Pennsylvania FTC Championship Tournament

The Judges Award is given at the discretion of the Judges to a Team they have encountered whose unique efforts, performance or dynamics merit recognition, yet the Team does not fit into any of the existing Award categories.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

The judges were impressed by this team's collaborative approach to their meetings. SCRUM came out of the boardroom to GLOW in the capable hands of these rookie roboteers. The Judges Award for SCRUM STRUCTURE for Team Management goes to team 5320, Robolancers Gold.

The Compass Award recognizes an adult coach or mentor who provided outstanding guidance and support for a FIRST Tech Challenge Team throughout the year. The winner of the Compass Award is determined from candidates nominated by FIRST Tech Challenge student Team members, via a 40-60 second video submission, highlighting how their mentor has helped them become an outstanding Team and truly demonstrated what it means to be a Gracious Professional.

The Promote Award is given to the Team that is most successful in creating a compelling message for the public designed to change our culture and celebrate science, technology, engineering and math. The FIRST Tech Challenge Public Service Announcement Video was evaluated by the Judges to determine the winner of this Award. Teams must present a thoughtful and high-quality video which appeals to the general public and best exhibits this year's topic of "This is how I plan to pay FIRST forward..."

The Control Award is given to the Team that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve Game challenges such as Autonomous Operation, enhancing mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the Field.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team impressed the judges with their use of sensors to consistently score in autonomous. Their numerous driver presets enhanced driver control in tele-op. This combination helped them CRUISE to victory.

This Judged Award celebrates the Team that exemplifies the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge competition and embraces the culture of FIRST while making a collective effort to make FIRST known throughout their school, and community and sparks others to embrace the culture of FIRST.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

What makes this team stand out is their mentoring of FLL and FTC teams, summer camps, and their broad community outreach. They assembled a series of SMALL events that, when combined, create a MARVELOUS COLLECTIVE. This SUPER team is a stem HERO to the underprivileged.

The intent of the Design Award is to expand on the challenge, inspiring Teams to incorporate industrial design into their robots. These elements can be shown in the simplicity of the design as it applies to the tasks, the look and feel of the robot, and how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways. The Design aspect must serve a function - but they should also differentiate the robot in a unique fashion.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team's notebook led the judges through the development of their design concepts. They HUNTED for the perfect glyph grabber and left no stone unturned. These HOUNDS are hot on the trail of form, function, and aesthetics.

The Rockwell Collins Innovate Award celebrates a Team that the Judges feel has the most Innovative and Creative Robot design solution to the FIRST Tech Challenge. Elements of this Award include elegant design, robustness and 'out of the box' thinking with regard to design. This Award may address the design of the whole robot or some sub-assembly component of the robot. The creative component needs to work consistently, but a robot does not have to work all of the time during Matches to be considered for this Award.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team's robot reaches far with its 3D printed parts. Their multi-jointed arm and claw scored relic points at every chance. This team's FIERY design operates with the simple push of a button.

The Connect Award is presented to the Team that the Judges' feel most connected with their local community, FIRST and the business world. The best Team is more than the sum of its parts, and recognizes that their schools and communities play an essential part to their success. The recipient of this Award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the Team itself. In addition, the Team that wins this Award is aggressively seeking engineers and exploring the opportunities available in the world of engineering, science and technology.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team shared FIRST with STEM professionals in the engineering community. Through formal communications, they gained access to the tools necessary to fabricate their professional looking robot. It is perfect LOGIC to connect this team with this award.

This judged award is given to the Team that best reflects the journey the Team took as they experienced the engineering design process during the build season. The Engineering Notebook is the key reference for judges to help identify the most deserving Team. This Team's Engineering Notebook focused on the design and build stages of the Team's robot and exemplified their journey as a team and engineers.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team's notebook was well organized, showing their robot's design progression from sketches to CAD to robot. This team has demonstrated that they are no SMALL thinkers. They are the SAGES of engineering notebooks.

FIRST Dean's List Finalists are outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary. These students were nominated by their teams for their direct contributions and impact on others -exemplifying leadership and commitment, on their FIRST Tech Challenge team, in their school, and in their community. FIRST Dean's List Finalists, recognized here today, are also our nominees for the FIRST Dean's List at the Championship.

The Inspire Award is given to the Team that the Judges felt truly embodied the 'challenge' of the FIRST Tech Challenge program. The Team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and works to promote FIRST and make it loud in their community. The Team that receives this Award has performed well in all Judging categories and was chosen by the Judges as a model FIRST Tech Challenge Team on and off the playing field. The Judges used Match performance, observations made during interviews and in the pit area, the Team's Engineering Notebook, and performance on the playing field in determining the winner.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team is spreading the word of FIRST not only across their community and their state, but also around the world. Their enthusiasm and energy propelled them from the past to became a shining beacon of possibilities in FTC. This rookie team comprised of sub-teams that COLLECTIVELY came together to ENRICH their trans-formative experience. The judges found it FUTILE TO RESIST them.