"This year the Chairman's Award goes to a team that truly embodies the mission of FIRST: spreading their contagious fervor for math, science, and technology. However, for this team, the road to accomplishing such a goal has not been easy. They have overcome the challenges of growing up in a poor community. They have also survived the absence of core mentors, advisors, and veteran student members. Regardless, this team pulled together and reevaluated their objectives. In doing so, they were able to establish partnerships on all levels - working with local schools, universities, and even Congress. The viability of their impact can be seen in their faces, painted with moons and stars. It can also be seen in their relentless efforts to help, aid, and mentor other teams. In fact, you can find them working until midnight! Their emergency finance and open lines of communication acts as a vital resource for other teams - not to mention the Team San Diego coalition. Finally, it can also be seen in their community. Without a doubt, they "returned to the nuts and bolts" of their organization and, along the way, made "BUDDY-ies" and took "STEPS" towards meeting the needs of their community."
JUDGES' STATEMENT
2008 San Diego Regional

Since 2001, the Midnight Mechanics have been dedicated towards providing exemplary service to our community. We maintain a focus in spreading and instilling an excitement for math, science, and technology among the youth - and, without any reservation, it has been a blast!

We are very fortunate to earn recognition for our work within the FIRST community. However, at the end of the day, we maintain that it is not about the awards. As students, we are committed to the mission of FIRST simply because it has touched our lives and has given us the means to succeed. While it feels amazing to hold the medals in our hands and to display the trophies at our pit, our pride comes from knowing we arrived to this point through the integrity of our work - work done by the STUDENTS - and through our continued unity and relentless refusal to give up.

2011 - DAIMLER TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
Silicon Valley Regional

2010 - GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM AWARD
Las Vegas Regional

2009 - ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
San Diego Regional

2009 - ROCKWELL AUTOMATION INNOVATION IN CONTROL AWARD
Arizona Regional

2009 - ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
Arizona Regional

2008 - CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
San Diego Regional

2007 - ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
San Diego Regional

2006 - CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
Southern California Regional

2005 - CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
Southern California Regional

2004 - ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
National Championships, Atlanta, Georgia

2004 - ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
Southern California Regional

2003 - JUDGES' AWARD
Arizona Regional

2003 - DAIMLER TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
Southern California Regional

2002 - ALL STAR ROOKIE AWARD
Southern California Regional

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