Wichita State University’s College of Engineering hosted the annual Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) robotics competition on Nov. 9 at Valley Center High School. For 2024, 20 high school teams from across Kansas competed in the event, each tasked with designing, building and operating a robot capable of mining and building on the lunar surface as part of the “Low G” game theme. 

The competition, sponsored by Wichita State University, challenged students to apply their engineering skills as their robots tackled lunar-themed tasks like habitat construction, resource mining and infrastructure development. Throughout the event, students demonstrated innovation, teamwork and problem-solving, reflecting the core values of Wichita State’s commitment to developing the next generation of STEM leaders. 

At the end of the day, five teams earned the opportunity to advance to the BEST Regional Championship, set for Dec. 7-8 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  

• Stafford High School – Competing for the Robot Performance Award
• Republic County High School – Competing for the Robot Performance Award
• Wichita Homeschool – Competing for the BEST Award
• Garden City High School – Competing for the BEST Award
• Council Grove High School – Competing for the BEST Award 

The BEST Award includes several elements beyond robot performance, such as a marketing presentation, team exhibit and interview, and recognition for spirit and sportsmanship. 

Kansas BEST, hosted by Wichita State University’s College of Engineering and sponsored by Textron Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, WSU’s Barton School of Business and WSU Esports, provides a platform for high school students to work alongside engineers and educators. The program is free for participants, covering all equipment costs, with transportation as the only cost to schools. Through this hands-on experience, students gain valuable insights into the engineering design process and develop a passion for STEM fields. 

For a complete list of awards and to view a video stream of the event, visit the Kansas BEST website at kansasbest.org or follow @KansasBESTRobotics on Facebook. 

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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