By Robert Dodd, WOAI.com robotics correspondent
SAN ANTONIO – Last Saturday, 29 middle and high schools converged on St Mary’s University for the SA BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) competition. This contest is held annually to inspire and interest students in the fields of science and engineering. With guidance from adult mentors, local teams of students designed and built remote controlled machines to accomplish specific tasks.
View the Slideshow...Six weeks before the competition each team received their objective and a box of parts. The students get no instructions on what or how to build their robot. Each team’s box had identical parts and supplies, and they could only use what was in the box. The teams then designed, built and programmed their robots to complete the objectives.
During competition, only the students could work on their bots. The teachers could only advise. Each team had six 3-minute rounds to complete the objectives with only about 30 minutes between rounds to modify, repair or redesign their failures.
A student from the first place team received a $50,000 scholarship to St. Mary’s and one student from the 2nd place team got a $40,000 scholarship.
The majority of the teams were high school age, but there also four middle schools competing. The photos
in the slideshow with the kids in the black shirts with bright green lettering “Wrangler Wrobotics” are from Spring Branch middle school. Mr. Mann was their teacher/advisor. Although they did not place, they did receive the ‘Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape’ award for never giving up.
It was amazing to watch them succeed and/or fail an objective in one round, go back to their pits, find a solution, and come back and do better in the next round.
San Antonio BEST Award Results...
- United Engineering and Technology Magnet*
- Robert E Lee High School*
- Saint Mary's Hall School*
- Alamo Home School*
Competition Results...
- Robert E Lee High School*
- Saint Mary's Hall School*
- Lutheran High School of San Antonio*
- Alamo Home School*
- United Engineering and Technology Magnet*
- Lyndon B Johnson High School (Laredo)*
- John Jay Science and Engineering Academy
- William Howard Taft High School
* Teams advancing to Texas BEST from SA BEST
Other Awards...
Founders Award - Robert E Lee High School and Lyndon B Johnson High School (Laredo)
Most Robust - Lutheran High School of San Antonio
Good Lookin' John Wigand Most Photogenic - Lackland Middle School
Best Table Display and Interview - Navarro High School
Most Spirit and Sportsmanship - United Engineering and Technology Magnet
BEST T-shirt - Stacey High School
BEST Use of Game Theme - Holy Cross High School
Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape - Spring Branch Middle School
SAME Award - Alamo Home School
BEST Hard Hat - William Howard Taft High School
Congratulations to all that competed!
