Applying for your team?

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

45 accepts everyone who comes as much as they can, you must come 50% of the time to travel though.

This is entirely true. We accept anyone who is a Kokomo High School student onto the TechnoKats. Also, we accept students from other area schools (or home schooled kids) whose parents are employed by one of the team sponsors and are active mentors.

This does not work for all teams, but it works for the TechnoKats.

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Here is an example of how this non-application process can be a success:

This year, we had 2 students who had dismal grades in the fall. They didn't fit in with the other students too well, and were not really "accepted" by their teammates. Many FIRST teams with application processes would not have accepted these two onto their team.

During our fall events and meetings, there was a definite lack of respect going on between these and their peers on the team. However, these two gals persisted and worked hard. Other students took notice and realized they were valuable. Mentors took notice and invited them to be on the pit crew. They became good teammates who were respected.

They got their grades up, and made the trip to Atlanta. They met some incredible people (Woodie, Jane Young, Heidi Foster, Fredi Lajvardi) and made friends with guys on one of the Brazillian teams.

Just recently, one of these two girls was recognized with a "Turn Around Award" in our county. This award goes to students who have made noticeable improvements during the past school year.

Here is an article about these Turn Around Students. Corine is highlighted in the middle of the article.

I especially like this part of the article: "O’Neill said she wants 'to turn into someone who does great things'."

I bet she will.

Andy B.