2008 GM/Technion/Microsoft Israel Regional

[Leav]

(Not sure if I should have added the Microsoft but they were one of the major sponsors this year, just not sure if they were added to the official name)

So just thought I'd keep the world updated on what is going on in our little part of the FIRST world

First I'll start with again sending my condolences to the family of Daniel Blankenstein, and to the Omnitech/Autodesk family.
The regional continued the next day since, as the CEO of Omnitech and Mr Blankenstein's friends said: "it was what Daniel would have wanted".



36 teams from around Israel competed in the Nokia arena in Tel-Aviv Israel, and had a really great time.

I think I can safely say that this year's game has proven to be a big challenge for the teams but all have worked hard and most importantly enjoyed themselves.

I think that all in all this year has been much less competitive, in the sense that it was a friendly regional and at least for me there was real sense that people were getting along and having fun, not just interested in winning (not that they were not trying to win, though )

on a side note, this year was the first where I really understood why the chairman's is more important than winning the regional. (Good Job 1577!)

Awards:
2669 - Rookie Inspiration Award
2669 - Rookie Entrepreneurship Award
1577 - Best Animation Award
1943 - Rosh Hayyin - Woodie Flowers Award (awarded to Mazal Neger)
1579 - Shevach Mofet - Imagery Award
2630 - Highest Seated Rookie Award

Teams can expect to meet the following teams in the championship:

1577 - Steampunk - Chairman's Award Winners
2214 - Yamin Orde - Engineering Inspiration Award Winners

The Regional Winners:
1574 - MIscar
1690 - Binyamina
1576 - Eironi Het

I am also very proud to say that my own team, 2630 (The Emek Hefer Thunderbolts), has won the Rookie All Star award.

2230, Zacharia's Angels, Have the entire regional recorded. they did an awesome job and they are working with the blue alliance to get it uploaded and archived (watch out for the match where a robot catches fire! )
Thanks Z'A!

So good luck to everyone, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and I'm looking forward to meeting some ChiefDelphites in Atlanta!

-Leav