This past Saturday, Westminster's Tech Squad competed against 27 other schools in the Georgia BEST Robtics State Competition and finshed the day as one of only 3 teams to qualify for the SOUTH'S BEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP on Dec. 12-13 at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. South's BEST is one of three championships of BEST Robotics, Inc. that hosts 50 winning teams from competition sites in Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama each December. Over 3500 students, teachers, team mentors, parents, and other supporters wil attend the two-day event.

     Westminster's Tech Squad worked with mentors from 5 area businesses during the past 42 days. The team's meetings took place both at Coach Woods' basement workshop and at the home of mentor Mr. David Lee, know to the team as GIZMO. Mr. Lee is the ower of Lee General Enterprises located in Watkinsville. GIZMO provided the workshop, needed tools, and instruction to the team members in the construction of the robot. Mr. Scott Walker of Walton EMC was also a mentor who helped the team with the robot's design and 3-D Computer Automated Drawings for the project. Mrs. Pat Mahoney of Travis Pruitt and Associates in Watkinsville also provided assistance to the team especially in the area of the Engineering Design Process. Mr. Billy Dudley of Wathkinsville's Industrial Mechanical Inc. advised the team on several aspects of the robot's mechanical engineering design. Mr. Alvin Colon of Full Spectrum Multimedia, LLC out of Atlanta traveled from Atlanta to Watkinsville to mentor the team in the computer programming of the robot's BRAIN (the central information unit that controls the motors and servers via a remote control devise), mechanical engineering, and constuction of the team's robot. Westminster's team was blessed to have the commitment of such a wonderful group of mentors for their first year team.

     Westminster's Tech Squad earned a total of 3 awards at the championship this past weekend, along with finishing 3rd in the state and qualifying for the regional championship, Westminster's team was recognized with the "Best Rookie of the Year 2008" award as well the robot winning "The Most Elegant Robot of the Year 2008." Other accomplishments of the day include,  finishing 2nd in the qualifying rounds, 2nd in the semi-final round, and 3rd in the final round. Westminster also earned the highest total points scored (500) in any match during the championship. These points coming in the final match of the competition.