Who do you think is the best bet to win the Chairman's Award at the Championship?

[Koko Ed]

Everybody always talks about what robot is going to win the championship but no one ever brings up who they think will win the Chairman's award.
I mean all you get for that is admission to FIRSTs Hall of Fame, who cares about that?
So now we have 30 canidates who do you think is the best bet to achieve FIRST immortality the weekend of April 21st in Atlanta? And why?

[Joe Matt]

What's that? 384?

Nah, I highly doubt that we'll win, but just being up there with these guys is amazing!

My bet? Eh, well, I'd say 60, followed by 365, followed by 341. Of course, watch 79 win it and prove me wrong.....

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Everybody always talks about what robot is going to win the championship but no one ever brings up who they think will win the Chairman's award.
I mean all you get for that is admission to FIRSTs Hall of Fame, who cares about that?
So now we have 30 canidates who do you think is the best bet to achieve FIRST immortality the weekend of April 21st in Atlanta? And why?

I have to wait til the end of the week to post my official choice but there are a couple of odd facts to consider....

- First until last year FIRST had some sort of odd bias against team numbered over 200 when it came to the Chairman's award til the Cheesepoofs broke through. So will FIRST go past 300 this year? Will they make it past 1000?
-Secondly the last two Chairman's award winner were in the same division that we were in (Cybersonic in 2003 and the Poofs last year) so now we are like some sort of good luck charm for the Chairman's award.

Come next week I'll actually do some research and give more thought to who I think will be the newest FIRST Hall of Fame member.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I have to wait til the end of the week to post my official choice but there are a couple of odd facts to consider....

Hey Koko Ed!

Just curious who you thought was going to get it.

Congratulations once again to Team 67!!

Good luck to all in the off season!

Al Ostrow
Team Leader

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

Hey Koko Ed!

Just curious who you thought was going to get it.

Congratulations once again to Team 67!!

Good luck to all in the off season!

Al Ostrow
Team Leader

I thought 118 was going to get it. I never thoguht 67 was going to ge it especially after they won it all. FIRST had just never done that before (it makes them uncomfotable if one team gets all the big prizes but at least they're getting over it. If you're deserving, you're deserving.)
Now if FIRST could only get over that low number bias.

[rachakate]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

FIRST had just never done that before (it makes them uncomfotable if one team gets all the big prizes but at least they're getting over it. If you're deserving, you're deserving.)

But the Chairman's Award was decided before the championship match took place!

Listening to the award presentation just inspires me to work that much harder this year!

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Now if FIRST could only get over that low number bias.

I am confident that the highest team number of a Championship chairmans winning team will increase next year at least into the 300's .

[Mini-D67]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I thought 118 was going to get it. I never thoguht 67 was going to ge it especially after they won it all. FIRST had just never done that before (it makes them uncomfotable if one team gets all the big prizes but at least they're getting over it. If you're deserving, you're deserving.)
Now if FIRST could only get over that low number bias.

I dont think ther was a way for them to change who was going to win after Friday... Early on Saturday (looking back, we were foolish not to realize what this meant) one of the FIRST Ambassitor was hanging around our pits with a video camera asking questions like "What does FIRST mean to you?" and "How has being on the team changed you?".... obviously questions that are going to go in our video...

As for the 'low number bias', I dont think thats a good way to think about it. I know it may sound harsh or ungracious, but wouldn't give the Chairmans award to, say, a 3 year team as opposed to a 9 year team be like giving a "Lifetime Achievement" award to an intern? Im not saying that new teams dont do great things for FIRST (heck, they are FIRST), but the CA is kinda like senor award - wherein most senior teams have given the most back to FIRST.

[santosh]

I am not sure it all completely low number teams. My team got honorable mention last number and w are a 1000+ team. We got nothing this year but are definetly looking to improve all summer long and during the school year.

Is FIRST more interested in teams that go for multi state outreach. We are really trying to get in touch with some alabama teams because they are really close to us yet they have very few teams. The only 1 I can think of is 538 ARAB HS

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by santosh

I am not sure it all completely low number teams. My team got honorable mention last number and w are a 1000+ team. We got nothing this year but are definetly looking to improve all summer long and during the school year.

