The Woodie Flowers Award celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design. It was founded by Dr. William Murphy in 1996 within the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). This prestigious award recognizes mentors who lead, inspire, and empower students using excellent communication skills. The recipient of the award demonstrates outstanding motivation through communication while also encouraging students to be clear and succinct in recognizing the value of effective communication. The Woodie Flowers Award is a way for FRC teams to honor distinguished adult mentors who contribute significantly to the program.