What Is the best FIRST state.

[Lisa Perez]

I don't know so much that there is a "best" state in FIRST. Just from hearing my out-of-state friends' experiences at various regionals and watching the competition at Championships, I was very impressed at the levels of engineering, promotions, communications, and team spirit that all of the robots and teams possessed - this year especially.

While statistics may show one state to surpass the others in certain aspects, I think that each of the states had something very unique to present to FIRST, and that without such uniqueness, the competition wouldn't be possible.

[Joe Matt]

Indiana, hands down. Sorry Michigan and California.

[Elgin Clock]

State of independence seems to match FIRST pretty darn well.

From an offspring to the MIT 2.07 competition to the multi-national beast it is now.. It truely now has it's own state of being.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Indiana, hands down. Sorry Michigan and California.

While Indy has the ledgendary team 71 Team Hammond and the best known off season competition IRI for overall quality Michigan has produced numerous champions and Chairman's award winners. It's the heart of FIRST.

[shyra1353]

Provinces own all States .. no competition .. and Ontario is the best province ... ...

[Allison K]

Another vote for Michigan! Many Championship and Chairman's teams over the years, lots of major sponsors, and three regionals (I would go look up how many the other states have but the FIRST site is down).

Also, would anyone know how to come up with some statistic on percentage of CDer's from various states/provinces/countries? They track all kinds of other stuff.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Allison K

Another vote for Michigan! Many Championship and Chairman's teams over the years, lots of major sponsors, and three regionals (I would go look up how many the other states have but the FIRST site is down).

Also, would anyone know how to come up with some statistic on percentage of CDer's from various states/provinces/countries? They track all kinds of other stuff.

New Yawk and Cali have three regionals.

[sarahbeara22]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

While Indy has the ledgendary team 71 Team Hammond and the best known off season competition IRI for overall quality Michigan has produced numerous champions and Chairman's award winners. It's the heart of FIRST.

yea team 67 did win both but there is some curse once you win the chairmans you cant win the chapionships. they won the championships then the chairmans. but if the california team hadnt picked the teams from michigan they wouldnt be there. i think michigan is awesome but so is cali.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JosephM

And 111. Don't forget 45 too.

111 is from Illinios.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

111 is from Illinios.

*brain fart*Ooopsss, should have known better, I'm wearing their shirt now! Sorry ed! *brain fart*

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JosephM

*brain fart*Ooopsss, should have known better, I'm wearing their shirt now! Sorry ed! *brain fart*

woooo. Somebody open a window. WHOA!

[AmyPrib]

Unfortunately I do not think that you can judge the best state by the Chairman's Award winners. Reason I say this is cuz different judges, different regionals, different things they look for. While it is a prestigious award, I don't necessarily think it's a good parameter to look at.
But in saying that, I don't know what exactly are the good parameters to base the BEST state out there... perhaps there needs to be more to the question of which state is best for FIRST to give basis for an answer.

But, I'll go ahead and agree with IN for all the previous reasons mentioned..
Indiana is looking at potentially 6-7 new rookie teams next year. That's pretty awesome. BMR was awesome rookie regional, only to become more awesome next year. IRI is always awesome. Team 71 has a record for championship wins....45 has been around since the beginning.. And we just have a huge group of awesome teams, who always come together and support each other when in need.
I'm surprised there aren't more states chiming in here!!!

[Elgin Clock]

OK, not even going to comment on my other post, cause apparently no one found it amusing..

BUT - All states that have FIRST teams in them are the coolest..

Do we have all 50 yet?

Canadian Provinces, you rock too for bringing FIRST to an international audience first.

And countries, Brazil, and UK. w00t

[Amanda Morrison]

Recently doing the statistics page for the new IndianaFIRST website, I found out that Indiana was even more successful than I thought.

15 Regional Wins
13 Regional Finalists
(28 robots have been in regional finals, total)
8 Championship Division Finalists
8 Rookie All-Star Awards
7 Xerox Creativity Awards
7 KPC&B Entrepreneurship Awards
7 Leadership in Control (11 if you add the Innovation in Control Award)
7 Judges' Awards
6 GM Industrial Design Awards
5 Regional Chairman's Awards
5 National Championships
4 Woodie Flowers Award Winners (Bill Beatty, Andy Baker, Darrell Noble, Scott Ritchie)
4 Unsung FIRST Heroes Awards (Scott & Libby Ritchie, Chris Fultz, Steve Florence)

... and the list goes on and on. Here's the breakdown of the 158 awards (not including UFH) that have been won by Indiana teams:

2005: 36
2004: 25
2003: 23
2002: 13
2001: 28
2000: 8
1999: 7
1998: 7
1997: 5
1996: 1
1995: 1

I don't have a personal vote on this issue, but I thought the stats were interesting. All that information is from FIRST's website. I'd like to see Michigan's match up, but I don't have the patience (I barely did Indiana while staying sane). Anyone up for it?

/edit: It's also been brought to my attention that I should clarify. This only had included current Indiana teams. I have now included the awards of the now-defunct teams 535 and 24. There were also former teams 377, 472, and 1475 that never had awards.

I <3 corn, driving in circles, and tattooing pigs,
Amanda Morrison

[Andy A.]

Wait a minute-

which state is kickoff held in?
Which state is home to FIRST?
Which state is home to Deans hair?
Which state had a big face made out of rock that fell down and is still on all the license plates??

Thats right.

New Hampshire.

-Andy A.