FIRST Chairman's Award

About the Chairman’s Award

The FIRST Robotics Competition is about much more than the mechanics of building a robot or winning a competitive event. It is about the partnership among people who are part of the FIRST community and the impact on those who participate in FIRST programs with a united goal of achieving FIRST’s mission. The FIRST mission is to change the way young people regard science and technology and to inspire an appreciation for the real-life rewards and career opportunities in these fields.

FIRST Awards Page

1511 & the Chairman's Award

Since it's inception 1511 recognized that FIRST was not just about building a robot for a really exciting competition, but that it was about building a team, getting involved in the community and giving back. They also knew that the highest award that FIRST could give is the Chairman's Award. Even before they could win it, in their Rookie year, they realized that helping other teams, getting out in the community, and helping promote FIRST could be fun and rewarding in so many ways! The amazing partnerships they have built between Penfield HS, Harris RF, the community, mentors, students, parents and teachers has allowed this team to become something wonderful. Because of everything the team has accomplished 1511 feels it important to recognize the hard work of all of the team members and has created an essay and submitted for the chairmans award every year!

Below you will find excerpts from each of our submissions, along with links to the full documents, presentations and handouts.

2010 - Theme: We Are Thunder!

In 2010 1511 had some major transitions. The team graduated 8 seniors, and the lead mentor moved to Boston, so there was a lot of team building to do. But 1511 did not skip a beat! The 2009 leadership restructuring and the returning members helped keep the team rolling, heading for bigger and better things!

2010 Chairmans Essay.doc 2010 Team

2010 Executive Summary.doc

2009 - Theme: We Are Thunder!

In 2009 1511 took a long hard look at itself. They had run themselves thin doing everything they do, from supporting teams to running the Ruckus to running the Rally. They had restructured the entire team leadership, mentors and all, and were ready for a break. They considered writing the chairman's essay for historical purposes but not submitting, as it always took a lot out of them in buildseason and come competition time. But as the year flew by, the realized the importance of recognizing everything that the team had spent so much time building, and enthusiasm grew! They knew they should submit again, but how to make it different? They decided they wanted new challenges, in addition to a little more presentation practice time and decided to submit at the Chesapeake Regional. There they would be going up against all new teams, and it was nervewracking for sure! The essay was based on the strong foundation of the 2007 essay. They practiced and rehearsed the presentation near 50 times, and even taped it for future viewing! The win at Chesapeake was a new and insanely sweet moment, as they realized they were really back!

It’s one thing for a meteorologist to forecast the storm of the century, it’s another for that storm to hit. Woodie Flowers predicted that storm in 2005 when we won International Rookie All-Star. The storm struck in 2007 when 1511 won Chairman's Award at the Finger Lakes Regional; but it didn’t end there. We have continued to be and always will be a role model team as we increase our presence in the community. Our outreach has expanded to new schools, sponsors and other countries, spreading word of FIRST. The Thunder keeps getting louder!

Essay: 2009 Chairmans Essay.doc

Presentation: 2009 Chairmans Presentation.ppt

Presentation Video: Youtube Video

Chairmans Video: Youtube Video

2008 - Theme: We Are Red Camo!

1511 continued to grow more and do more as it had every year before. FLL had exploded in Rochester and now had to hold Qualifying tournaments, more demos, community service events and fun activities were held. Wonderng if they should mix things up a bit, students put a new twist on the old Thunder and became "We are Red Camo". With a catchy new theme, they created a new essay, at close to 17,000 characters to start with, they had to chop and cut and revise some more to get it down to 10,000 characters. With that done, new presenters were selected, and they charged forward to present again at FLR. Although they did not win, their impact gained them the Engineering Inspiration Award for the second time!

Essay: 2008 Chairmans Submission.doc

Presentation: 2008 Chairmans Presentation.ppt

2007 - Theme: We Are Thunder!

By 2007 1511 had grown a lot. They were helping lots of FRC teams, hosting 4 annual FIRST events, were very involved in the community and had established a very strong partnership between Harris, the school, the team members and the community. Students created an essay and made 18 revisions of the essay before mentor or parent eyes even touched it! They sat down and created a presentation that really epitomized everything that they had accomplished in their three short years. Realizing that it was a team effort and that only three presenters could attend, they video taped team members and many affected to bring the team to the judges. And made history!!

Our 2007 Presenters!

Essay: 2007 Chairmans Submission.doc

Presentation: 2007 Chairmans Presentation.ppt

2006 - Theme: A New Breed of FIRST

In 2006, 1511 was rocked and inspired by their International Rookie All Star award win, and knew they could be destined for more. This was prior to FIRST's "last three years" summary of Chairmans, but with all of 1511's accomplishments, they wanted to see what they could achieve, and came up with the realization that they were defining a New Breed of FIRST. Rookie teams that came up so quickly they had an impact on all facets of FIRST as well as their communities. This was certainly true of 1511.

1511 Wins Engineering Inspiration

Essay: 2006 Chairmans Submission.doc

Presentation: 2006 Chairmans Presentation.ppt

2005 - Theme: Four Facets of a Tetra

2005 was 1511's rookie year. Although they could not win the Chairman's award they were eligible for the Rookie All Star award at their three regional events. As the students really wanted to attend championships, and recognized that they had accomplished so much that year, they submitted a chairmans essay and loved talking about all they had accomplished. They won the Rookie All Star at both the Finger Lakes Regional and the Championship event, moments that were surreal and amazing to this little team from Penfield!

Essay: 2005 FIRST Chairman's Essay.ppt

This page last updated Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 08:35:55 PM.
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