Is FIRST more interested in teams that go for multi state outreach. We are really trying to get in touch with some alabama teams because they are really close to us yet they have very few teams. The only 1 I can think of is 538 ARAB HS

254 has a worldwide reach. Helping teams as far away as Israel.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by Mini-D67

As for the 'low number bias', I dont think thats a good way to think about it. I know it may sound harsh or ungracious, but wouldn't give the Chairmans award to, say, a 3 year team as opposed to a 9 year team be like giving a "Lifetime Achievement" award to an intern? Im not saying that new teams dont do great things for FIRST (heck, they are FIRST), but the CA is kinda like senor award - wherein most senior teams have given the most back to FIRST.

Oh Lord someone help me, I'm agreeing with Davis...

I don't think that it's a lower number bias for Chairman's as much as the lower teams have been in the competition for longer and obviously have had more of an opportunity to become involved in their communities and show sustained partnerships between their team and all aspects of their community. It's not that they only like low numbers, but more that the lower numbered teams have had more of a chance to do what the Chairman's Award honors.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

Oh Lord someone help me, I'm agreeing with Davis...

I don't think that it's a lower number bias for Chairman's as much as the lower teams have been in the competition for longer and obviously have had more of an opportunity to become involved in their communities and show sustained partnerships between their team and all aspects of their community. It's not that they only like low numbers, but more that the lower numbered teams have had more of a chance to do what the Chairman's Award honors.

Yeah but a team like 1114 has done an awful lot for NiagraFIRST. To say that their work is not " good enough" becasue their only three years old seems cruel.
I bust chops on the low number bias but I sure hope it's just a myth because if it isn't then it would hurt the integrity of the Cahirman's award. Why should teams turn it in if they're not going to be seriously considered because of their number? This is actually not a good thing.

[ngreen]

If there is a low number bias at championships, that is able to be discussed. As far as for a regional level, there is not a bias, or at least not that I can tell. There are at least two 1000+ teams I know that have won two regional chairman's awards in only three years of existence.

As long as the regional are unbiased, the championships will eventually go to a higher numbered team. Hopefully my team will be one of the first to break the 300 barrier. But seriously look at the list of chairman's finalist. Most all of these are elite programs regardless of numbers. I'm proud to be part of the group even without the trophy.

[stealth13777]

Originally Posted by ngreen

If there is a low number bias at championships, that is able to be discussed. As far as for a regional level, there is not a bias, or at least not that I can tell. [b][b][u]There are at least two 1000+ teams I know that have won two regional chairman's awards in only three years of existence. As long as the regional are unbiased, the championships will eventually go to a higher numbered team. Hopefully my team will be one of the first to break the 300 barrier. But seriously look at the list of chairman's finalist. Most all of these are elite programs regardless of numbers. I'm proud to be part of the group even without the trophy.

One of those two teams is 1002. After winning first runner up last year we came in this year with high hopes. We definately thought we would get at least a runner- up award. When they went through those and we weren't named, the tension mounted. You can imagine our dissappointment when the winner was announced. In retrospect I think we just didn't do enough. The winner is a team that did a ton and ultimately deserved their award. In fact, the only bad thing I can think of about that team was a probation issued in a preseason competition. Basically they were accused with sufficient evidence of having their robot built (by a sponsor). Since that doesn't matter at actual first, congratulations on both their awards, they have a great program. We are coming in next year to try and win our third chairman's at the peachtree regional in four years and try again at nationals. We have more funding this year and will be working hard to get a big sponsor. Hopefully we can achieve our goals. Anyone at nationals should remember us as the team with the glowsticks. Good luck to everyone next year.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Yeah but a team like 1114 has done an awful lot for NiagraFIRST. To say that their work is not " good enough" becasue their only three years old seems cruel.

Oh that's most certainly not what I was trying to say. I apologize if it came out that way. What I'm saying is that obviously older teams (which have smaller numbers) have had more time to create more of the partnerships and continue them. Team 1114 has done some amazing things (trust me, when Karthik first told me, he left me with my mouth gaping open) and that's undenyable. The Chairman's Award places significant focus on sustained efforts which obviously give the older teams a greater advantage. I have no problem with fantastic new teams being recognized, I'm just stating why more than likely, the low number thing has stuck.