and as an incentive, perhaps, for more first and second year teams to apply for the grants next year.

Originally Posted by Kevin Watson

Some grants were given to established teams as an incentive to attend one of the new regionals.

Then why were there hardly any other 'established teams' who received the grant, outside of the West Lafayette regional? There is more than one new regional this year, is there not?

In any case, congrats to both the low and high-numbered teams who did receive the grant.

[OZ_341]

My understanding is that Rookies, second year teams, and "High Number" teams seeking their second year of funding take priority. So I think this means that there are not many rookies at the regional that you are discussing.

For example Team 341 has applied for the past 2 years to receive our second year grant at Chesapeake, but have been rejected in favor of rookie teams both years. This is because there are many more rookie teams at Chesapeake.
(and they should receive these funds)

I also would not make assumptions about other teams finances. People often assume that we are well funded because we have big names on our shirts. We however receive only partial (and much appreciated) funding from these companies. The majority of our money comes from our own fundraising ideas.

Although we seem very together and organized, we barely make our budget each year. In fact last year we had to beg in our community to make it to Nationals.

Anyway this is my way of saying congrats to anyone that can manage to get a grant. It is a tough road for the majority of teams out there.

[thewizard16]

I saw this thread, and I don't know Beatty's financial status either, but I will agree with OZ_341 about not assuming about team's finances. For example, my team, #16, received a grant, and in the past we'd never really considered the possibility we'd need one. This year however, our financial situation is... vastly different, and we greatly appreciate the NASA money, which has now made it possible for us to attend two regionals.

[Andy Grady]

I am assuming that the selections were made based on a regional by regional basis. For instance there were probably a high number of teams who applied for Chesepeke, which made it more difficult for a team with a low number to gain favor...as where the competition that Beatty and Hammond applied for must have had a low number of applicants, allowing for Beatty to attend even with the number of regionals they had already registered for.

At least I hope this would be the case...


With that said, I really wish that some company would come up with some form of aid to help dying teams who have been around for a long time. It seems like we are running into more and more of these teams every year...its a shame to see such traditions falling apart because resources just can't hold up anymore.

I'm not trying to sound bitter, but it just seems like everyone is throwing money at the newer teams and the old dogs who have paid their due are now forgotten.

Congrats to all the teams who recieved the grant, make us proud by showing why you earned that money!