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 mythological team really impressed the judges with their perseverance.
Winner  22138 Talos – from Gary, 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  22478 Trojan Thunder – from Highland, IN
Second Place  20689 Battle Ground Robotics – from West Lafayette, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team comes to light with a robot that sets things right.
Winner  22444 Revelation – from Lafayette, 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 22138 Talos – from Gary, IN
Second Place  14084 [Insert Name Here] – from Frankfort, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team motivated the judges to put in the work. There was no guessing when it came to choosing this winner. The judges were precise in choosing team 17012 Precision Guessworks.
Winner 17012 Precision Guessworks – from Lafayette, 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 12014 FireWires – from Granger, IN
Second Place 13377 Blackout – from Dyer, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team’s controls system GLOWED with hard work and dedication. The team’s research and implementation were the NUCLEUS of their success. Their robot’s impact in their matches was completely RADIOACTIVE.
Winner 11992 Radioactivity – from Merrillville, 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 12014 FireWires – from Granger, IN
Second Place 17012 Precision Guessworks – from Lafayette, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
As darkness descends on the region, this team takes the field with their robot that is as flexible as a pool noodle.
Winner 13377 Blackout – from Dyer, 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 22138 Talos – from Gary, IN
Second Place 14084 [Insert Name Here] – from Frankfort, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team’s excitement for FIRST is AMAZING. The time they spend connecting their community and school has them running around in circles. This team is not three blind mice but they are four Lab Rats.
Winner 13750 The Lab Rats – from Gary, 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  11992 Radioactivity – from Merrillville, IN
Second Place 8272 CC Sparks – from Lafayette, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team’s cone manipulator went through many creative iterations from its VERY BEGINNING to its current design. Their documentation really CHARGED UP their portfolio. Hopefully this award will be the GENESIS of their future success.
Winner 11272 Genesis – from Lafayette, IN
Finalist Alliance
Captain 22444 Revelation – from Lafayette, IN
1st Pick 11272 Genesis – from Lafayette, IN
Winning Alliance
Captain 22138 Talos – from Gary, IN
1st Pick 13377 Blackout – from Dyer, 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 11272 Genesis – from Lafayette, IN
Second Place 535 TOBOR – from Crawfordsville, IN
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team has worked tirelessly in their community to spread the power of STEM education. From local events to statewide initiatives, these kids are on fire and these kids are wired differently.
Winner 12014 FireWires – from Granger, IN