The New York Tech Valley Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST^®. It honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrates progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the Chairman's Award against winners from other qualifying events.

The judges for this award talked to many stars. But one ranged near and far, spreading FIRST and its mission from starting new teams to distributing STEM kits. This team avoided the sharks and won the Star Wars.

Congratulations Team 3015, Ranger Robotics!

FIRST Dean’s List Finalists are outstanding passionate student leaders who demonstrate exemplary effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals.

They were nominated by their teams for their direct contributions and impact on others – exemplifying leadership and commitment, on the team and in their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists, recognized here today, are also our nominees for the FIRST Dean’s List at the Championships.

I will announce the names one at a time…

Congratulations to the first FIRST Dean’s List Finalist

Jacquelyn Clark-Feinstein from Team 806!

Congratulations to the second FIRST Dean’s List Finalist:

Mackenzie Petersen from Team 6823!

The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team's school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award.

The Winner of this award will have their 2022 Championship Registration fee sponsored by NASA.

This small team braved the cold and snow. Their community outreach and support of other local teams exemplifies world-class FIRST values. Their north-country, Olympic spirit is an inspiration to us all.

Congratulations Team 6300, Northwood School Robotics from Lake Placid NY!

The New York Tech Valley FIRST Regional Champions.

This alliance rose to the many challenges of RAPID REACT and proved to be an exciting competitive combination. They can now proudly hang a Winner’s banner in their Pit.

Congratulations to the Alliance Captain, Team 2614 and their partners: Team 5484 and Team 2601!

Regional Finalist celebrates the alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition. FIRST recognizes the talent of these outstanding competitors. They were sensational and we are proud to honor them.

Congratulations to the Alliance Captain, Team 1493 and their partners: Team 3015 and Team 5881!

The Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors celebrates celebrates the team that demonstrates industrial design principles, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics.

Using core ingredients of aluminum and gold, this team machined and printed their way to flight.

With both form and function, they shoot, score -- and traverse with the push of a button.

With efforts from members both young and old, creating this purple and gold robot was no day at the beach.

Congratulations Team 287, Floyd Robotics!

During the course of the competition, the judging panel may decide that a team's unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition yet do not fit into any of the existing award categories.

From sustainability to outreach, this safety minded team focuses on inclusion and grace. They further impressed the judges with their year round sustainability plan to excite, attract, and recruit people. They embrace and comfort all their members to let them feel included. This team showed the height of fashion on the field with a pair of vivid blue suits and light brown Oxfords.

Congratulations team 5016 Huntington Robotics from Huntington NY!

The Entrepreneurship Award celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan in order to define, manage, and achieve the team's ongoing objectives.

This team displays entrepreneurial enthusiasm as well as demonstrates the vital planning and business skills to ensure a selfsustaining program.

One team soared above in their quest to build their team:

Assisting students, parents, and teachers to understand the benefits of STEM,

Teaching sponsors about their impact,

Providing inspiration for joining FIRST, through exciting Twitch and YouTube content.

With membership nearly doubled, this team's strategy of "ATP" leaves their city (and community) better than they found it.

They are the STEEL HAWKS!

Congratulations Team 2601!

The Team Spirit Award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork furthering the objectives of FIRST.

After 2 years of pandemic silence, it was good to hear the loud cheers of this team. Their enthusiasm at the competition is reflected by their work at home, where they empower women and have their sights set on outreach to institutions and universities with social media and workshops. This team sustained a high level of enthusiasm, from their arrival in the US to their well-executed traverses.

Congratulations Team 6402, GOKTURKLER!

The Excellence in Engineering Award celebrates the team that demonstrates a professional approach to the design process, and whose design is elegant and advantageous on the field of play.

These engineering thoroughbreds run wild outside the big city. From transmission design to sensor-guided shots and sensor-controlled climbing, this team works as a family from 6 pm Dinner to the Rapid React Playing Field.

Congratulations Team 3314, Mechanical Mustangs!

The Gracious Professionalism^® Award celebrates outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism, working together both on and off the field of play. The winning team exemplifies the principles of FIRST: fairness, humility, positivity, and respect.

In addition to Gracious Professionalism on the field, this team has shown what it means to be a gracious host. Answering the call from the other side of the planet, they demonstrated the true global nature of FIRST core values. We are "all fired up" to announce the Tech Valley High School Dragons as our Gracious Professionalism award winner.

Congratulations, Team 5881 from Albany NY!

The Creativity Award sponsored by Rockwell Automation celebrates creativity that enhances strategy of play and was intentionally designed and not discovered.

This magnetic team was chomping at the "bait" for the low goal. They are a true triple threat with their design, creativity, and on-field performance, who caused their competition to see double. Brooklyn brings it home!

Congratulations Team 333 MEGALODONS from Brooklyn NY!

The Quality Award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication. Building the robot is only part of their success and the judges recognize them as a quality example to others.

This team traveled to great heights to bring their product to the FIRST Robotics competition. This robot has outstanding performance and reliability, and demonstrates outstanding quality. They blasted off from the plains of earth to reach the heavens of achievement. ROCKET WHAT?

Congratulations Team 20, The Rocketeers from Clifton Park, NY!

The Innovation in Control Award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components - electrical, mechanical, or software - to provide unique machine functions.

This team's control system is a culmination of attributes that positively affect all facets of the game. Their integrated design approach proved extremely efficient and was very successful. From Autonomous to Tele-operated to End Game, this team swooped over their competition like a bird of prey.

Congratulations Team 1493, the Falcons from Albany, NY!

The Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford celebrates the team that has demonstrated consistent, reliable, high-performance robot operation during autonomously managed actions. Evaluation is based on the robot's ability to sense its surroundings, position itself or onboard mechanisms appropriately, and execute tasks.

Without a pilot, the robot moved to pick up lost cargo. With a high level of precision, it adjusted course to make sure the cargo arrived at the correct location. The team travelled far to compete at our event. In fact, you might think they are from another planet.

Congratulations Team 2614, Mountaineer Area Robotics (M.A.R.S.) from Morgantown, WV!

The Imagery Award is in honor of Jack Kamen, Dean's father, for his dedication to art, illustration, and his devotion to FIRST. This award celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.

You might say that this team was a howling success. Their robot matched color-coordinated visuals with superior performance on the field. At the end of the day, we were all thinking: "Yo, I don't want to fight Cerberus."

Congratulations, Team 5484, Career Academy Robotics - Wolf Pack from South Bend, IN!