The Liberal Arts and Science Academy of Austin, TX |
Quote of the Moment "Coming into college, BEST gave me a strong technical advantage."~ Karthish M |
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Learning Experiences"During the first round of the semifinals, Capitol BEST 2007, LASA's driver had a perfect opportunity to block WATCH's driver from scoring with about 30 seconds left. Instead, they clearly and deliberately backed away and let WATCH through. An unforgettable gesture of sportsmanship and generosity." ~ Daniel Curtis, Capitol BEST Referee
"Coming into college, BEST gave me a strong technical advantage. While many sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in engineering struggle with working with their hands and developing creative solutions to design challenges, I feel that BEST gave me valuable experience in these technical areas. BEST showed me how to break down a daunting challenge into several discrete steps, all the way from paper sketches, cardboard models, CADs, and prototypes to a final functioning product. Furthermore, BEST gave me an opportunity to learn how to work effectively in a group of peers towards meeting a large, long-term goal. I continue to be thankful, as I look back, for the way in which BEST brings together committed coaches, mentors, parents, and students to open new doors for future generations of engineers." ~ Karthish M
"One event that stands out in my mind was the teamwork that went into creating the display last year. As the Display Sub-team lead, I was able to see the new members of the team working together to finish a task I had assigned to them. When we were working with the metal frame of the S-curve that the backdrop hung from, the older team members were showing the new team members how to get the screws through the fabric and metal. It was so neat to see how many people were willing to help hold the S-curve while another group of people would put the screws through. The setup of the display last year was far beyond easy. It took an entire crew of hard working team members to set it up in a reasonable amount of time and we were able to do that at each competition. At Texas BEST, I remember how every team member grabbed one item of the display and carried it to where we were setting up. Having to move each and every piece of the display from the bus would have been a large mess but with the team working together so diligently, it was extremely easy. As soon as we found our space to set up in, I stepped back and watched such an amazing group of students work together so well. Five people set up the backdrop while another set of team members set up the S-curve and got ready to connect it. Two other people were working on setting up the laptop and projector while two others were preparing the pictures to be mounted. Within about fifteen minutes, the display was up and ready to be presented. It was just amazing how such a complicated display could be set up with such team work in such a short amount of time. I will never forget that sight." ~ Natalie B
"Texas BEST last year (2006) happened to be right at the time when Mother Nature decided to drop 6\" of snow on Lubbock. While it did make travel conditions a little difficult it brought all the more fun to the competition. I remember team vs. team snow ball fights between rounds that always ended in everyone just laughing and rolling in the snow. The one thing that I remember vividly about our team's time in Lubbock was that during lunch on the last competition day a couple of our teams members decided they wanted to build a snowman. So they went out to a big hill right outside the arena. Another one of my team members saw them doing it and ran and told everyone else who all proceeded to go help in the effort. By the time we were done the snow many was 6ft high, had two dead batteries for eyes, a purple bandana, stick arms and a rock for the nose with LASA written on its front. We all got behind it and took a team picture with it that ended up being our Christmas card for our sponsors. It was a great team building experience that I won't forget." ~ Gabe O
"Driving a robot out of the gate in Capitol BEST my junior year was one of most exciting moments ever. Before the match commenced, I looked around at the other team's drivers. Some were older, others younger, but all had maintained the same countenance. Their faces read anticipation and focus, but at the same time a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishment for the long hours of hard work to create a robot that sat motionless mere feet in front of them. I had this same feeling staring down at SAT, beginning to consider how much this robot meant to me. I drove out of the gate perfectly and heard great cheers from the large horde of purple behind me. But then I heard cheers from other teams, voices I never heard before. The vocal support was incredible. I was hearing my name chanted before scoring a single point. This is the essence of BEST. The robot is a product of the work of a team, but the true character of a team is demonstrated through its members. After six weeks of work, teams meet, not only to prove themselves but to support other teams and the BEST competition. BEST exemplifies this by giving out the BEST award, an award not restricted solely by robot or display success, but by overall team success and the attitude that team conveys." ~ Billy S
"I didn't really get into the mindset of what BEST was all about till one day at Mall day. I was running late and didn't know which part of Highland mall the competition was being held at, but I noticed this one group of people was testing their BEST robot outside. It was really amazing how polite and kind they were when I started talking to them. When I asked them where the main competition was, they even opened the door for me -- it was at that moment where I really realized how inclined the entire system of BEST was and is; it's about community/team work beyond all else. On a side note, I felt like BEST was a great way to start getting comfortable with the entirety of a robotics team, where there's so many parts that have to get done that it's hard not to find a place on the team." ~ Alan X
"I learned that cleaning motors is a great way to humble a person. It also teaches new people not to complain about the task they are given just because it is small and you want to do something bigger." ~ Riad N
"Through the new friendships that I made through BEST last year, I learned how to operate many necessary tools for this year. I got to experience the joys of being needed to help with building as well as hands on experience with being entrusted with the responsibility to handle the shop tools and working on important tasks." ~ Louie C
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