“The BEST experience is like an education greenhouse;
what happens during six weeks of competition
would take an entire year in the classroom.”~ Science Teacher, Hoover (AL)

Middle and High School Robotics Competition
Take plywood, PVC pipe of various sizes,
threaded rod, a box filled with screws
and other hardware, an irrigation valve
cover, piano wire, aluminum paint grid, abicycle inner tube, something called a“micro-energy chain system,” anassortment of other odds-and-ends,ends, andgive it all to a team of students with thechallenge to design and build afunctioning, competitive robot in siix
x
short weeks.

What do you get?

BESTBoosting Engineering,
Science and Technology• the excitement of a basketballgame• the strategy of a chess match• the intellectuua
al challenge of ascience fair• the pressure of a competitive
sporting event…plus hundreds of screaming
fans, pep bands, cheerleaders,music, dancing, and mascots

Our mission – to engage, excite,
and inspire students to pursue
careers in engineering, science,and technology throughparticipation in a sports-likelikebased
science- and engineering-basedrobotics competition.

Our Core Values•

Students
ents are the sole participants andprimary decision-makers,makers, designers, andbuilders•

Any student may participate•

The program is free to schools—no fee•

Equipment and materials are provided
at no cost to participating schools•

Any school may participate regardless oftype, size, location, location, orsocioeconomic status

Our Core Objectives•

Provide students with a real-world
world engineeringexperience that incorporates the practicalapplication of math and science•

Prepare students to be technologically literate andthus better prepared to enter the workforce•

Help students develop leadership, project
management, teamwork, and organizational skills•

Develop students’ confidence and competence
through self-directed
directed learning, decision
decision-making,abstract thinking, and problem--solving

BEST Facts• 1993 began as a single event
for high schools in Grayson
County, Texas• 1998 non-profit
profit established• 2012 46 community-based
based
sites in 19 states• 2012 Over 4000 volunteers,
850-plus schools, and 12,5
12,500plus students“The students, paarrents,
mentors, community, and I
have become not only a teamduring the 42 days of BEST, but
remain a team throughout theyear.”~ Science Teacher, Mobile, AL

Teams also compete in• oral presentations• technical writing• educational exhibit design• CAD design• website design• video production• spirit
irit and sportsmanship… and more

The Engineering Design Process
The fundamental problem-solving toolBEST teachers and mentors use to help
guide the students through the designand-construction phase of thecompetition.

Engineers and othertechnical professionals
serve a vital role as teammentors, shepherding theteam through the designand construction phase.
By working side-by-ssiidewith an engineer from a
local industry, students
learn what engineers do—engineering is“demystified.”

BEST is less about building robots and more about teaching students how
to analyze and solve problems. What BEST students learn is what industry
needs in its future workforce and what communities need in their futureleaders.

See BEST in AAction!
www.bestinc.org/b_best_reason.php“The BEST ReasReason” video
For more information about B
EST, contact:
BEMs. Janne Ackerman
Executive Director (interim)BEST Robotics, Inc.
janne.ackerman@bestinc.org(469.416.8061)