Judges’ Choice Award
The Judges’ Choice 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 have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team impressed the judges with their motto: “We are not a one-person team”.
Winner 13246 Steel Beaks – from Indianapolis, IN
Compass Award
The Compass Award recognizes an adult coach or mentor who has given 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 student team members, via a 40-60 second video, highlighting how their mentor has helped them become an outstanding team and has truly demonstrated what it means to be a Gracious Professional.
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
Congratulations to Therese Hawkins from Team 8578 Juden-Ki from Columbus, IN.
Winner Therese Hawkins
Promote Award
The Promote Award is given to the team that is most successful in creating a compelling message for the public and working to change our culture and celebrate science, technology, engineering, and math.  The video submission was evaluated by the Judges to determine the winner of this award.  Teams must present a thoughtful and high-quality video that best exhibits this year’s topic of: “How I learned about FIRST“
Winner 11329 I.C.E. Robotics – from Bloomington, IN
Design Award
The Design Award expands on this year’s 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 in how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways. The design aspect must serve a function – but should also differentiate the robot in a unique fashion.
Third Place 535 TOBOR – from Crawfordsville, IN
Second Place 9864 Jug Rox Robotix – from Shoals, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team worked hard on their design and created a custom solution for power play. Their unique grabber grabbed our attention and didn’t let go. Their Flurger definitely caused a panic in the judge’s room
Winner  8149 Red Alert: Panic in the Build Room – from Greenwood, IN
Motivate Award
The team that receives the Motivate Award celebrates the culture of FIRST and clearly shows what it means to be a team. This award celebrates the team that represents the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge competition through team building, team spirit, and displayed enthusiasm. This is a team who makes a collective effort to make FIRST known throughout their school and community and sparks others to embrace the culture of FIRST.
Third Place 3537 The MechaHamsters – from Greenwood, IN
Second Place 17994 Ragnabotics – from Poseyville, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
Girls who code and rebuild cars with 3D-printed parts, their brains and passion, and charisma completely stole our hearts!
Winner 22068 Short Circuit – from Indianapolis, IN
Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc.
The Control Award, sponsored by Arm, Inc, celebrates 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.
Third Place 13414 Circuit Breakers – from Kingman, IN
Second Place 16501 Squirrel! – from Granger, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team had incredible grabber control, and their unique wrist spun our heads while their array of sensors REVEALED their out-of-the-box thinking.
Winner 22444 Revelation – from Lafayette, IN
Innovate Award sponsored by Raytheon Technologies
The Innovate Award, sponsored by Raytheon Technologies, celebrates a team that has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life.  This award is given to the team that the Judges feel has the most innovative and creative robot design solution to the FIRST Tech Challenge game.  Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness, and ‘out of the box’ thinking.
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.  The team’s engineering portfolio showed the design of the component(s) and the team’s robot and clearly explains how the team arrived at their solution.
Third Place 19932 Westside Red – from West Lafayette, IN
Second Place 13377 Blackout – from Dyer, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team GENERATED a lot of interest in the judging room. Using FUSION and ONYX they innovated to the next level. Their CAD was ACCELERATED with a unique use of generative design.
Winner 14596 XLR8 – from Granger, IN
Connect Award
The Connect Award is presented to the team that the Judges feel most connected with their local Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) community.  A true FIRST team is more than the sum of its parts and recognizes that engaging their local STEM community plays an essential part in 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, this team aggressively seeks and recruits engineers and explores the opportunities available in the world of engineering, science, and technology.
Third Place 18174 MISHines – from Mishawaka, IN
Second Place 13295 Red Alert: Disaster Management – from Greenwood, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
You might have seen this group 3 times, but this one’s extraaaaa classy.  Collaboration’s up their alley with colors black and brassy!
Winner 15455 The Classy Roborioles – from Avon, IN
Think Award
The Think Award is given to the team that the Judges feel best reflects the journey of the engineering design process.  The engineering portfolio is the key reference for Judges to help them identify the most deserving team.  This team’s engineering portfolio focused on the design and build stage of the team’s Robot and exemplified their journey as a team and engineers.
Third Place 21945 The Majestic Roborioles – from Avon, IN
Second Place 18505 Something to do with Waffles – from Bloomington, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This teamed wowed us with their storytelling.  They reached new heights by evolving from Legos to metal……and switching their capes to thinking caps.
Winner 20430 Heroes – from Granger, IN
Finalist Alliance
Captain 16501 Squirrel! – from Granger, IN
1st Pick 12014 FireWires – from Granger, IN
2nd Pick 15455 The Classy Roborioles – from Avon, IN
Winning Alliance
Captain 9864 Jug Rox Robotix – from Shoals, IN
1st Pick 14596 XLR8 – from Granger, IN
2nd Pick 20430 Heroes – from Granger, IN
Dean’s List Finalists
FIRST Dean’s List Finalists are outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at embodying 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, will represent (insert region) in the running for the ten Dean’s List Winner spots.
Congratulations

Eli Lengacher of Team 3537 The MechaHamsters – from Greenwood, IN

Elizabeth Jeffries of Team 535 TOBOR – from Crawfordsville, IN
Emily Chase of Team 19366 CTF – from Bedford, IN
Inspire Award
The Inspire Award is presented 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 both on and off the playing field. This team shares their experiences, enthusiasm and knowledge with other teams, sponsors, their community, and the Judges. Working as a unit, this team will have shown success in performing the task of designing and building a robot.
Third Place 11329 I.C.E. Robotics – from Bloomington, IN
Second Place 12014 FireWires – from Granger, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team certainly made a measurable impact on the judges.  Their sustainable efforts, extensive outreach, and certified enthusiasm were impressive. They are an inspiring team who happens to build robots.
Winner 19366 CTF – from Bedford, IN