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Wichita Homeschool Takes Top BEST Robotics Awards
(Posted: November 21, 2005) (Printable Version)
Wichita Homeschool of Wichita, Kan., won out over 21 teams from five states and took first place in the BEST Award category and first place in the Robot Competition category in the Frontier Trails BEST Regional Robotics Competition held Nov. 19 at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
Receiving second place in the BEST Award category was Tulsa Engineering Academy at Memorial High School in Tulsa, Okla., with Johnson County Homeschool of Olathe, Kan., in third place. Robot Competition winners included Johnson County Homeschool, second place; Ambassadors for Christ Academy in Bentonville, third place; and Shattuck Junior/Senior High School of Shattuck, Okla., fourth place.
Other awards went to Rose Hill High School, Rose Hill, Kan., BEST Notebook; Wichita Homeschool, BEST Presentation; Alva High School, Alva, Okla., BEST Display; Wichita Homeschool, BEST Spirit; and Ambassadors for Christ Academy, Igus Top Gun Award.
Additional winners were:
Founders Award: Tulsa Engineering Academy at Memorial High School, first place; Alva High School, second place; and Wichita Homeschool, third place.
Most Robust: Wichita Homeschool, first place; Johnson County Homeschool, second place; and Johnson County Westside in Coal Hill, Ark., third place.
Most Elegant: Alva High School, first place; Rose Hill High School, second place; and Green Forest High School, Green Forest, Ark., third place.
Most Photogenic: Rose Hill High School, first place; Tulsa Engineering Academy at Memorial High School, second place; and Lebanon Junior/Senior High School, Lebanon, Mo., third place.
T-Shirt Award: Alva High School, first place; Lindbergh High School, St. Louis, Mo., second place; and Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, third place.
Web Page Award: Lebanon High School, first place; Wichita Homeschool, second place; and Johnson County Homeschool, third place.
John Martini, co-director of the Frontier Trails BEST Regional Robotics Competition, called the first year for the regional event “an overwhelming success.”
“From the comments of students, coaches, sponsors, mentors, parents and visitors, it was obvious that everyone enjoyed the great hospitality of the City of Fort Smith and the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith,” Martini said. “I was able to interface with most of all the students, teachers and parents and received nothing but great compliments and encouragement. Some of these teams have been in BEST for a number of years and reflected on how much they liked our venue and organization.”
Martini said the quality of students was “outstanding.”
“They were well behaved, respectful and the highest caliber of a college prospect,” Martini said.
Martini said he also received encouraging words from other regional event representatives, as well as from BEST Robotics Inc.
“Mr. Lee Howard, the director of the BEST Robotics Inc., was also present and he was extremely pleased and proud of our efforts,” said Martini. “I want to personally thank the City of Fort Smith and UA Fort Smith for allowing me the privilege of directing this great event and their generous support in making it a reality. Our future engineers, scientists and technologists were participating this past weekend in an event that more than likely will be a springboard for their careers. I feel humbled and awed that we had a part in it.”
The robotics competitions are held nationwide under the BEST — Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology — heading. The theme of this year’s competitions was “Mission to the Hubble” and involved repairing the Hubble space telescope.
The BEST concept began in Grayson County, Texas, in 1993 and involved only 15 schools. Today, there are 28 hubs nationwide with two to four hubs being added each year. Each hub handles approximately 24 teams and uses the same kit, game, schedule and rules. Top teams from local contests advanced to regional hubs, like the one held at UA Fort Smith.
| Article by: Sondra LaMar, Director of Public Relations | |
| Photo(s) by: Jamie Mitchell of Jamie Mitchell Photography |
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