Alabama BEST History

Alabama BEST was co-founded by personnel from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and College of Sciences and Mathematics at Auburn University in 2001. The first competition was held in the fall of 2001 in the Student Activities Center on the Auburn campus. Twenty-two schools participated that year.

Based on the enthusiastic support from participating schools in 2001, Alabama BEST grew dramatically in 2002. The number of schools wanting to participate swelled, which prompted the need to hold a second, parallel competition just for middle schools. Over 20 middle schools participated in the competition held at the University of Alabama – Birmingham and co-sponsored by the School of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Forty-four high schools competed at Auburn and the winners of the middle school competition advanced to the Alabama BEST championship.

In 2003, the two colleges petitioned BEST Robotics to become BEST’s second regional championship, South’s BEST. Granted this request, the two colleges not only hosted Alabama BEST, but South’s BEST, as well. Alabama BEST was held at Auburn High School and attracted 20-plus teams to compete.

Because of the massive amount of time and effort required to develop South’s BEST, Huntingdon College in Montgomery hosted the 2004 and 2005 competitions.

In 2006, Alabama BEST returned to the Auburn campus and 17 teams from Central Alabama and the Birmingham area competed.

This fall, Alabama BEST will focus on schools in Central Alabama, particularly along the I-85 Corridor. Twenty-six teams will compete.

Due to the efforts of the College of Engineering and College of Sciences & Mathematics to develop and promote BEST, it is now being recognized as an ideal workforce development program that industry is seeking. BEST excels at introducing students to what is called the “engineering design process,” which helps them become more technically proficient, which is what industry needs as more-and-more “high tech” companies come to Alabama.