2006 Chairman's Award Winners

[Richard Wallace]

This is an impressive list. Makes me wonder how on earth the CA judges at Championship are going to choose just one team to join the HOF this year.

To follow up on that thought: as FIRST adds regional events, the opportunities for regional medals and awards increase proportionally. And there's still just one Championship, so just one team per year gets into the HOF. Many exemplary teams may never make it in, because other exemplary teams are developing every year.

I don't mean to slight any team by mentioning the only ones that I have directly observed recently; my choices for the 2006 Chairman's Award would be 45, 71, 111, and 1114.

I'd find it very difficult to make a single choice, but if pressed I'd vote for 71. Reasons: (1) four championships -- I understand that FIRST isn't only about winning, but in 71's case the winning is evidence of an exceptionally strong overall program, and (2) FIRST's most productive alumni association -- just look around and see where former Hammond team members are now, what they've done for FIRST, the teams they've started.