Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Nov. 5

The 13th Annual Kansas BEST robotics competition, designed to inspire and motivate high school students toward careers in engineering, science and technology, will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in Wichita State University's Charles Koch Arena.

Twenty-nine high schools and organizations from Arkansas and all areas of Kansas will compete in the Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) event. This year's game is called “BUGS!”

Students will give their robots a trial run on Practice Day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Towne East Mall.

The sports-like technology contest combines the excitement of a high school football game with the strategy of a chess match and the intellectual challenge of a science fair. Working from identical kits, each team has had six weeks to design and build their robot.

The 2011 game includes an additional competition for the BEST Award to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.

This year’s event will include something new — Atchison High School is planning a webcast of the Kansas BEST competition at www.ihigh.com/BEST.

Following is the list of 29 teams competing this year: Ambassadors for Christ Academy, Andale High School, Andover Central High School, Atchison High School, Baldwin High School, Bluestem High School, Blue Valley CAPS Program, Buhler High School, Campus High School, Circle High School, Concordia High School, Council Grove High School, Derby High School, El Dorado High School, Hutchinson Tech Center, Kansas City Christian, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, Madison High School, Mulvane High School, Panther Creek Academy, Pike Valley High School, Rose Hill High School, Salina South High School, Valley Center High School, Washburn Rural High School, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School, Wichita Southeast High School, Wichita West High School and Wichita Homeschool.

Winners of Kansas BEST 2011 will travel to Fort Smith, Ark., to compete in the Frontier Trails Regional Competition at the University of Arkansas Dec. 9-10.

For more information, visit the Kansas BEST website http://www.kansasbest.org.