The Impact AwardModule 1 of 8

Understanding the Impact Award

Learn what the FIRST Impact Award is, what it recognizes, how it is judged, and what makes a team eligible. This module builds the conceptual foundation before you write a single word.

Understanding the Impact Award is module 1 of 8 in the The Impact Award guide. It picks up where Foundations: Storytelling and Clear Writing left off and hands over to Building the Written Submission. Its 4 lessons are about 110 minutes of the guide's ~14 hours.

4 lessons~110 min30 lessons in this guide

Start with lesson 1 All of The Impact Award

In this module

4 lessons

01What the Impact Award Is and Why It MattersAn introduction to FRC's most prestigious award, its history as the Chairman's Award, and what it recognizes.25 min read

02Eligibility and the Two-Tier Competition SystemWho can win the award, why first-year teams are excluded, and how it is contested at Regionals versus Districts.25 min read

03How Judges Evaluate SubmissionsInside the official judging guidelines: the three impact areas, how judges narrow the field, and what separates winners.30 min read

04The Official Definitions: Speak the Judges' LanguageMaster the FIRST Impact Award action verbs (Started, Mentored, Hosted, Reached, Advocated, and more) so your claims count.30 min read

Previous moduleFoundations: Storytelling and Clear Writing

Next moduleBuilding the Written Submission

Jargon check

FRC terms used in Understanding the Impact Award

Impact AwardFRC's most prestigious award (formerly the Chairman's Award), honoring the team that best embodies FIRST's mission and impact.

Longer reads

Articles that go deeper on this

How to Win the FIRST Impact Award (FRC's Most Prestigious Award)What the FIRST Impact Award is, how it's judged, and how to write the essay, executive summaries, and pitch that win it — the most prestigious award in FRC.7 min read

All 8 modules in The Impact Award

Department overview