Chairman's Interview

[falconmaster]

Use handouts! They will cover what you don't get the chance to say in the five minutes! Plus it is something they can have afterwards.

[Priyadarshy]

How many teams send an adult in to the presentation?

[falconmaster]

We do not....Its their baby!

[dsmoker]

I went in with 2 of our students last year, and will probably do the same this year. I did, however, let them do the talking. I was more there for moral support. The judges did not seem at all bothered by the fact that an adult mentor was one of the 3 presenters.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by falconmaster

We do not....Its their baby!

Ditto !!

There is no way we would send an adult in. It is their gig.

There is a lot of time the next couple of weeks for the students to get prepared and can practice in front of other crusty adults.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Priyadarshy

How many teams send an adult in to the presentation?

We did once, then we had 3 kids at championship. It's not better or worse, just, different.

[Schnabel]

We send in 3 students. We train for a couple of weeks before hand, to the point that you dream about what we have done.

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

We send in 3 students. We train for a couple of weeks before hand, to the point that you dream about what we have done.

Our presentation is also done by 3 students.

In your "training" and practice for the presentation, get to the point where you are smooth and polished but not memorized and mechanical. We had one comment once that the presentation sounded too rehearsed.

If your presentation does feature technology, make sure you have a back up plan and can also talk while setting up. Our presenters do sort of a tag team, each introduces themselves and tells their story while the other two are setting up and rotate until the set up is done.

And I agree with the "dress nice." It is the only time you'll see our team members out of "uniform" at a competition. Our trademark camo is featured in a tie that the presenters all wear.

One other tip...we practice the question and answer period as well. Find business people in the community who are familiar with the team and FIRST, but don't know the inside scoop. Give them your presentation and have them ask the questions. They ask things from a business perspective and it is great preparation! And it usually sells the team to the business and they are more likely to sponsor you the next year.

[dsmoker]

I think each team's situation is different. Our eventual goal is to have students do the Chairman's presentation by themselves. However, we are not a suburban school with an abundance of students able and willing to do such a presentation. A few of the students who are most familiar with the team and the most outspoken are on this year's drive team, and they can't be on the Chairman's panel, as they are too busy in the pits. We are a hand-on student team where robot building and design is concerned, with the students doing the work on the bot under the supervision and direction of the mentors. That's where we're at for Chairman's as well, but at this point the students actually prefer to have one of the adult mentors in the room with them to supervise and observe. It also lets me evaluate their performance and helps us to improve for the next year.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by dsmoker

It also lets me evaluate their performance and helps us to improve for the next year.

Each team is different and approaches the competition from a different vantage point. Issues that one team may contend with are non-issues for another.

For me, the important part of continued team growth and maturing is the on-going evaluation of how areas can be improved, strengthened, changed to meet the dynamics and evolving development of the team.

Continuing to participate in the Chairman's Award will expose the team to the experience of conducting interviews with professionals, making formal presentations, and developing public speaking skills. It is always incredible to me to watch a student blossom and open up when they take that deep breath and step up to the challenge. One of our quieter team members last year is our lead for the Chairman's and Woodie Flowers essays this year. The presentation team is in process of being determined and I'll bet she will take that deep breath, again.

Good luck with your competition season!
Jane

[dsmoker]

Well said, Jane. One of our quieter students was chosen as a presenter last year, and she did a great job. It really boosted her confidence. We, too, are in the process of finalizing our team for this year, but she may well be chosen again, along with a young man who did not present last year but is intersted this year and has a real flair for public speaking.

Best of luck to all the teams who took the time and effort to do Chairman's!