#bladernnr National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. As part of our observation of this important awareness campaign, we offer you an abbreviated version of the Department of Homeland Security's Stop*Think* Connect campaign Ten Steps to Smartphone Security.

1. Set PINS and passwords.
2. Do not modify your smartphone's security settings.
3. Backup and secure your data.
4. Only install apps from trusted sources.
5. Understand app permissions before accepting them.
6. Install security apps that enable remote location and wiping.
7. Accept updates and patches to your smartphone's software.
8. Be smart on open Wi-Fi networks.
9. Wipe data on your old phone before you donate, resell, or recycle it.
10. Report a stolen smartphone.

A smartphone is an important tool. Let it work for you by using it wisely.

Kick Off Audience Video

Here is a video that hub co-director, Dr. Mike Kennamer shot on his iPhone from the stage just before the game for this year was revealed.Though the video is a little dark you can see that there was plenty of excitement in anticipation for this year's game.



This is Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics largest Kick Off with 12 teams and more than 300 students in attendance. It was held in the Tom Bevill Lyceum, a 750 seat auditorium on the campus of Northeast Alabama Community College.

2014 Kick Off Video Posted

We have posted the 2014 Kick Off Video to our Video Gallery page on this site. Look for additional Kick Off photos to be posted soon. You may check out the video below:

BEST 2014 Kick Off Coming Soon

The kick off of BEST Robotics 2014 is coming soon! In less than a month, teams from across DeKalb, Jackson and Marshall Counties will gather at the Tom Bevill Lyceum on the campus of Northeast Alabama Community College to learn about the game for this year and to receive the kits.

Has your team registered? If not, please click on the Eventbrite registration link on the right side of this page.

Are you ready for BLADERUNNER???

Fort Payne High School is Registered!

Fort Payne High School, which has been a tough contender in past years, is registered for BEST Robotics 2014. We are excited to have FPHS on board this year!

Fyffe High School Registered for BEST 2014

We are excited that Team 408 - Fyffe High School is registered for Northeast Alabama BEST 2014. We look forward to seeing what Mrs. Parris and her team will do this year!

Registration is Open for BEST 2014!

Teachers:

Don't forget to register for Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics before the end of the school year. That will be one less thing to do when you get back in the fall. Registration is quick and painless. Just select the button on the right side of each page on this site or click here:

Register for 2014 BEST Robotics During National Robotics Week

So what would be a great thing to do to celebrate National Robotics Week?

You could wear your 2013 BEST Tshirt. You could demonstrate robots to kids in younger grades. You could even give candy and flowers to your favorite robot.

But perhaps the BEST thing you could do to celebrate National Robotics Week is to register for 2014 BEST Robotics. There is an orange button on every page of this site (top right column) where you simply click and register. Remember that only one person (the teacher or sponsor) should register per team. 

We are looking forward to seeing our team list grow as you register.

T Shirt Day

In honor of National Robotics Week 2014 we are asking everyone who participated in BEST Robotics in 2013 to wear their Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics Game Day shirt on Wednesday, April 9, 2104.

Be sure to let everyone in your school know that you are proud to be a part of BEST Robotics by wearing this shirt on April 9. Be sure to share your photos with us on Facebook.

Remember also that sponsors of Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics make it possible to provide these shirts to everyone free of charge. This gives us an opportunity to show that we are proudly wearing the shirts they gave us!

Teams are also encouraged to pick another day that week to wear their team's Tshirt. But please reserve April 9 for Northeast Alabama BEST Tshirts.

Rainsville Chamber of Commerce Sponsorship

We are pleased to announce that the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce has signed on as a sponsor of BEST Robotics for 2014. Rainsville Chamber, led by Tim Eberhart, has been a sponsor of Northeast Alabama BEST since its inception in 2012. We are pleased and grateful for the support of the Rainsville Chamber!

Welcome New BEST Team: Cornerstone Christian Academy

We are pleased to welcome Cornerstone Christian Academy as the newest BEST team for 2014. The teacher is Mrs. Amy Roebuck. We are excited for Cornerstone to be part of the BEST family.

Brindlee Mountain Middle School is 1st Team Registered

Registration for BEST 2014 started on March 1 and Brindlee Mountain Middle School was first in line to register! Registration remains open until September 6, 2014 or until all spaces are full. Look at the right side of this page to see the list of teams as it grows. There is also a button for registration on the right side of each page on this site.

Congratulations to Brindlee Mountain Middle School for being the first to register. They were strong first-time competitors in 2013 so we look forward to seeing them compete in 2014.

2014 BEST Registration Begins March 1

Registration for 2014 Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics will begin March 1. Team registration takes place in two steps:

• The teacher or coach will register the team on EventBrite, indicating that you intend to participate and holding your spot in the competition. This also gives us an idea of how many to prepare for on Kick Off Day.
• Before Kick Off Day (and any time your team composition changes)  you will need to send to Nicole Carroll (carrolln@nacc.edu) a copy of your team roster and a signed release form for each participant. Everyone who participates (students, teachers, mentors) must be on the roster and turn in a signed release form.

National Robotics Week T Shirt Day

Hi, everyone!

In honor of National Robotics Week 2014 we are asking everyone who participated in BEST Robotics in 2013 to wear their Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics Game Day shirt on Wednesday, April 9, 2104.

Be sure to let everyone in your school know that you are proud to be a part of BEST Robotics by wearing this shirt on April 9. We will be announcing some associated contests later on, so watch this page for details.

Remember also that sponsors of Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics make it possible to provide these shirts to everyone free of charge. This gives us an opportunity to show that we are proudly wearing the shirts they gave us!

Teams are also encouraged to pick another day that week to wear their team's Tshirt. But please reserve April 9 for Northeast Alabama BEST Tshirts.

Again, watch this site for more details!

Happy 2014 from Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics

Happy 2014 from Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics! We enter 2014 excited to be a part of this crazy thing we call BEST Robotics. 2014 promises to be an exciting year as West Texas BEST develops Bladerunner, our 2014 game. Look for more information to follow, but if you have not yet done so, check out the teaser video here.

So buckle your seatbelts and place your tray table and seat back in the full upright position. Kick Off for Bladerunner 2014 will be here before you know it!