Confused about semifinalists/finalists/winners for Dean's List and Woodie Flowers

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by Andrea C.

If all nominees are semifinalists, I don't understand why our team's nominee was singled out from all the other teams' nominees/semifinalists at our district event and announced at the award ceremony as if he'd earned some status that separated him from the rest. To put it a different way, if their status is different, as indicated at our district event, it seems odd to me that they'd share the same title (semifinalist).

I have no clue why they singled your team member out. Maybe it was a mistake? You have no distinction on your TBA page saying you have a deans list finalist which makes sense since that distinction can only be awarded at either DCMP or a Regional.

This is from a modified manual FIM produced in 2011

6.1.5 Dean’s List Award
Each Michigan team may nominate up to two members of their team for the FIRST Dean’s List award (The team may
select only one but not more than two). The nominations must be submitted by a single mentor from the team no later
than NOON AM EST on February 17, 2011 to https://my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso.

Dean’s List award finalists will not be chosen at Michigan District Events. Instead, all Dean’s List Award nominations from
Michigan teams will be reviewed by a selected panel of Judge Advisors and Judges and 6 Dean’s List Award Finalists will
be selected across all Michigan Team nominees. These 6 Dean’s List Award Finalists will be announced at the Michigan
State Championship event. The 6 Dean’s List Award Finalists from Michigan will be considered for the FIRST Dean’s
List at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis using the essays provided.


So, I do not know why your student was singled out but regardless he is still a Deans List Semi-Finalist along with all of the other nominees in your district. If you have a video of him receiving said award I would love to see it as, it would probably reveal what it is for. And, If you do not I would email FIM directly to find out.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Andrea C.

If all nominees are semifinalists, I don't understand why our team's nominee was singled out from all the other teams' nominees/semifinalists at our district event and announced at the award ceremony as if he'd earned some status that separated him from the rest. To put it a different way, if their status is different, as indicated at our district event, it seems odd to me that they'd share the same title (semifinalist).

Because these titles are developed with the regional model in mind. In the regional model, there's only regionals and FRC championship. The student(s) selected by each team are semi-finalists, and those who win at the regional level are finalists for the award at Championship.

In a district format, there's simply too many students to consider them all at the DCMP alone (particularly in Michigan. As a result, the field is narrowed at the district event level. There is no distinction in title between the district event and those that advance to the DCMP. Your student was one of the semi-finalists selected to proceed to the DCMP, but all the students nominated by their team are also semi-finalists.

[Andrea C.]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Because these titles are developed with the regional model in mind. In the regional model, there's only regionals and FRC championship. The student(s) selected by each team are semi-finalists, and those who win at the regional level are finalists for the award at Championship.

In a district format, there's simply too many students to consider them all at the DCMP alone (particularly in Michigan. As a result, the field is narrowed at the district event level.

Makes sense. I follow you.

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

There is no distinction in title between the district event and those that advance to the DCMP. Your student was one of the semi-finalists selected to proceed to the DCMP, but all the students nominated by their team are also semi-finalists.

So just the ones who were singled out for recognition at district events are considered at the district championship, but all nominees, regardless of whether they are no longer in the running, are called semifinalists? I get it. It's just unnecessarily confusing to use the same term for the nominees who were knocked out of the running and the nominees who are moving on to the next phase to vie for finalist. I don't intend to take any of the honor away from the other nominees -- our team had another nominee, in fact, whom we adore and are very proud of -- but as one tasked with mentoring students to write news releases, I am always hammering at them for clarity and precision. This seems unnecessarily sloppy. So be it. At least now I have my answer!

Thanks, everyone!

[AndrewPospeshil]

It's pretty much all been stated in this thread, but here's my take. FIRST created the Dean's List Award system with Regionals in mind - I think FiM had only used districts for a year or two when the award was created. Thus, only 3 levels needed to exist: Winner (crowned at CMP), Finalist (one or two from each Regional who go to CMP), and Semifinalist (nominated by the team and judged/interviewed at Regionals).

The system is the same at Regionals now (I think??), but the inconsistency arises with Districts. FIRST never created a Quarterfinalist or Nominee position, so those in the District system are left without an official name for those who don't move on to DCMP. So those nominated by teams in District systems are in a grey area. They're Semifinalists, because they're nominated by their teams. But they're not Semifinalists (yet), because they're not necessarily advancing to Finalists at Districts.

FIRST seems to be leaning towards the former definition of Semifinalist. At District events (or at least, FIM Livonia), students who interview receive pins that say "Semifinalist" on them. I'm also pretty sure the Opening Ceremonies script specifically refers to the entire list as Semifinalists. In the end, it really doesn't matter. Because there's no official lingo, you can use either terminology. I figure most will say they're Semifinalists when they receive the nomination, and Semifinialist if/when they advance to DCMP as well.

[Ed Law]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

This is from a modified manual FIM produced in 2011

I think the OP understands the terminology now. I just want to point out something that may still be confusing to some people.

The old 2011 modified manual from FiM was how it was done in the early years of district model. At that time there were not as many district events and not as many teams. Students nominated by their teams will have their names announced at their team's first district event. There was no judging at the district events. All the DL semifinalists move on to be judged at the district championship and 6 students were selected to be finalist to compete at the world championship. The terminology was clear at that time. All nominees were semifinalists and all semifinalists were judged together at the district championship. This is very similar to regionals.

Due to the rapid growth in number of teams in Michigan, it was felt that there were too many semifinalist to be judged at district championship. FiM decided to judge students at the district events and select one or two students to move on to be judged at district championship to become finalists. Yes there was no title for these selected students. I think in Michigan they select 8 students now to be finalists.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

[KathieK]

I have been confused about this process and terminology for several years also! I am asking for a blog post about it.

[FrankJ]

Back to the press release part of this. Keep in mind the press wants one liners. The distinctions here are way to subtle to get published. The media will refine a convoluted subject like to a one liner that will not be likely completely correct. Please don't take this as media bashing. It is just recognition of the realities of that world.