Robotics Competition Teaches Students Teamwork

October 21, 2012

Robots raced against time as students from Northwest Florida competed Saturday at the sixth annual Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition at the University of West Florida Field House.

Middle and high school students competed at the competition sponsored by Gulf Power Company. The event pits teams from area Northwest Florida schools in a head-to-head competition to teach teamwork, problem solving, project management and pride in task completion.

BEST Robotics Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition.

“Gulf Power believes the competition teaches students practical engineering, science and math skills, which are critical for their future,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson. “But the event also teaches the students to work together as a team, to organize projects, to market their work and to creatively solve problems.”

It takes several volunteers to organize the event. Jennifer Grove, Workforce Development coordinator for Gulf Power, has served on the steering committee since the program started in 2006.

“Competitions like this are critical to engage students in project-based learning that will excite them about and inspire them to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Grove. “Students have so much fun designing, building and troubleshooting the robot that they often aren’t aware of the critical STEM skills they’re practicing through this program.”

Each student team has six weeks to design and build a remote-controlled robot to solve a problem or perform a specific function. This year’s theme, WARP XX, was based on the goal of building robots capable of transporting cargo and equipment onto a Space Elevator tower during three-minute matches.

“The competition is exciting and it makes school fun,” said Nathan Sams from Newpoint High School.

Each team was judged on its robot performance, marketing presentation, team exhibit, technical notebook and spirit and sportsmanship. The 22 schools from across Northwest Florida participated in the University of West Florida Emerald Coast BEST hub and the top schools will advance to the regional competition Dec. 1 and 2 at Auburn University.

Area schools have been competing in BEST since 2004, when Gulf Power sponsored eight local teams to compete in the BEST hub in Mobile, Ala. The funding of hub operations depends entirely on corporate and individual sponsorships. Materials kits to build the robots are provided to the teams by the hub. No fees are paid by students or schools participating in BEST robotics.

2012 Winners

Robotics Award: Awarded to the teams whose machines finish first, second, and third in the tournament bracket.

  1. Seaside Neighborhood Middle School
  2. Woodham Middle School
  3. Pensacola High School

Best Robotics Finalist: Awarded to the team whose machine finished 4th.

  • Newpoint Pensacola High School

Founders Award for Creative Design: Newpoint Pensacola High School

Most Robust Machine: Pensacola High School

Most Photogenic Machine: Woodlawn Beach Middle School

Gulf Power Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award: Baker School

Best Tee-shirt Design

  1. Sims Middle School
  2. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  3. Newpoint Pensacola High School

Best Spirit and Sportsmanship:

  1. Seaside Neighborhood Middle School
  2. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  3. Woodham Middle School

Best Team Exhibit and Interview:

  1. Seaside Neighborhood School
  2. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  3. Woodham Middle School

Best Project Notebook:

  1. Seaside Neighborhood Middle School
  2. Newpoint Pensacola High School
  3. Bethlehem K-12

Best Marketing Presentation

  1. Seaside Neighborhood School
  2. Woodham Middle School
  3. Bruner Middle School

Web Page Design Award: Newpoint Pensacola High School

BEST Award: The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology” in its development which include teamwork, diversity of participation, sportsmanship, creativity, ethics, positive attitude/enthusiasm, school/community involvement and exposure to and use of the engineering process:

  • Seaside Neighborhood Middle School
  • Woodham Middle School
  • Newpoint Pensacola High School

2012 Teams:

  • Arnold High School
  • Avalon Middle School
  • Bailey Middle School
  • Baker School K-12
  • Bethlehem
  • Bruner Middle School
  • Deane Bozeman K-12
  • Everitt Middle School
  • Freeport High School
  • Milton High School
  • Newport Pensacola High School
  • Pace High School
  • Pensacola High School
  • Pine Forest High School
  • Ransom Middle School
  • Seaside Neighborhood
  • Sims Middle School
  • Tate High School
  • West Florida High School
  • Woodham Middle School
  • Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  • Workman Middle School

Pictured top: Students race to lift cargo up to the Space Elevator with the robots at the 2012 BEST Robotics competition. Pictured inset:  Seaside Neighborhood Middle School won the BEST award and will advance to the regional competition at Auburn University in December. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Robotics Competition Teaches Students Teamwork”

  1. Grandmother on October 22nd, 2012 2:34 pm

    way to go Newpoint. Proud to have a grandson participating.

  2. Mike on October 22nd, 2012 6:58 am

    CONGRATULATIONS to the Newpoint Robotics Team. We are heading to Auburn for the regional competition.

    Everybody involved did a GREAT JOB!!!!!! We went from 0 points last year to the Auburn Regionals this year.

  3. Google2012 on October 21st, 2012 9:26 am

    GREAT JOB SHARKS!!!!! WERE HEADING TO AUBURN FOR STATE COMPETITION!!!! VERY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS!!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News