The national NARI office also sponsors a CotY award competition and entries are first judged on a regional basis. Winners from this level advance to the final round where they compete with 7 other regional winners in each category. The contiguous United States, Hawaii and Alaska are divided up into 8 regions. Similar to the local level, judging is based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.