ASU Hosts Robotic Event for High Schoolers in Central Alabama!

Students construct their project's robot for the inaugural competition hosted by ASU in 2019 (photo credit: David Campbell/ASU).

ASU Hosts Citywide/Central Alabama High School Robotics Competition Kickoff on Campus

- Its purpose is to boost engineering, science & technology skills.

WHEN: Today (Sept. 9) from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: ASU’s Acadome

WHAT: Public/private middle & high school students come together at ASU. 

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU

Some of Montgomery and Central Alabama’s best and brightest public and private middle and high school students come together today (Thursday/Sept. 9) as Alabama State University hosts the in-person kickoff event for the area’s yearly “B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition” (Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology). The 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. kickoff will take place in the ASU Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

"Each year, the national B.E.S.T. Robotics organization designs a new game for the students to use in their competition that is centered on a real-world problem. This year’s event, which is titled 'Demo-Daze,’ requires students to build a robot that can demolish an object," said Dr. Cadavious Jones, an ASU mathematics associate professor and the director of the B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition in Montgomery.

"We hope that the creation of a robot made by the student teams to demolish an object will excite the teams to showcase their best talent and STEM knowledge in this fall’s event," Jones said. 

The University has hosted this annual event since its debut in 2019. Jones explained that while the leadership of the Montgomery event is a committee housed at ASU, it is also composed of members from various areas of local industry, businesses and education.  

“We continue to see competitive events such as football and basketball return in some form or another as in-person events, and math and science is no different. The B.E.S.T. Competition is simply another example of ASU's ability to be an educational leader while encouraging future Hornets to develop skills that are vital to industry,” said Jones. “The students who compete in our robotic competition desire to do the same as any athlete, which is to showcase their skill and ability as they perform at a high level.” 

BACKGROUND ON THE B.E.S.T. ROBOTICS COMPETITION
 

The B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition (BEST), hosted by Alabama State University, serves as the local hub for middle and high school students in Montgomery and Central Alabama. It is part of a national program with local competition sites located in several states. The competition provides students with a real-world problem, challenging them to develop a robotic solution, which helps stimulate and enhance their use of science and engineering skills.

Today's event includes, but is not limited to, participants from the following counties: Montgomery, Lowndes, Macon, Autauga, Elmore and Lee. 

Registration begins each year in late spring and ends on Kickoff Day, which is today, Sept. 9.

Winning schools from the Montgomery BEST competition will advance to the regional South’s BEST competition, which encompasses the entire Southeast and is hosted by Auburn University in early December. Regional winners will then compete in the nationals. 

GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITION

Jones said that the event's guidelines allow any school to participate regardless of its socioeconomic status, size or location. Public, private and homeschool groups are welcomed to participate.

“The students are the primary participants and benefactors in the competition and perform all of the work. Engineers and other technical and educational professionals from local entities are allowed to only serve as team mentors,” Jones said.

It is designed to help foster an interest in engineering education and careers in middle and high school students. There is no costs or fees to participate.

"ASU is proud to be at the forefront of encouraging local students to have an interest and becoming involved in boosting engineering, science and technology-related projects, studies and careers," Jones added.

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104. 

TEAM ROOSTER FOR 2021

• The Montgomery Academy
• Wetumpka High School
• Stanhope Elmore High School
• Lanett High School
• Jefferson Davis High School
• Billingsley High School
• Davidson High School
• East Alabama
• Eastwood/Cornerstone Schools
• Glenwood School
• Bullock County High School
• Johnnie R. Carr Middle School
• Saraland High School
• McKee Middle/Lanier High School
• Jordan Vocational High School 
• And more.