The FIRST Robotics Competition is about much more than the mechanics of building a robot or winning a competitive event. Scoring the most points is a secondary goal. Winning means building partnerships that last among people who are part of the FIRST community and the impact on students who participate in FIRST programs.
“When I was at the Championship last year, I knew you understood it wasn’t just about winning the competition. It’s about building for the future. Creating a community that makes our world a better place through advances in technology and innovation. And we can only do that if we build the jobs and industries of the future with a workforce that’s capable in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. You are the workforce to that future economy.”- Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer of the United States - 2012 FIRST FRC Kickoff
At the competitions, FIRST redefines winning for these students. Teams receive awards not only for their robot performance in the game, but also for their performance in such areas as excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism, business plan creation, etc. Below is a list of FIRST Robotics Competition Awards.
Chairman’s Award (Regional/District and Championship)
The Chairman’s Award was created to keep the central focus of FRC on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become scientists, engineers, and technologists. It represents the spirit of FIRST and honors the team that, in the judges’ estimation, best represents a model for other teams to emulate, and which embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST. It remains FIRST’s most prestigious award. Winning teams of the Regional/District Chairman’s Award go on to at the World Championship Event in April.
Regional/District/Championship Winner Award
Award celebrates the winning robot alliance of the Regional/District competitions. Teams winning this award will go on to compete for the World Championship title in April.
Engineering Inspiration Award (Regional/District and Championship)
Award celebrates a team’s outstanding efforts in advancing respect/appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school and their community. Winning teams of the Regional/District Engineering Inspiration Award go on to the World Championship Event in April.
Rookie All-Star Award (Regional/District and Championship)
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. Winning teams of the Regional/District Rookie All-Star Award go on to compete at the World Championship Event in April.
Regional/District Finalist Winner Award
Award celebrates the robot alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition.
Gracious Professionalism® Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
Award celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and continuous Gracious Professionalism® in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field.
Rookie Inspiration Award (Regional/District and Championship)
Award celebrates a rookie team’s outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers both within their school and in their community.
Highest Rookie Seed Award (Regional/District and World Championship Divisions)
Award celebrates the highest-seeded rookie team at the conclusion of the qualifying rounds.
Creativity Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Xerox
This award celebrates a team’s robot creative design, in process, execution, or via a creative or unique strategy of play.
It is focused on a feature or features of the robot or the robot’s development process.
Excellence in Engineering* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Delphi
Award celebrates an advantageous feature(s) of a team’s robot. This award recognizes any aspect of engineering elegance that reinforces the principles of FIRST.
Imagery Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*In honor of Jack Kamen
Award celebrates the attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration from the robot to the team’s appearance.
Industrial Design Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by General Motors
Award celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed robot that effectively addresses the game challenge.
Industrial Safety Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories
Award celebrates the team that progresses beyond safety fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards. The winning team consistently demonstrates excellence in industrial safety performance that shines throughout the competition from unbagging the robot to re-pack.
Innovation in Control Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Rockwell Automation
Award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique robot functions.
Quality Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Motorola
Award celebrates the robot’s robustness in concept and fabrication.
Entrepreneurship Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Award celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and recognizes a team, which has developed a comprehensive business plan in order to define, manage and achieve team objectives. This team displays entrepreneurial enthusiasm and the vital business skills to ensure a self-sustaining program.
Team Spirit Award* (Regional/District and Championship)
*Sponsored by Chrysler
Award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork to further the objectives of FIRST.
Judges’ Award (Regional/District and Championship)
During the course of the competition, the judging panel may encounter a team whose unique efforts, performance or dynamics merit recognition.
Woodie Flowers Award* (Regional/District Finalists and Championship Winner)
*Sponsored by Dr. William Murphy
Dr. William Murphy founded this prestigious award in 1996 to recognize mentors who lead, inspire and empower those around them by using excellent communication skills. This award celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering/design. Winning Regional/District entries go on to compete at the World Championship Event in April.
FIRST Dean’s List Award (Regional/District Finalists and Championship Winner)
Award celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary. Winning Regional/District entries go on to compete at the World Championship Event in April.
Safety Animation Award*
*This is a pre-season award
FIRST and Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) invite teams to submit a short animated film to promote team safety.
World Championship Award (Championship)
There are four competition divisions at the World Championship event – Newton, Galileo, Archimedes and Curie. Each will have a Division Champion who will go on to the Einstein Division where the reigning World Champion will be determined. This award is given to the winner of the Einstein Division competition – the World Champion FRC team.
Division Champion Award (Championship)
This award celebrates the robot alliance that wins their division and proceeds on to the Einstein Division.
Division Finalist Award (Championship)
This award celebrates the robot alliance that makes it to the final match of their division.
Digital Media Award (Championship)
Award celebrates teams that look beyond the team website, taking into account the numerous ways people search for and consumer content.
FIRST Future Innovator Award* (Championship)
*Sponsored by the Abbott Fund
Award celebrates innovation and intellectual property creation inspired by the FIRST season experience.
Founder’s Award (Championship)
FIRST presents this award to honor an organization or individual that has contributed significantly to the growth of FIRST.
