Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures

Educational Outreach

B.E.S.T.

When you think of students performing at their best, what characteristics come to mind?

Creativity? Motivation? Determination? Resourcefulness? Leadership?

Then imagine the kind of high school students who build robots for competition, using only a box of bits and scraps and the rules of the game to come up with the design. BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a technology contest for high school and junior high students that simulates real world experiences in a sports-like robotics competition. Student teams are given the task of designing, building, testing and reworking a robot in a six-week time frame using only specified materials. The robot must function competitively against other robots on the game field, accomplishing certain tasks and providing defensive maneuvers. The limited time frame and materials simulates the time-to-market and budget constraints of the real world of business. In addition to the robotics competition, students record their activities and strategies and develop a plan to educate the public about engineering and technology, to simulate project management and marketing responsibilities. This part of the competition, known as the BEST Award, equals the robotics awards in importance in the contest.

BEST benefits all of those who participate.

• Students gain by learning time and project management skills as well as developing a sense of accomplishment that can motivate them toward choosing a career in engineering and technology.
  


• Schools benefit from students learning in a fun and exciting environment.
  


• Businesses who partner with schools and invest their time and money into sponsoring BEST hubs benefit from the positive effects of community involvement and especially from the long-term investment toward valuable employees.

Texas Instruments of Sherman Texas developed BEST in 1993 as a way to involve secondary school students and encourage them to pursue careers in engineering and technology. The program was so successful that interest quickly grew, leading to 24 hubs with over 450 teams, involving more than 9000 students, across the U.S. today. NWA BEST formed in Fayetteville in 1998 with as many as 25 teams competing in any given year since then. Local businesses and the School of Engineering at the University of Arkansas provide sponsorship and adult volunteers as organizers and coaches. While most of the teams participating in NWA BEST are located in Northwest Arkansas, several teams have now developed in other parts of the state, especially in the Fort Smith area.

BEST Teams
BEST teams must be sponsored by a public or private secondary school with adult leaders, or coaches, from the school and community. Coaches mentor, guide, teach, team with, and motivate students as they develop their robot and spirit plan. Participation in the BEST competition is free to the school; however, there may be some expenses for travel and spirit activities, which will be the responsibility of the school.

Local Hubs
Competition occurs through a local "hub" of as many as 30 teams. Volunteers from industry, education and the community form the local hub organization, assuming the responsibility of fund raising, publicity, coaching and mentoring and conducting the competition itself. Opportunities for BEST Hub volunteers include:

• Chairman or Co-Chairmen (1-2)
• BEST Board of Director's Representative/Alternative (2)
• Recording Secretary (1)
• Financial Committee
• People Relations Committee
• Kit Committee (1-3)
• Game Committee (10-15 more for events)
• Publicity Committee (1-5)
• Event Committee (1-3)

BEST Volunteer Participants
BEST is a non-profit organization comprised of a 100 % volunteer base. Volunteers are university faculty, post doctoral students, graduate students, undergraduate students, and business people throughout the community. CSPIN has taken an active part in NorthWest Arkansas (NWA) BEST by not only providing volunteers for the events, but also in committee involvement. This year Ken Vickers and Paul Calleja assisted in organizing and implementing game day procedures. During game day, University of Arkansas MRSEC faculty and graduate students filled various positions including refereeing, time keeping, judging and scoring. The lifeline of BEST is its volunteers. CSPIN will continue its efforts with NWA BEST to ensure that this lifeline is always present.

BEST, Inc.
The non-profit, BEST, Inc. serves as the umbrella organization for BEST activities. BEST, Inc. is comprised of representatives from each of the local hubs, and oversees the current regional competition, which is sponsored by and held at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.