Gracious Professionalism(TM)???

[Garret]

For me, Gracious Professionalism doesn't fit with the "sport for nerds" aspect of FIRST. The excitement at regionals is tremendous and GP makes me think of dull lectures and boring triple checked leisurely work. Maybe we should brainstorm some new trademarks for FIRST that actually convey the real experience.

What makes you think FRC is a "sport for nerds." I have never thought that and I know at least my team would never think that. On our team we varsity football and basketball players, the ASB president, chairman of VIP, and others who I would not consider nerds. FRC is the "sport fo the mind".

Also, at least for me, Gracious Professionalism (and the FIRST mission) is what makes FRC my favorite robot competition. Gracious Professionalism is, in my own opinion, the most useful thing most kids can get out of FIRST. This is because technical and engineering skills can be learned from almost any program or technical class, but the communication skills and sense of responsibility and ethics that you get out Gracious Professionalism are unique to FIRST and much harder to learn in the classroom.

The FIRST experience is not solely about robotics and engineering.