Good Hope Middle School, Holly Pond High prevail as North Alabama BEST Robotics top teams, both advance to Auburn University

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Good Hope Middle School and Holly Pond High School stole the show at the 2014 North Alabama BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics competition, held recently at Wallace State Community College’s Tom Drake Coliseum.
In only its second year of competition, Good Hope Middle school capped off an impressive showing by earning the overall BEST award. Meanwhile, Holly Pond won its second straight BEST game competition and advances to Auburn University with Good Hope Middle to compete at the South’s BEST Regional on Dec. 5-7. Both teams will be among 54 schools represented from six states at the South’s BEST event.
The annual North Alabama BEST Robotics competition features some of the more talented middle and high school students in the area. Teams have to focus on effectively operating their robots on the game floor amidst the pure energy and enthusiasm demonstrated within the walls at the coliseum. Teams also present marketing plans to a panel of judges prior to the event and set up booths on game day promoting their product.
“I was really impressed this year with the level of competition among the teams. The level of corporate support increased significantly this year. I noticed a lot more corporate logs on the team booths and materials,” said Wallace State Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges. “I am glad to see that industry leaders are beginning to realize the importance of BEST on education. The team spirit was also very evident this year with the huge amount of spectators.”
Holly Pond High, Good Hope Middle School, Good Hope High, Hartselle Junior High School, Cullman Middle School, Meek High, Cullman High, Fairview High and Cullman Area Career Center competed in this year’s event.
The BEST Game Day theme this year was “Blade Runner.”
The overall BEST Award won by Good Hope Middle School measures all aspects of the event. Good Hope High School finished second overall and Holly Pond High was third.
Holly Pond continued to prevail during the BEST game competition to punch its ticket to Auburn. Good Hope Middle finished second behind Holly Pond and Fairview was third.
Other BEST trophies were presented at the conclusion of the event. Sportsmanship, pep bands and mascots were among the other aspects judged at the event, turning the coliseum into a boisterous venue.
Good Hope High won BEST pep band and mascot, while Holly Pond took home plaques for best spirit and sportsmanship, most robust machine, the top gun award and best T-shirt.
Fairview High won the Founders Award and blood, sweat and duct tape top honors.
Good Hope Middle School won BEST marketing award, the BEST exhibit and interview and the team of distinction.
Meek High School was named the rookie team of the year.
“The 2014 North Alabama BEST turned out to be an amazing display of the tremendously talented students in each school,” said Wallace State’s Kelley Jones, the North Alabama BEST coordinator and Adult Education Director on campus. “The judges made several comments at the level of excellence within each area of the competition.  They all definitely made it a rather difficult decision to choose winners.”
Volunteers for this year’s event included individuals from Wallace State, Topre, REHAU, Yutaka, the Alabama Career Center, Wells Fargo, American Control Service, the Cullman Economic Development office and the Cullman County Economic Development office.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.