UWF hosts 2015 Emerald Coast BEST robotics competition

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Rowley Assistant Director of University Communications University of West Florida Office: Cell: UWF hosts 2015 Emerald Coast BEST robotics competition Pensacola, Fla. Nov. 7, 2015 The University of West Florida College of Science and Engineering hosted the eighth annual Emerald Coast BEST robotics competition at the UWF Field House on Saturday. Student teams from 18 area high schools and middle schools participated in Pay Dirt, a competition in which each team designed and built a robotic system to repair a simulated mine and retrieve its resources. The teams were evaluated based on robot performance, notebooks, marketing presentation, team exhibit, spirit and sportsmanship. Advancing to Regional Robotics Championship at South s BEST Hosted by Auburn University on Dec. 5 and 6, 2015 Robot: Pace High School BEST 1: Seaside Neighborhood School BEST 2: Woodham Middle School BEST Award The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology in its development, which include teamwork, diversity of participation, sportsmanship, creativity, ethics, positive attitude and enthusiasm, school and community involvement, and exposure to and use of the engineering process. The first-place winner of the 2015 BEST Award was Seaside Neighborhood School, followed by Woodham Middle School in second-place and Woodlawn Beach Middle School in third-place. Robotics Award Awarded to the teams whose machines finish first, second and third in the tournament bracket. The first-place winner of the robotics award was Pace High School, followed by Tate High School in second-place and Seaside Neighborhood School in third-place. Dr. Bradley Regez, program manager and instructor for the UWF Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, leads the Emerald Coast BEST steering committee. Dr. Mohamed Khabou, associate professor and chair of the UWF Department of Electrical

2 and Computer Engineering, is also a part of the committee along with several other University and community representatives. Each year that I am given the chance to participate in the Emerald Coast hub, it s an opportunity to help students learn, said Regez. These kinds of competitions are great for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math because they provide opportunities for hands-on experience and seeing a project from start to finish. Sponsors for the 2015 competition included AT&T; Gulf Power; the Northwest Florida chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and International Paper. R. Vaughn Nichols, key account manager at Gulf Power, is one of many volunteers that are important to the event s success. The annual competition is coordinated through BEST Inc., a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. Its name stands for Boosting Engineering Science and Technology, and its mission is to inspire middle and high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in the sports-like robotics competition. The Emerald Coast BEST hub is the only one in Florida. The hub is funded completely by corporate and individual sponsorships, which provide each team with a material kit to build the robots. No fees are paid by students or schools that participate in the BEST robotics competitions. For additional information about the Emerald Coast BEST robotics competition, visit uwf.edu/ecbest. List of All Award Winners ### Advancing to Regional Robotics Championship: Robot: Pace High School BEST 1: Seaside Neighborhood School BEST 2: Woodham Middle School Robotics Game Award: 1. Pace High School 2. Tate High School 3. Seaside Neighborhood School 4. Woodham Middle School BEST Award: 1. Seaside Neighborhood School

3 2. Woodham Middle School 3. Woodlawn Middle School T-Shirt Design Award: 1. Pace High School 2. Santa Rosa High School BEST Spirit and Sportsmanship: 2. Seaside Neighborhood School Best Team Exhibits and Interview: 2. Seaside Neighborhood School Best Marketing Presentation: 1. Seaside Neighborhood School 2. Woodham Middle School 3. Pensacola High School Best Project Engineering Notebook: 2. Creative Learning Academy 3. Seaside Neighborhood School Software Design and Simulation Award: 1. Tate High School 2. Creative Learning Academy Founders Award for Creative Design: Seaside Neighborhood School Most Robust Machine: Episcopal Day School Most Photogenic Machine: Woodlawn Beach Middle School Gulf Power Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award: Pensacola High School Web Page Design Award: Episcopal Day School -- Participating Schools Avalon Middle School Brown-Barge Middle School

4 Creative Learning Academy Episcopal Day School Little Flower Catholic School Pensacola Catholic High School Pensacola High School Pace High School Ransom Middle School Santa Rosa High School Seacoast Collegiate High School Seaside Neighborhood School South Walton High School Stone Soup Homeschool Co-op Tate High School West Florida High School Woodham Middle School Woodlawn Beach Middle School About the University of West Florida: Founded in 1963, the University of West Florida is a vibrant, distinctive institution of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate and targeted research programs. With multiple locations in Northwest Florida, the University serves a student population of more than 12,000. Dedicated to helping students realize their full potential, UWF favors small class sizes with quality teacher-scholars who deliver personalized, innovative, hands-on learning and leadership opportunities.

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