ESD Robotics Team Secures BEST Award and Advances to the Championship
November 10, 2025
The dedication and collaborative spirit of the Upper School Robotics Team paid off this past weekend, culminating in a prestigious third-place win for the BEST Award at the Dallas Hub competition. The achievement is a testament to the comprehensive talents of the team’s 25 student members, whose aggregate effort surpassed 2,000 hours leading up to the competition.
“This is the big award,” remarked Upper School Computer Science and Engineering Educator Dr. Charles Lena, noting the highly competitive nature and multi-faceted criteria of the BEST Award. The honor is not solely about robot performance, but reflects the team’s professionalism and holistic approach to the engineering process.
The BEST Award, which celebrates “Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology,” is a demanding metric composed of several components where our students demonstrated outstanding aptitude:
- Engineering Design Notebook (30%)
- Marketing Presentation (25%)
- Exhibit Booth and Presentation (20%)
- Game Performance (15%)
- Spirit and Sportsmanship (10%)
The team’s strong performance across these categories placed them among the very top tier of participants in the Dallas Hub—a field that frequently produces champions at the next level of competition.
While the overall BEST Award is the highest distinction, the team also celebrated a significant milestone in the game itself. Their robot secured fifth place among 28 competing teams, marking the first time since their inaugural season in 2022 that the team has advanced past the preliminary rounds.
The hard work, long hours, and commitment to both design excellence and good sportsmanship have earned the team a well-deserved opportunity to compete at the multistate championship scheduled for December 10-13 at Fair Park.
“I am so very proud of them and thankful to you,” said Dr. Lena, acknowledging the students’ incredible effort and the support of the school community.
