I feel this needs to be said...(Grades & FIRST Dedication)

[Sam Lipscomb]

Originally Posted by coreyk

Cybersonics (103) requires every student on the team to maintain Honor Status throughout the year. In order to join the team, students are interviewed by team officers and mentors after a submission of there current GPA (at least 3.0), application, and letter of recommendation.

FIRST was meant to promote peer and mentor inspiration, not exclusion. Many students not on the honor roll may be sticking with high school just because of the challege FIRST offers them. Sticking to a high school's athletic requirements are one thing, but treating the joining of a team like a job interview or college application is another.

My team requires no less than a C in Math and Science, and it is checked once a year: when a student joins the team. Rarely do grades become a problem. Many of us actually balance FIRST with part-time jobs, challenging courses, and other extracurriculars. Some people can handle it, some people can't. It's a personal decision that must be made solely by the person in question. If a college student feels they can handle the work load of their courses and mentor a FIRST team, they should. If they feel they can't, they shouldn't. There should be no issue as to whether college students in general have the ability to mentor.

Education is important, but for some, FIRST is their education.