The Krueger Middle School, Lee High School and Madison High School robotics clubs competed in the 2007 Regional Robotic Competition, sponsored by the San Antonio Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Organization, on October 13 at St. Mary's University.

The Lee Robotics Club won the competition with top honors, naming them the 2007 SA BEST Champions. The students are Mike Manka, Allison Stanley, Lauren Leza and Aly Castaneda. The club was awarded a $50,000 scholarship to St. Mary's University and six $500 Armed Forces Scholarships. These students will now compete in the Texas BEST Tournament with surrounding states on November 30 and December 1 at Texas Tech University.

The Krueger Robotics Club was named the number one middle school team and won the "Most Photogenic Robot" award. Seventeen students from Krueger made up the team and received this honor. This award is given to the team that designs and engineers the most eye-pleasing, functioning robotic machine. Students had to fit and trim all external components and add aesthetic embellishments. "This is truly an astounding recognition, since this is our second year to compete," said Scott Rogers, director of Krueger School of Applied Technologies (KSAT). "Last year we won the 'Blood, Sweat, and Duct Tape' Award, honoring the team that gives their all to the project, working with a great attitude, little resources, and never giving up. Our robot last year was not pretty, but it worked. In one year, our students covered a light-year in improving our engineering robotic design. Our sights are now set on winning the SA BEST award!" The motto of the team is: This is Team Falcon, we work hard, have a great attitude, and NEVER GIVE UP! We aim for the moon, and if we miss, we land among the stars!

The Madison High School Robotics Club placed seventh in the competition. "This is the best Madison has done in six years," said William Edgar, Madison technology teacher.

In the competition, 26 high schools and two middle schools showed off their remote controlled machines that the student teams designed and built to accomplish a specific task.

For more information about SA BEST, visit its Web site at http://sabest.org/.