Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Nov. 3 Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Nov. 3

Media are invited to attend the 14th Annual Kansas BEST robotics competition, designed to inspire and motivate high school students toward careers in engineering, science and technology, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in Wichita State's Charles Koch Arena.

Results will be available immediately after the event upon request. If you'd like the results Saturday afternoon, call Joe Kleinsasser, WSU director of news and media relations, at 978-3013 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. You also can leave messages for him Saturday on his cell phone at 204-8266 or work phone 978-3013.

Twenty-five schools from Kansas and one from Arkansas will compete in the Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) event. This year's game is called "WARP XX."

The sports-like technology contest combines the excitement of a high school football game with the strategy of a chess match and the intellectual challenge of a science fair. Working from identical kits, each team has had six weeks to design and build their robot.

The 2012 game includes an additional competition for the BEST Award to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.

Atchison High School is planning a webcast of the Kansas BEST competition at www.ihigh.com/BEST.

Following is the list of 26 teams competing this year: Ambassadors for Christ Academy, Andale High School, Andover Central High School, Atchison High School, Buhler High School, Campus High School, Circle High School, Council Grove High School, Derby High School, El Dorado High School, Haven Middle School, Hillsboro High School, Hutchinson Tech Center, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, Madison High School, Olathe High School South, Pike Valley High School, Remington High School, Rose Hill High School, Salina South High School, Valley Center High School, Washburn Rural High School, Wichita South High School, Wichita Southeast High School, Wichita West High School and Wichita Homeschool.

Winners of Kansas BEST 2012 will travel to Fort Smith, Ark., to compete in the Frontier Trails Regional Competition at the University of Arkansas Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the Kansas BEST website http://www.kansasbest.org.
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Contact: Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu.