April was National Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate and highlight the significant contributions of our BEST volunteers.

Thank you to each of you who invest your time, expertise, energy, and passion into ensuring each season is the BEST season!

Johannes Stark, Executive Director of BEST Robotics Inc., describes the life-changing opportunities that you help provide for our participants:

"Whether a student chooses to go directly into the workforce after high school, pursue higher education, or take a blended path, BEST ensures that every student has access to hands-on, engaging STEM experiences that can spark lifelong passion and purpose.

I truly believe that BEST has the potential to transform a student's life—and that transformation extends beyond the individual. It can uplift families, strengthen communities, and build a future where innovation and inclusion go hand-in-hand.

I look forward to expanding our impact, one student, one family, one community at a time."

You already know the value and benefits of volunteerism...how can we encourage others to also get involved?

RM BEST by the Numbers



Each season:

• approximately 344 volunteers support our events
• our volunteers contribute approximately 2242 hours

RM BEST needs YOU!!!

Dave busy working on construction of the 2024 Lower G field.

Meet Dave Porter

Dave has worked as one of our volunteers since inception and has helped with innumerable tasks ranging from helping construct and monitor/repair the Game Field to helping with Kit Team Monday work sessions.

As Carolyn Bauer says, "We always save the most confounding problems for Dave, because he can usually figure out how to solve them!"

Prior to joining our RM BEST Volunteer team, Dave was a Hughes Aircraft Department Manager, where he was passionate about serving Government Customers. When problems arose, they didn't sit well with Dave, so he'd strive to solve them. Former colleagues report that, "One big giggle was a sign in Dave's office: Ready, FIRE, Aim! It was both fitting and funny."

Dave is a PROUD Dartmouth alum!

Thank you, Dave, for all that you have and continue to contribute to RM BEST! You make a difference!

Meet Carolyn Bauer, Board President, Hub Director & Championship Director

Native Coloradan and Founding Mother of Rocky Mountain BEST, Carolyn is the face and heart of our hub!

"I didn’t hesitate for long when I heard the call to help start a Hub of BEST Robotics in the Denver area. I find the time I spend working on BEST enriching and I joke about the salary, since BEST is an all-volunteer nonprofit. Encouraging student interest in STEM has become a passion! Time with the teachers and mentors is also fun – as they are our pipeline to the students. I’ve also been on the BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI) National Board of Directors since 2021, which is interesting and challenging. One of my favorite things is being able to say, 'BEST Robotics is FREE to teams!'"

Carolyn worked at Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon

for 26 years as a software engineer and program manager, retiring in 2006. She then served for 4 years as President of her HOA and enjoyed learning new things and giving time and energy to her neighborhood. She still volunteers with her HOA.

Carolyn loves biking, scuba, reading, cross country skiing, Mah Jongg, and traveling. Highlights of her adventures include a 3-week trip to southern Africa and a 2-week trip to Peru, along with several magical scuba trips!

Meet Gwynn Moore, Board Vice President & Team Interface

Gwynn is a mother of 2 grown children, a Denver native, and a retired educator.

During her time teaching in a K-8 in Aurora, she served as a Teacher Coach for the school's BEST robotics team. In 2022 the middle school team she coached placed 4th for the BEST Award. They were the first Middle School team to place in the BEST Award category! 

Gwynn loves working with teachers, students, and BEST volunteers. She is looking forward to engaging with returning and new teams in the upcoming season, fActoIds.

Help Needed: We need an Audience!!!

Please spread the word about our auction fundraiser to family, friends & associates

ONLINE BIDDING: May 16-25

You can bid on gift certificates, cards for restaurants, activities, shopping and other items. Some items have a “Buy-it-Now” price so you can’t be outbid. For items that you’re bidding on, you may choose to get a text or email when you have been outbid so you can update your bid!

The auction items will be available for bidding from 8am on May 16th to 8pm on May 25th.

Steps to Preview Auction Before May 16:

• LOGIN: You need to be logged in to participate. CLICK the pink AUCTION button above and select Login in the upper right to login or click "Don't have an account? Create an account now" if appropriate on the same page.
• FAVORITES: As you consider the 90+ auction items, you may want to create a WATCH LIST of favorite items by clicking the HEART on the item.

Two Exciting Ways to Participate:

1. Purchase from our 90 + Terrific Auction Bargains - 3 examples shown below
2. Sponsor a student or team to make even more of a difference - 3 options shown below

Questions? Check out the HELP FAQ page or reply to this email.

HELP - Auction Donations Needed

• Willing to contact companies or your favorite store or restaurant to see if they might be willing to donate a gift card or product for our online auction?
• Please contact Lois.Walton@bestinc.org to learn more.

Your participation and generosity make it possible to bring our robotics education program to middle & high school students - at no cost to schools. 

AUCTION PREVIEW

Town Hall Arts Center (THAC) is the vibrant hub of arts and culture in Littleton. This card is access to any show for 4 people this season or next.

