It would be pretty cool if in addition to their predictions, posters offered a bit of insight into why they think the predicted teams should win. I’d be interested in hearing more about the unique and defining parts of these culture changing programs. With the immense growth of FRC over the years, I think many people are completely unaware of the amazing impact that these many of these Regional Chairman’s Award winners have made.
2486 for Houston. 503 for St. louis
I’ll take a whack at it for 3132 - I’m not going to look at North Champs yet maybe I’ll get to it later.
To me 3132 is high on that list because of their strong EI presence at CMP level over the last few years. Coupled with the explosive growth of Australian events/teams and what appears to be less hands on involvement from both mainland teams or HQ in creating that growth.
They are having a large impact in their community if you define community as continent/country. I am less familiar with their local impact though, typically, local impact comes before regional impact.
I’ll echo what others from Minnesota have said… 1816 The Green Machine is very deserving of this award. They are the reason that Minnesota has more than 200 FRC teams. They continue to be a driving force for the growth and development of Minnesota FIRST Robotics. Mark Lawrence (one of 1816’s main Mentors) won the WFFA in 2015, and the work that he’s done with 1816 is even more evidence of their impact on FIRST Robotics.
Hey guys!
It is early, but teams stay great YEAR ROUND and there are a lot of teams people are rooting for this year. Who do you think really deserves the title this year? Who do you think might make it onto the great 2017 Hall of Fame?
Post your predictions here!
Edit:: As Karthik mentions below, there will be 2 winners for HOF this year due to FIRST having 2 champs this year (one in St. Louis, Missouri and one in Houston, Texas). Along with the team number, please write why you think that team deserves a spot in HOF (what makes them different, how are they so special?)
525 has a pretty good shot at the St. Louis Championship. They’ve done a huge amount of work to help teams in Iowa, Minnesota, and China. They provide key volunteers in both Iowa and Minnesota. They do their best to make sure all teams are running smoothly during the competitions. 525 has also helped ensure rookie team stability by having Iowa’s state government provide funding to all new teams in the state for 2017. They’ve also worked closely with 987 in the past few years to promote growth and stability in China. FIRST would not have as much of a presence in these 3 regions if it wasn’t for the impact of 525.
I think 604 has a shot at the Houston champs. I can’t confidently speak for the St. Louis, but for south, 604 are a team that have a great chance of winning.
230 or 558 for the North.
Both have amazing programs. and I’m a bit CT biased…
With 2 championships this year, its great that we can award more than 1 team this year. Every year, there is a growing list of teams that are deserving.
I’m not a judge in any capacity, but I believe that there are many teams who are very close and that it will come down to the student interviews AND video presented this year.
Top two teams: 3132 and 2468. I’m hoping that 1 of them decides to elect to attend St. Louis instead. Then I would predict both of them winning in 2017.
3132’s outreach is simply amazing. I’d argue that no one in the history of FIRST has accomplished the extent of what they have done.
2468 is one of the most well balanced teams in FIRST that isnt in the HOF. Their successes both on and off the field are equally inspiring.
There are just too many great teams in the North (U.S. and Canada) that it would be too hard to predict for St. Louis.
503 for St Louis for sure. They are absolutely fantastic and have been going year after year as chairman’s. Think of all the teams they have inspired!
Without 503, the Flying Toasters wouldn’t be here today.
For North Champs, I see 2056 or 503 as very strong contenders. 2056 is similar to 987 in the fact that they are well rounded-- an inspirational robot and dedicated outreach. 503 has been a steady representation, winning a Chairman’s Award at Michigan State Champs 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. That is simply amazing. Their record even goes farther to that. However, that is not to say a strong record like theirs is a deciding factor of who will become HoF, but I think it says a lot about 503.
For South Champs, 2486 has inspired other submissions to be strong contenders. Fun fact, 3309 based their executive question off of a format that 2486 has created, and then won in LA for the first time. That isn’t to say that South Champs is necessarily decided however. 1868 has strong outreach, 207 has earned Engineering Inspiration consistently, and may begin to have the same effect for Chairman’s, 604 has been a Chairman’s team in NorCal consistently. 1540 has had a strong streak as well by earning a CA at the 2016, 2015, and 2014 PNW Champs.
