The DuBois Area High School (DAHS) BEST Robotics team recently earned notable recognition for their outstanding performance at the Denver BEST Regional Championships held in Colorado Springs. During a school board work session, the talented team had the opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss their respective roles, highlighting their remarkable success despite being smaller in size compared to previous years. Their impressive achievements culminated in their best placement since 2014, securing an overall third place finish and earning third place in the prestigious Overall BEST Award category. This accolade is the highest honor in the competition and it recognizes excellence across a multitude of areas, including robot performance, engineering notebook, marketing presentation, team exhibit, spirit, and sportsmanship.
The Denver Regional Championships were highly competitive, with 28 teams from 10 different states participating in the event. The DAHS team, undeterred by the competition, excelled in several individual categories. They secured first place in Simulink Programming Design, second place in the Founder’s Award, first place in T-shirt Design, and fourth place in the Robot Game. Additionally, the team achieved top scoring for their Engineering Notebook, showcasing their technical and creative prowess. Another standout achievement was senior Kaelyn Korb being recognized as a finalist for the Kendrick Castillo Memorial Outstanding Student award, further testament to the dedication and skill of the team members. The accolades garnered by the team reflect the depth of talent and the well-rounded skill set they possess, ensuring a bright future for these young engineers and technologists.
Achievements and Accolades
Throughout the competition, the DAHS team demonstrated their ingenuity and technical expertise through their innovative robot design. The team successfully tackled a lunar surface challenge, designing a robot equipped with features and capabilities suited for the task. During the school board meeting, the team showcased their robot through a video demonstration, providing a detailed overview of its functionalities and the creative process behind its creation. In addition to discussing the robot, the students also shared their future career aspirations in engineering and technology, highlighting the significant role that the robotics program has played in shaping their academic and career goals.
The board members and administrators at the school district were thoroughly impressed by the team’s achievements and the positive impact of the robotics program on the students. Board President Robert Wachob and Assistant Superintendent Lauren McLaughlin commended the program for fostering confidence and poise in the team members, traits that were clearly evident during their presentation. The school district’s commitment to excellence was highlighted not just in the success of the robotics team, but also in other programs such as theater, student government, and athletics. These diverse programs underscore the district’s overarching dedication to providing a holistic educational experience that nurtures various interests and skills among students.
Program Impact and Future Prospects
Superintendent Wendy Benton underscored the importance of the robotics program in offering students valuable opportunities to explore and pursue their passions. She shared a poignant anecdote about a student who discovered his passion for engineering through his involvement in the robotics program, illustrating the program’s potential to transform lives and guide students towards fulfilling careers. The school board meeting also involved discussions on personnel and legal matters, including key positions and complex legal issues such as agreements, arbitration, and unfair labor practices. These discussions, while crucial for the overall functioning of the school district, emphasized the breadth of considerations that school administrators must manage to ensure a conducive learning environment for all students.
The agenda for the upcoming board meeting was reviewed during the session, covering an array of topics including E-Rate funding for network infrastructure, the impact of the state budget on school funding, potential tax increases, conservative budgeting practices, and teacher tenure. Additional items of interest included the possibility of establishing an alumni spotlight or graduate hall of fame to celebrate the achievements of former students. These discussions highlight the ongoing efforts of the school board to address both immediate and long-term goals for the school district, ensuring continued support and resources for programs like the BEST Robotics team.
Conclusion
The DuBois Area High School (DAHS) BEST Robotics team recently received significant recognition at the Denver BEST Regional Championships in Colorado Springs. At a school board work session, the team introduced themselves, discussing their roles and notable success—a remarkable feat given their smaller size compared to previous years. Their standout performance earned them an overall third-place finish, their best since 2014, and third place in the prestigious Overall BEST Award category, the highest competition honor recognizing excellence in robot performance, engineering notebook, marketing presentation, team exhibit, spirit, and sportsmanship.
The championships were fiercely competitive, featuring 28 teams from 10 states. Undeterred, the DAHS team excelled, winning first place in Simulink Programming Design, second place in the Founder’s Award, first place in T-shirt Design, and fourth place in the Robot Game. They also received top marks for their Engineering Notebook, highlighting their technical creativity. Additionally, senior Kaelyn Korb was a finalist for the Kendrick Castillo Memorial Outstanding Student Award. The team’s achievements illustrate their immense talent and the promising future of these young engineers and technologists.