You can also pick up more than 1 lb with each visit! This is a great coffee shop. While you're there you could order one of their awesome pastries.

One of MANY gift cards that we have available for auction this year!

With this donation, you support RM BEST by providing the funding required for a student to participate in our annual competition!

With this donation, you support RM BEST by providing the funding required for an entire team to compete in the upcoming season!

With this donation, you support RM BEST by providing the funding required for an entire team to compete at the Regional Competition!

Do you shop at King Soopers? If so, you can support Rocky Mountain BEST just by doing your normal grocery shopping!

King Soopers' Community Rewards Program will donate a portion of all your purchases to a nonprofit of your choice.

There are TWO easy ways to designate RM BEST as the nonprofit that your account is linked to:

Option 1: Send an Email

Email KingSoopersCommunityRewards@kingsoopers.com and request to have RM BEST (#GJ308) added to your King Soopers Card account. You will need to provide either your card number or your phone number to link your account.

Option 2: Connect via King Soopers website

1) Go to http://www.kingsoopers.com

2) Sign in to your King Soopers Account.

3) Once signed in, locate the search bar and type "Community Rewards"

5) In the search tab, search for "GJ308". This should bring up RM BEST.

6) Select "Enroll

RM BEST COMMUNITY REWARDS: #GJ308

LEADERSHIP TEAM PARTICIPATION IN EARLY SEASON REVIEWS

Friday - Saturday, April 25-26 - Prototype Game Weekend (Allen, TX): 

• RM BEST volunteers recently participated in a weekend of game testing and providing feedback about the upcoming challenge. We can't share much, but the Game Field is a "normal" size / complexity. The game field pieces are mostly small and an easy task for teams to create. 
• Participants returned saying "We LOVE this year's Game and Game Field!"
• The breakout training sessions were very helpful. Gwynn and Carolyn's sessions were the ones people kept talking about, so we think we did our part in sharing BEST Practices!

FALL SEASON EVENTS (VENUES AND DATES TBD)

FALL 2025: Local RM BEST Hub Events

• Kickoff (Early September)
• BEST Robotics kits distribution, game rules revealed and training opportunities (Early September)
• Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews (September & October)
• 30 minute online mentoring sessions during Week 2 and Week 5 to help teams focus and improve their designs
• Practice Day (Mid-October)
• Provide team access to game field for practice, Engineering Notebook delivery, and judging of optional BEST Award Marketing Presentations
• Game Day (Early November)
• Head-to-head robot competition and judging, including optional BEST Award Team Exhibits and Interviews

DECEMBER 2025: Denver BEST Regional Championship

bESTology is a weekly resource for schools (teams) participating in the nationwide BEST Robotics program to learn educational and workforce development concepts revolving around the 2025 game – fActoIds.

Through bESTology, students expand their understanding of the game and real-world connections to AI and machine learning.

A new spin on lessons this year is the incorporation of a guiding quote that introduces students to a notable person and pushes them to reflect on how the quote is relevant to the fActoIds game.

Currently Available Lessons:

• Lesson 1 - Real vs. Fake News: “The truth is rarely pure and never simple” –Oscar Wilde
• Lesson 2 - Judgement, Bias, and Reality: “Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” –John F. Kennedy
• Lesson 3 - Decision Making: “Decision making is easy when your values are clear.” – Roy E. Disney
• Lesson 4 - Machine Language: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn". – Alvin Toffer
• Lesson 5 - AI Tools: "Programming is the Art of Algorithm Design and the Craft of Debugging Code". – Ellen Ullman
• Lesson 6 - Algorithms for AI: “AI is not just a technological revolution; it’s also a revolution of ideas and creativity.” – Robin Li, CEO of Baidu.
• Lesson 7 - Interacting with AI: “The key to success with AI is not just having the right data, but also asking the right questions.” – Ginni Rometty

More Lessons to be Released Weekly:

• Lesson 8 - Ethics for AI
• Lesson 9 - Testing and Training AI Models
• Lesson 10 - Benefits of AI

Thanks to RM BEST Volunteer extraordinaire Gwynn Moore who is publishing this year's lessons!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORS AND COACHES

SUMMER FREE Coach Training - Denver Teacher Mentor Institute

• Early Summer – online pre-class training
• Followed by July 15-17 in-person, hands-on training at St Mary’s Catholic Church 6853 S Prince St, Littleton

Participants will have the first look at our new VEX V5 control systems!

Have you considered mentoring a team?

If so, this training will provide the background you need to get started. To register, complete this Google form.

STEERING TEAM POSITION: VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

• We are looking for a volunteer interested in helping with volunteer recruitment and communication.
• No robotics or special skills required.
• You can support from home: Meetings are held online and include monthly management meetings, and during the fall season, weekly event preparation meetings.
• It would be great if you are able to volunteer in person at our events.
• To learn more about this team, please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org. 

NEW SPONSORS: Know a company or foundation that might want to help provide our inspiring STEM program free to schools?  Please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org to learn more.



Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics |

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