Which of the following is included as a criterion in the EI/Impact Award rubric?

• A. Robot speed
• B. Funding amount
• C. Gracious Professionalism
• D. Number of team meetings

Answer: (C)

Gracious Professionalism is included in the EI/Impact Award rubric because this award values how teams conduct themselves and influence others through engineering. It emphasizes respectful collaboration, fair play, helpfulness, and clear, ethical communication—both within the team and in outreach or interactions with other teams, mentors, volunteers, and the community. This behavior and culture, demonstrated at events and through outreach, show the engineering influence beyond just the robot itself.

Robot speed, funding amount, and the number of team meetings are not criteria used to judge this award. Robot performance is a separate technical measure, funding is a financial factor, and meeting counts are administrative; none directly capture the spirit of inspiring engineering and professional conduct that the EI/Impact rubric seeks to recognize.