Alabama A&M University will serve as the new host for the South’s BEST Robotics Championship on December 13-14, 2024, marking the first time an HBCU has hosted the prestigious event. The South’s BEST Robotics program, which stands for Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology, inspires middle and high school students through hands-on projects that cultivate interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The championship encourages teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving by providing a platform for students to design, build, and program robots.
BEST Robotics is a leading national initiative with 50 local competitions across 18 states, involving more than 850 middle and high schools and engaging over 18,000 students nationwide. The competition will bring more than 1,200 students, teachers, and family members from across the Southern region to campus for an exciting weekend of innovation and learning.
BEST students learn to analyze and solve problems using the Engineering Design Process, which helps them develop technological literacy skills that industry seeks in its workforce. Students take part in competitions within their local BEST Hub throughout the Fall. The winning teams will then compete for the Southern Region at Alabama A&M University’s Agribition Center. The mission is to excite students about engineering, science, and technology as well as to inspire them to pursue careers in these fields.
“The College of Education, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences is always happy to support programs that provide hands-on, out-of-school experiences for pre-college students,” said Dr. Peter Eley, Dean of the College of Education, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences. “The more opportunities students get to exercise their brilliance in various forms, the more confidence and strength they gain in the process. Pre-service students gain many things from these experiences, such as teamwork, computer programming, and building resiliency as part of their overall skill set. We are delighted that Toyota, TVA, and Alabama Technology in Motion have partnered with us to bring this experience to the Greater Huntsville area on our beautiful campus.”
For more information, contact Aundria Campbell AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center Director TV BEST Hub Director South’s BEST Regional Director at aundria.campbell@aamu.edu or
256-929-9009.
