Good Hope Middle School wins second straight North Alabama BEST Robotics competition, Fairview High also advances

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Good Hope Middle School won its second consecutive North Alabama BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics competition at Wallace State Community College on Friday.
Good Hope Middle School, competing in only its third BEST event, earned high marks in every competition category to claim the overall award. Meanwhile, Fairview High School prevailed in the BEST game portion performed on Friday at Tom Drake Coliseum. With their impressive performances, Good Hope Middle and Fairview each advance to Auburn University to compete at the South’s BEST Regional on Dec. 5-6. Both teams will be among 54 schools represented from six states at the South’s BEST event.
“Good Hope Middle was a half point away here and there from winning many categories. They didn’t win an award other than the overall BEST award, and that’s the one that mattered the most. They excelled in every area as a group and organization,” said Wallace State’s Todd Hardman, a first-year North Alabama BEST coordinator and the college’s Engineering Technology department chair. “Seeing the excitement and observing the skills we saw today, it proves why we get into education. It’s why we teach. It’s a satisfying event for all of us.”
The annual North Alabama BEST Robotics competition features some of the more talented middle and high school students to the college. 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.
Cullman Area Technical Academy, Cullman Middle School, Fairview High, Good Hope High, Good Hope Middle School, Hartselle Junior High School, Holly Pond High and Oneonta Middle School competed in this year’s event.
The BEST Game Day theme this year was “Pay Dirt.”
The overall BEST Award won by Good Hope Middle School measures all aspects of the event. Good Hope High School finished second overall and Cullman Area Tech Academy was third.
Following Fairview High in the BEST game completion was Holly Pond in second place and Hartselle Junior High in third.
Other BEST trophies were presented at the conclusion of the event. Sportsmanship, pep bands and mascots were among the other aspects judged.
Fairview won the Founder’s Award and the IGUS Top Gun Award.
Holly Pond earned trophies for the Most Robust Machine and BEST team exhibit and interview.
Good Hope High won the BEST marketing presentation award, BEST spirit and sportsmanship award, BEST pep band and BEST T-shirt design.
Hartselle Junior High reeled in awards in BEST Simulink Design, BEST project engineering notebook, BEST software design and simulation and BEST mascot.
The Cullman Area Tech Academy earned Wallace State’s 2015 Team of Distinction Award.
Oneonta Middle School, competing in its first ever BEST event, won the Wallace State Rookie of the Year Award and the blood, sweat and duct tape award.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.

Cullman Middle School’s Cy Lambert discusses instructions with a classmate during the BEST game day competition.
Cullman Middle School’s Cy Lambert discusses instructions with a classmate during the BEST game day competition.

Cullman Middle's Wil Stallings directs the school’s robot during the BEST game day competition on Friday.
Cullman Middle’s Wil Stallings directs the school’s robot during the BEST game day competition on Friday.

Fairview High’s Aggie performs during one of the mascot dance-off songs.
Fairview High’s Aggie performs during one of the mascot dance-off songs.

Good Hope Middle School students celebrate their overall BEST award after Friday’s competition.
Good Hope Middle School students celebrate their overall BEST award after Friday’s competition.

Hartselle Junior High student David Orr instructs which direction to maneuver the school’s robot during the North Alabama BEST event.
Hartselle Junior High student David Orr instructs which direction to maneuver the school’s robot during the North Alabama BEST event.

Hartselle’s Tiger won the mascot competition.
Hartselle’s Tiger won the mascot competition.

Holly Pond junior Alex Parker zones in on the school’s robot during the final round of the 2015 North Alabama BEST Robotics event.
Holly Pond junior Alex Parker zones in on the school’s robot during the final round of the 2015 North Alabama BEST Robotics event.

 
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722    256-352-8443 direct
Russell.Moore@wallacestate.edu
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
 
Kristen Holmes
Communications & Marketing Director, and
Administrator, The Evelyn Burrow Museum
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722