Volume 2023-09 | September 2023

Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter

Help Inspire 100s of Students!

So Many Ways & Days to Join in the FUN!

Practice Day Event Volunteers

Saturday 21 October

SIGNUP TODAY!

AVAILABLE TO HELP FOR

ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS?

Most Tasks Require NO Training!

We'll Train YOU for the Other Tasks!

Please click the Green button below to volunteer

We will set up at a new Aurora Public Schools venue Friday night and the teams will have 4 hours to practice with their robots on the Game Field.

Saturday, 21 October, 10:30 AM - 4 PM
APS Avenues/South Middle School 12310 E Parkview Dr, Aurora

OPEN TASKS INCLUDE:

10:30 AM - 1 PM Hospitality Task providing Volunteer Lunches

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Registration + Welcome Tasks

11 AM - 3 PM 4-hour Refereeing, Technical Support, Marketing Judges. and Monitoring Tasks

Checkout our Event Volunteer page for Training and Position Descriptions that may interest you.

Volunteer Practice Day email sent by 19 October with maps & additional information.

Click Here to Volunteer

Please share this Volunteer Summary Link with those who might be interested.

Online self-paced Engineering Notebook Judging - Hub Level

Judging days 21-31 October
Training Provided.
Sample Prior High School Notebook Link
2023 Scoresheet Link

Available Sections available to Judge:

Research Paper
Implementation of Design Process
Brainstorming / Analytical Evaluation of Design Alternatives
Offensive & Defensive Strategies/Safety
Software Development Process,
Support Documentation / Overall Quality.

To Learn More including Receive Training Materials, Please Send an Email to Linda.King@bestinc.org

PLEASE Save These November & December

Dates

Game Day Event

SUNDAY 5 November
Auraria Event Center Denver
SIGN UP LINK COMING SOON IN A NEW EMAIL

Denver BEST Regional Championship

Saturday-Sunday / 16-17 December
Qualifying schools by invitation.
Denver Coliseum.
More details coming later in October

Online self-paced Engineering Notebook Judging - Championship Level

Judging days 1-11 Dec
To Learn More, Please Send Email to Linda.King@bestinc.org

18 Schools Accepted our Challenge!

*Rookie School

Season KICKOFF Highlights

Thanks to Everyone Who Made it Possible!

WOW! Incision Decision Game Reveal

Robotics Surgery Theme

BEST has developed a new training platform for minimally invasive surgery called SimBody. The platform simulates the internal human body and acts as a training ground for several robotics-assisted surgeries. Today’s robots support only one surgery at a time. Your challenge is to design and demonstrate a multi-function robot that can aid your surgeons to accomplish several surgeries in a short time. You may be asked to collaborate with surgeons from other teams in performing some tasks. Only the best and most capable robots demonstrated will be selected to advance. Game Animation Video Link

Volunteer Triumphs & Challenges

Our THANKS to Our Amazing Volunteers - And STEM School!

Front Range and Rocky Mtn Volunteers built game fields in a few weeks!

100's of Volunteer Hours to Give

Teams FREE Robot Kits

Volunteers Trained Students in 10 Different 1-Hour Sessions

BEST & STEM School Teams

Created a Re-Visioned Kickoff in 2 Days

after Venue Cancellation!

Four Teams Receive New Tools

Thanks to Our MSU Denver Collaboration!

Missile Defense Agency BEST Grant Provides Tools to 4 Teams

At Kickoff, 4 underserved schools received a set of new tools that were purchased under the MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant funding.

The grant's goal is to increase the number of students able to complete and engage in BEST's "meaningful STEM learning opportunity".

With the help of the amazing MSU Denver team, we were successful in qualifying for this funding.

Introducing BEST To Even More Teachers

Please Reply to Share Events Where We Can Promote BEST

Colorado Energy Day is Colorado's first FREE family festival showcasing exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Rocky Mountain BEST had a booth in front of the main doors of East High School to promote our program. The day was full of interest, positivity, and excited youth! A young lady who participated in BEST in Texas stopped by our table and told us she is now at Mines. She expressed an interest in volunteering since BEST helped develop her pursuit of a STEM career. Another individual in the tech world did not hesitate to ask us if we needed volunteers. That excited us!

It was a perfect fall day with lots going on. Parents and students brought back our information to various schools we hope to see participating in BEST next year.

May the STEM energy continue!

Engineering, Technology & Media Arts

New Teacher Symposium

RMB had a fruitful afternoon talking with new teachers.

We saw teachers who participated in BEST in the past, but who had changed schools-- yet may be able to return to our event.

One first year teacher from Adams County took materials to spread the word in her district.

We invited all the teachers to feel free to visit our FREE events to see how our program works in person.

Our volunteers did a stellar job to update materials to give to teachers. Kudos for their great efforts!

We will continue to spread the BEST word in Outreach events.

Can YOU Help to

Reach Our $90K Goal?

Keeping 2023 BEST Free

We have received many generous donations from individual to help inspire the over 200 participating students.

We have received generous 2023 funding from:

The Adolph Coors Foundation
Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado Foundation
The Academy for Lifelong Learning

Our fundraising team continues to look for additional income sources.

Even with all of this, we are still short of the full $90K needed for 2023.

See Below for

Ways YOU Can Help Us Close the Gap!

More Ways to Help Inspire Students

FUNDRAISING

It takes a lot of funds to cover our costs to have a free competition at both the local level and the Regional Championship level. Here are MORE ways you can help from home.

GRANTS: Know a company or foundation that might want to hear about how they can help provide our inspiring STEM program free to schools? Enjoy writing or have experience writing proposals or grant requests? Please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org to learn more.

Participate by Donating

Colorado Gives Donations

You can donate ANYTIME at Rocky Mountain BEST at ColoradoGives.org.

Benevity

If your company has gift matching through Benevity, Rocky Mountain BEST is one of the eligible non-profit organizations. Please ask your HR department about Benevity gift matching!

King Soopers/City Market

Thanks to the 15 households who are using their King Soopers / City Market savings cards to donate to Rocky Mountain BEST.

If you used to refill a King Soopers gift cards for us and now need help setting up your savings card, please email lois.walton@bestinc.org. Lois would be glad to talk you through the quick process!

King Soopers Community Rewards Page

Wondering what to do with your used car or truck?

Donating your old vehicle or boat to ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST is convenient, easy, and may qualify you for a tax deduction. And best of all, your donation of a used car or truck will make a big difference in supporting ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST.

Why not donate your vehicle today? All you need to do is to complete our SIMPLE ONLINE FORM or call 1-866-628-2277 and we'll take care of the rest. We will pick up your vehicle, arrange to have your donation towed, and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt, all at no charge to you.