Grove City College is hosting the regional BEST Pittsburgh Regional Robotics Competition for middle and high school students this weekend.
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) challenges teams of students to build a robot to complete a series of actions framed as a game and presented in a venue that resembles a big sporting event more than a science fair.
Students will present marketing displays and team exhibits highlighting their robots beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, March 1 in the Physical Learning Center and the Hall of Arts and Letters on campus.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2 the teams put their ‘bots to the test against the competition in the College Arena in the Physical Learning Center. All events are free and open to the public. Those who turn out for game day will be treated to a high-energy, high-stakes competition that’s unlikely anything else.
BEST Robotics competitions seek to utilize friendly competition to teach students problem solving skills and boost excitement about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The BEST Robotics program also gives students the opportunity to learn valuable skills in design and marketing, and to see where those areas coincide with engineering. The program is free and open to all students of public, private and home schools.
The regional event this weekend at the College brings together winning teams from three BEST competitions held last year: Grove City College BEST, Penn State Dubois BEST, and Falcon BEST, which was held at Bowling Green (Ohio) State University.
Schools participating in the competition are: Christian Life Academy, Union Area High School, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Grove City High School, Grove City Homeschoolers, Family Instructors of the Northern Suburbs, Maumee Valley Country Day School, St. Ursula Academy, St. Francis de Sales School, Hamilton Southeastern, Dubois High School, Mentor Christian School and Redbank Valley High School,.
Grove City College BEST is one of two BEST Hubs in Pennsylvania. The event serves as an opportunity for the College to showcase its nationally ranked engineering program. Dr. Mike Bright, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the College, began Wolverine BEST at Grove City College and now serves as a board member of the national organization.