Mentor_Conference_Presentation.pdf

FRC Mentor conference awards presentation

Transcript

1. frcawards@nycfirst.org Looking at FRC Awards Jeanne Boyarsky NYC Awards Committee Chair Nov 8, 2025 frcawards@nycfirst.org speakerdeck.com/boyarsky
2. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Why try for awards • Motivation/recognition • Speaking/writing skills • Deepens learning/reflection • Trophy for lab/workspace • Advancement points • Helps with fundraising • Inspire others
3. frcawards@nycfirst.org Judges
4. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Types of Judges Badge Says Role Judge Pit interviews Match observers Judge – Dean’s List Award In room interviews for Deans List Judge – FIRST Impact Award In room interviews for Impact
5. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Judges are… • Industry Professionals • Educators • Alums Note: Some judges know little about FIRST
6. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Advice Given to Pit Judges • Do not skip team if not in pit. Can “look in queue” (not in NYC) or practice field or make an appointment to come back • Encouraged to take printed team materials; will not get back • Not about presentation skills • Ok to use a translator/interpreter • Teams can use AI as long as they cite it
7. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Pit Process • New judges paired with veteran judges • Groups of 2-3 judges • Separate visits for Machine Innovation Creativity vs Team Attribute • If short of judges, same people do both visiting twice • Judges will have to ”sell” your team to other judges
8. frcawards@nycfirst.org Machine Attribute Awards
9. frcawards@nycfirst.org Autonomous Award Celebrates the team whose machine has demonstrated consistent, reliable, high-performance robot operation during autonomous (i.e. non-operated guided) actions during match play. Evaluation is based on the robot’s ability to sense its surroundings, position itself or onboard mechanisms appropriately, and execute tasks.
10. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Autonomous Award include • How robot perceives surroundings/navigates • Factors could interfere with autonomous • Design, development, testing of autonomous • Consistency/reliability > points • Autonomous actions during teleop count too
11. frcawards@nycfirst.org Creativity Award Celebrates a creative robotic component, concept, or attribute that enhances strategy of play that was intentionally designed and not discovered.
12. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Creativity Award include • Describe creative/unique feature • Trace conception and design • Practical application/contributes to objectives of competition • How mitigated risk • Contributes to success
13. frcawards@nycfirst.org Excellence in Engineering Award Celebrates the team whose machine incorporates an engineering solution designed to have components work together seamlessly.
14. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Excellence in Engineering Guidelines include • Describe problem/solution • Engineering process • Trace conception to completion • Functional, practical, did not create new problems • Contributes to success on the field • Note: does not have to solve all game challenges
15. frcawards@nycfirst.org Industrial Design Award Celebrates the team whose machine demonstrates industrial design principles, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics.
16. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Industrial Design Guidelines include • Design elegant, efficient (simple/executable), and practical • Entire machine worthy of recognition • Distinguishes from others by aesthetic, design, and performance
17. frcawards@nycfirst.org Innovation in Control Award Celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components – electrical, mechanical or software – to provide unique machine functions.
18. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Innovation in Control Guidelines include • Describe controls innovation • Trace conception, design, manufacturing/assembly/deployment • Control system innovative and unique • Control system integrated with machine, human player, strategy, etc • Practical; addresses game challenges and reliable in competition
19. frcawards@nycfirst.org Quality Award Celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.
20. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Quality Guidelines include • Describe quality plan • Entire machine demonstrates quality: workmanship, welds, etc • Can withstand rigors of competition • Designed in redundancy and risk mitigation • Contributes to success on the field
21. frcawards@nycfirst.org Team Attribute Awards
22. frcawards@nycfirst.org Engineering Inspiration Award Celebrates a team who demonstrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.
23. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Engineering Inspiration Guidelines include • Emphasis on most recent year • Measurable success of efforts • Extent/inventiveness to recruit students to engineering or STEM • Extent/effectiveness community outreach • Commitment to science/tech education in team/school/community • Achievement FIRST mission and ability to communicate it at and away from competition • Ongoing efforts; not just build season Mission: provide "life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world
24. frcawards@nycfirst.org Gracious Professionalism Award Celebrates outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism, sportsmanship, and working together both on and off the playing field.
25. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Gracious Professionalism Guidelines include • Exhibits principles of core values in relationships with other teams • Demonstrate Gracious Professionalism • Positive attitude on and off the field • If worked with FRC team preseason: how collaborate, how teams divided up tasks, how communicate, how working together was better, financial impacts. GP: A way of doing things that encourages high-quality work and emphasizes the value of others, while respecting individuals and the community. It means acting with integrity and sensitivity. Core values: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun
26. frcawards@nycfirst.org Imagery Award Celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.
27. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Imagery Guidelines include • Describe theme and origin • Theme original • Theme fits objectives/character/history of team • Theme incorporated into all aspects ex: uniforms, pit, mascot, etc • Visuals are exceptional and attractive • Theme supports core values
28. frcawards@nycfirst.org Team Spirit Award Celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork furthering the objectives of FIRST.
29. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Team Spirit Guidelines include • Enthusiasm! • Support teams, appearance, interactions with others • Sprit part of team and apparent in all they do – ex: community, sponsors • Demonstrate spirit as united team
30. frcawards@nycfirst.org Team Sustainability Award Celebrates a team which has developed sustainable practices that focus on a “triple bottom line” (i.e. People, Prosperity, and Planet) to have a positive impact and achieve long-term continuity.
31. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Sustainability Guidelines include • Plans and actions for one or more initiatives • People: recruit, train, retain students/mentors/sponsors • Prosperity: fundraise/track budget, identify/manager risks • Planet: Assess/mitigate/reduce impact, environment strategy
32. frcawards@nycfirst.org Optional: Judges Award During the course of the competition, the judging panel may decide a team’s unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition.
33. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Judges Guidelines include • Fully embraced principles of FIRST • Many judges noticed positive aspects of team • Positive attribute/feature not included in other awards
34. frcawards@nycfirst.org Optional: Rising All Star Award Celebrates the team that has persisted through challenges, despite the difficulties of being young. This could be the result of being a new team, or a team with recent turnover in membership.
35. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Rising All Star Guidelines include • Understands FIRST mission and exhibits gracious professionalism • Role model for other young teams • Stands out as having sustainable/promising future with FIRST • Note: not just first year teams. Ex: second or third year with challenges
36. frcawards@nycfirst.org Optional: Rookie All Star Award Celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology.
37. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Rookie All Star Guidelines include • FIRST Impact Team in the making • Partnership between organization/school and sponsors • Understands what FIRST is trying to accomplish – tech is fun, challenging, and offers a future • Built appropriate robot
38. frcawards@nycfirst.org Submitted Awards
39. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Overview Award Due Submit Comments Impact Feb 12, 2026 Essay, executive summary questions Onsite presentation/ interview Woodie Flowers Feb 5, 2026 Essay Judged by past WFA winners Dean’s List Feb 5, 2026 Essay Onsite interview Nominate 1 or 2 students Digital Animation Jan 12, 2026 Animation Presented outside regional Safety Animation Nov 20, 2025 Animation Presented outside regional
40. frcawards@nycfirst.org Woodie Flowers Finalist
41. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Award in a nutshell • Can submit multiple times; latest submission wins • Nominate one mentor • Submit 3K character essay • Students write and submit
42. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Benefits of submitting • Thank you to your mentor! • Mentor sees how helped • Inspire others students (future mentors) and younger mentors • Team reflection
43. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Criteria Some or all of: • Level of student participation; • Creativity of effort; • Clear explanation of mathematical, scientific, and engineering concepts; • Demonstration of enthusiasm for Science, Technology, and Engineering; • Encouragement to work on projects as a team effort; • Inspiration to use problem-solving skills; • Inspiration to become an effective communicator; and • Motivation through communication
44. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Data to submit • Select an Eligible Mentor • Occupation • Position on team • Adult Reference (Must Select an Eligible Mentor on the team) • Occupation • Adult Reference (Any FIRST affiliation) • First Name, Last Name • Phone Number • E-mail Address • Upload Pictures (1 required headshot photo of the mentor alone, up to (3) three additional photos, all photos no more than 1.0 MB total) • Essay (Character max: 3,000) - Once candidates’ information and essays are submitted, they are sorted and posted on a private, password- protected site where only the judges can read the entries.
45. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Essay tips • Brainstorm ideas from team • Be specific, “I learn from X” doesn’t help • Write then cut characters if needed • Have nominee proofread for accuracy and comfort • Have someone proofread who has never seen before
46. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Photo tips • Action photos; see mentor at work! • If you don’t have a photo, stage one
47. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Getting started • Pick someone – google form? • If only have 1-2 mentors, this is easy • Write bullets • Flesh out into paragraphs • Have to be in it to win it! • Next year: start in Fall
48. frcawards@nycfirst.org Impact Award (formerly “Chairmans”)
49. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Award in a nutshell • Rookie teams not eligible • Can submit multiple times; latest submission wins • 13 executive summary questions – 500 characters each • 10K character essay • Optional question to get feedback from judges • “Optional” video • Students write and submit • Interview on day 2 of regional (Tuesday for Gotham; Saturday for NYC)
50. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Benefits of submitting • Team reflection • Values • Show what your team does • Think about what want to build on • Submit even if don’t think have a chance to win. Strengthen team!
51. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Criteria • Describe the impact of the FIRST program on team participants within the last 3 years. This can include but is not limited to percentages of those graduating high school, attending college, in STEM careers, and in FIRST programs as mentors/sponsors. • Describe your community along with how your team addresses its unique opportunities and circumstances. • Describe the team’s methods, with emphasis on the past 3 years, for spreading the FIRST message in ways that are effective, scalable, sustainable, and creative. How does your team measure results? • Please provide specific examples of how your team members act as role models within the FIRST community with emphasis on the past 3 years. • Describe your team’s initiatives to Assist, Mentor, and/or Start other FIRST teams with emphasis on activities within the past 3 years. • Beyond starting teams, what initiatives have you done to help inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators? What results have you seen from your efforts in the past 3 years?
52. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Criteria (cont) • Describe the partnerships you've created with other organizations (teams, sponsors, educational institutions, philanthropic entities, etc.) and what you have accomplished together with emphasis on the past 3 years. • Describe your team's efforts in the past 3 years to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within your team, FIRST, and your communities. • Explain how you ensure your team and the initiatives you have created will continue to run effectively for the foreseeable future. • Describe your team’s innovative strategies to recruit, retain, and engage your sponsors within the past 3 years. • Highlight one area in which your team needs to improve and describe the steps actively being taken to make those improvements. • Describe your team’s goals to fulfill the mission of FIRST and the progress you have made towards those goals. • Briefly describe other matters of interest to the FIRST Judges, including items that may not fit into the above topics. The judges are interested in learning about aspects of your team that may be unique or particularly noteworthy.
53. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Submission Tips • You don’t have to do everything • Essay shouldn’t repeat executive summary. Details, anecdotes • Limit to past 3 (ish) years and focus on last 12-18 months • Read impact definitions (ex: started vs mentored) • Be clear what new vs what continuing
54. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Interview tips • 7 minutes prepared remarks, 5 minutes Q&A • Can show slides/video/handouts/skit • Meet earlier and get ready • Practice night before • 1-3 students • One mentor can come with you • Decide who in advance • Write down questions, feedback, note timing • Go over afterwards
55. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Examples of details • How many teams mentor? • How many hours? • If expanded a program, what do? How many hours? • If continued a program, how make it part of culture? • Story for context when compelling
56. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Iterate • If go to more than one regional • Practice with team and/or mentors • Parents are helpful for practice too • Practice online (awards committee can help) • Do in person practice too!
57. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Choosing your (up to) three presenters • Enthusiasm • Represent parts of team • Dedicated • Plan ahead • Try to avoid people with the most critical roles at comp • Not a public speaking contest!
58. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Getting started • Brainstorm what do • Flesh out into paragraphs • It’s ok not to have answers for everything. • Build on past year’s responses (once have) • Next year: start in Fall – pick presenters early, brainstorm, documentation sheet
59. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Make it easy for the judges • Use words of award/FIRST • Show before and after – how has student grown • STAR • Situation • Task • Action • Results Taken
60. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Almost final tips • Sometimes to access awards the coach must set a student as an awards submitter • Do not wait to the last day / hour / minute to submit, the portal usually has problems on the last day when everyone is trying to be on it. • You can keep modifying your submission until the last moment, some teams will post an old submission or latest revision constantly. • If you do not submit, you are automatically ineligible for the award(s) • Look at other team’s past winning submissions https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/first-impact-award-resources
61. frcawards@nycfirst.org Dean’s List Sherry presenting next
62. frcawards@nycfirst.org Other Awards
63. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org Other Awards Award Description Volunteer of the Year Awarded by subset of planning committee Safety All Star Goes to a safety captain student on day 2 and 3 based on nominations from other safety captains Ken Vessey Award Local regional (unofficial) award
64. frcawards@nycfirst.org In Closing
65. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org FIRST Resources • List of awards, criteria, sample questions: https://info.firstinspires.org/hubfs/web/program/frc/awards/award- workbook.pdf • Judge manual (if want to read details): https://www.firstinspires.org/hubfs/web/program/frc/awards/judge- manual.pdf?hsLang=en
66. frcawards@nycfirst.org frcawards@nycfirst.org We can help • Contact us at frcawards@nycfirst.org • Outline feedback • Essay review • Remote practice interviewing Please don’t wait until the night before to contact us!