I was just stopping by without any expectations.  Then it hit me smack in the face.  I couldn’t believe it!  I was instantly caught up in the rushing energy, the joyful sounds and the enveloping spirit.

This moment was conceived two days earlier when five Selma High School students asked to take a photo with me.  Then they asked me to come to their robotic competition on Saturday morning at Wallace Community College in Selma.

When I walked in the door, the gym was completely filled.  Students were all over the place interspersed by teachers and other adults.  Sounds of participation, engagement, and cheering competed one with the other.  I had not experienced this degree of total engagement even at hotly contested ball games.

The event is called the BEST Robotic Competition.  BEST stands for “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.”  The competition reached well beyond the activities on the gym floor.  Each team did the following:  designed and built a robot; prepared an engineering book; prepared and presented a display table; and prepared and implemented a marketing campaign.  Each element was judged and awarded separately.

This was the first competition for these 24 schools.  Some Alabama school systems, such as Mobile, have been participating for 10 or more years.  But it is just coming to the Alabama Black Belt.  I understand that the level of interest continues to grow as opposed to diminishing over time.

The Robotic Competition helps our children apply principles of math and science.  Many students shy away from these academic subjects but this competition draws them into it.  Because of this hands on learning experience they see the benefits.

The competition helps develop students’ interest in engineering.  Across this country there is a tremendous dearth of home grown engineers.  So many come from foreign countries.

The competition helps prepare students for participation in business and industry on many levels.  Many students are only thinking about a job.  It opens a lot of new doors.

No one has to push these students for they push themselves.  The Robotics Competition captures their interest by its very construct.