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BEST History
The idea for a BEST competition originated several in 1993 when two Texas Instruments (TI) engineers, Ted Mahler and Steve Marum, were serving as guides for Engineering Day at their company site in Sherman, Texas. Together with a group of high school students, they watched a video of freshmen building a robot in Dr. Woody Flowers' class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The high school students were so interested that Ted and Steve said, "Why don't we do this?"
After correspondence with MIT, the idea was presented to TI management. With enthusiastic approval from TI officials, North Texas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) was born. After learning that a San Antonio group had formed a similar program, the two sites decided to form “hubs” (competition sites) and meet for their own version of a “state playoff.”
Since those early years, BEST has steadily grown as word of its excitement and unique ability to demystify science and engineering spread. The following chart provides further evidence of its growth and popularity:
| Year |
Contest |
Hubs |
Schools |
Students |
| 1993 |
PVC Insanity |
2 |
14 |
221 |
| 1994 |
Bumble Rumble |
3 |
23 |
495 |
| 1995 |
TOTALly AweSUM |
5 |
81 |
1005 |
| 1996 |
Block 'n' Load |
6 |
123 |
2000 |
| 1997 |
Dynamite Duel |
7 |
150 |
2400 |
| 1998 |
Toxic Troubles |
11 |
191 |
3128 |
| 1999 |
Rocket Race - The Alien Escape |
14 |
252 |
4130 |
| 2000 |
Pandemonium in the Smithsonian" |
16 |
292 |
4672 |
| 2001 |
RAD to the Core |
20 |
450+ |
5000+ |
| 2002 |
Warp X |
20 |
475+ |
5000+ |
| 2003 |
Transfusion Confusion |
25 |
500+ |
6000+ |
In 1995, Texas BEST became an annual event sponsored by Texas Instruments and Texas A&M University, site of BEST’s regional championship, Texas BEST.
In 1997, BEST organizers incorporated BEST as a non-profit organization, BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI).
In 2001, Accenture and Boeing joined the Texas BEST team as corporate sponsors.
Best Ideals
Attributes of Competition
* Enhances teaching/teacher effectiveness
* Reinforces classroom learning
* Creates real-world academic challenge
* Increases students' interest in science
* Exposes students to new career opportunities
* Provides competition/fun
* Bolsters school spirit
* Builds "community"
* Establishes collaborative partnerships with business/industry
Goals of Competition
* Increase student interest in and pursuit of engineering, science, and technology careers
* Engage students in exciting, fun science-based activity
* Enlist business/industry to become partners in education
* Win The BEST Award
Benefits to Students
* Increases understanding of technical concepts and scientific principles
* Provides real-world engineering challenge
* Encourages abstract thought, self-directed learning, and decision-making
* Provides team building experiences
* Promotes good sportsmanship and ethical conduct
* Instills pride in success
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