Hello all!
I’ve read just about all of the essays and have some teams I’d like to highlight. Please note that even with the smaller pool, I would still say there wasn’t a single team whose essay didn’t impress me.
Unlike with the previews, I’m going to pretty explicitly divide this one into three categories: Teams on the Edge, Likely Finalists, and my overall pick for winning CCA at Houston.
Without further ado,
ON THE EDGE:
1477](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-three/1477.pdf): These guys have really been stepping it up these past few years-- from the 38 FLL teams they’ve mentored and the qualifier they host for them to the events they host for both FLL and FRC, these guys are really picking it up. They’ve also been working on starting a Scandinavian FRC team-- if they can bring FRC to that area of the world they’ll surely be a contender in the future.
1868](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-two/1868.pdf): Okay, they have a lot of previous awards-- and an incredible pedigree of teams started and assisted, both in the US and in South America and China. It’s no wonder they have 6 previous Chairman’s Awards. They’re just looking for that extra stretch to really set themselves apart from the competition.
1902](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-two/1902.pdf): International outreach, local development, and members from over 1200 square miles of area. Exploding Bacon may lack a single “wow” factor, but they’ve built a strong and consistent program incorporating engineering and a passion for community outreach that few teams can match.
LIKELY FINALISTS:
2468](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-two/2468.pdf): Take everything you would traditionally expect of a CCA-contender team. Now add on appearing in the extras of a Transformers movie, organizing STEM advocacy efforts in Texas through SACOT, working with their sponsors to run their STEMConnect summer camps… 2468 has been on the edge for years, but this might be their year.
1311](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-six/1311.pdf): Kell Robotics is tackling some of the core issues the FIRST needs to deal with if we want to be a truly sustainable program. They’ve got all the trimmings, plus working with local universities and legislators to see that FIRST teams in Georgia are supported through sheet-metal fabrication and funding for teachers. They’ve also developed plans to train FIRST alumni to become the educators that FIRST teams so desperately need.
1540](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-six/1540.pdf): If there’s a team that has done more to apply their STEM skills towards real-world problems, I’d like to meet them. The Flaming Chickens have applied their skills towards diverse issues such as water transport, carpooling, and light/electricity for homeless shelters. This in addition to all the outreach, working with teams, and internal development one would expect of a CCA-worthy team. I’m not sure how they find time in the year for everything they do…
CCA:
3132](https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/game-and-season-info/awards/2017/chairman’s/week-two/3132.pdf): Having read so many essays this year, I can only really say that one stuck out to me above any others-- and that is 3132’s. Working with teams in 11 countries, bringing FIRST not only to Australia, but to parts nobody would expect to have an FRC team, building FLL and FTC programs even as they exploded FRC, running the FIRST Help Now call line… I feel like I’m only scratching the surface of what this team has done for Australia and the world. They’re making good on bringing FIRST to everyone. Perhaps their only weakness is the relative youth of their team.
I’d emphasize that these are solely my opinion. I was absolutely awestruck by the quality of the submissions this year and wouldn’t be surprised to see any of the teams competing end up being Finalists.
If you’ve got a team you’d like to highlight, feel free to post below-- there’s a heck of a group competing in Houston this weekend!
Best of luck to everyone in Houston!