Piedmont Academy’s (PAC)robotics team competed in the Georgia BEST Robotics Competition on Saturday, Nov. 2. The team worked through the engineering processes of designing, building, testing, and modifying a robot that could perform tasks defined by the rules of the 2024 game. In addition, the team made a marketing presentation and created an exhibit to promote its robot to judges who acted as potential buyers of the team’s product.

This year’s competition featured four teams from the north Georgia area.

• Fernbank LINKS (Dekalb County)
• Piedmont Academy
• Rome High School
• Simpson Middle School (Cobb County)

PAC’s team finished in third place in the robotics portion of the competition and in second place in the competition category that included the marketing presentation and team exhibit. In addition, the competition judges bestowed on the team an award for creativity in the design of its robot. This award recognizes the team that “makes best use of the engineering process in consideration of offensive and defensive capabilities in machine design.”

PAC Robotics Mentor Jacel Galloway received an award given in memory of Dr. Glenn Allen, who was the Georgia BEST Robotics Director when the program was hosted by Southern Polytechnic State University. This honor is presented annually “to a mentor who embodies Dr. Allen’s passion for inspiring students and giving them new opportunities.”

PAC Robotics Team Members: Baylee Carter (5th Grade), Jameson Carter (7th Grade), Grace Galloway (7th Grade, Silas Lashbrook (7th Grade) Riley Perdue (7th Grade) and Anderson Stephens (5th Grade).

PAC Robotics Mentors: Jacel Galloway (Parent), Ralph Hickman (Faculty), P. J. Leonetti (PAC Alumnus) and Toni White (Faculty).