Personally, I do not have any guesses. I’m just observing who has consistently earned a Chairman’s Award and relaying that information. Over time, it can become harder for a team to have “streaks” because it can become increasingly difficult for said team to improve and represent themselves. I’ve heard it said that the first CA award is easier than the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. So, for the teams that have these said “streaks” continuing to be role models in this fashion is very much in line with what it means to be HoF.
However! Winning a CA in your area can be completely different than winning it at a World or (North and South Champs). Maybe these teams will have different outreach strategies this year to push themselves over the edge to become a HoF. We’ll see. There is some time. 
To represent the Canadian teams it is Definitely 1241, 2056 has done quite a bit and is deserving of the many regional chairman’s awards they have won, but if you look at the scale of the what 1241 does in their region and across the province they are by far and away the strongest Canadian candidate for World Chairman’s in St.Louis.
Another vote for 503 for North Champs - I believe I’m right in saying they’ve won the Michigan District Chairman’s award every single year that it has been a thing.
At this rate, I’d be pretty shocked if 2614 didn’t win Chairman’s in St. Louis. They are the reason FIRST is even in West Virginia. They have provided $34,000 for FLL, FTC & FRC in WV, created & mentored 100+ FIRST teams (I think, can’t quite remember), ran the first FRC event in the state and are bringing FIRST to India and Zimbabwe.
That’s only what they could fit into their Chairman’s video from last year/some info from the website.
North
503 - Frog Force - 10 chairman’s, 25 total BBs, huge impact in Michigan and recognition with Governor Snyder.
1511 - Rolling Thunder - 7 chairman’s, 13 total BBs, hosts of Rah Cha Cha Ruckus, MEGA Drive.
South
1311 - Kell Robotics - 8 chairman’s, 11 total BBs, public policy advocacy, impressive outreach event list.
604 - Quixilver - 9 chairman’s, 15 total BBs, large impact from demonstrations
1540 - Flaming Chickens - 7 chairman’s, 15 total BBs, BunnyBots
I think that Team 337 would take some issue with that since they existed for 8 years prior to 2614, not saying that 2614 isn’t amazing but saying they are the reason FIRST is in their state is a little much
I feel like the issue that will keep them out isn’t something they really have control over, and it is that one of the questions that we were asked is how many FRC teams have we helped start in our state, logically the only answer that 2614 can say is 1, 3492; since they are the only team in the state younger then them. It sucks but until FRC sees a lot of growth in their state as a result of that, I feel that some of the teams going to the same champs as them (11, 503, 1241, 1511, 2056) have a leg up.
For South Champs, I’m going to borrow some words I said about potential winners for this year’s Championship Chairman’s Award:
I would definitely say that those two are the leading contenders in my mind for the South Championship Chairman’s Award. I’d expect each of them to rise even further this season, and have been combing social media for more info on what they’ve been up to. They’ve both continued to impress, and I would bet on one of them winning the big one in 2017.
North Championship is a bit hairier.
I have a hard time putting any team head and shoulders above the rest compared to South Champs-- there are a lot of very good Chairman’s teams (1511, 503, 1885, 525) that I could certainly see pulling out the win, but I can’t honestly say I would bet on one or two over the others. I need to get a better handle on what each team has been up to in the offseason in order to have an opinion I would consider well-supported here.
FRC 321, The Robolancers. Not only do they have a world class program, they do so in a school district that is chronically underfunded and short on faculty and resources. Where the Philadelphia public schooling system lacks the resources to step up, the Robolancers have become a beacon. And they have a track record of successfully demonstrating that impact, with back-to-back MAR Championship Chairman’s Awards. For reference, the two other MAR teams mentioned in this thread have yet to win a single MARCMP Chairman’s Award. I have little doubt that 321 will be MAR’s 4th Hall of Fame team.
Glad to see 321 get mentioned, really an awesome program. I think from MAR them, 1676, 1218, and 1923 are certainly contenders.
1519 for North Half Champs.