Criteria: Most original game specific T-Shirt design worn by team members during the contest. These will be judged based on most creative use of the game concept.
Recognizing the BEST founders (Marum & Mahler at TI) as well as the SA BEST founders. Awarded for the most unusual approach to solving the problem.
Criteria: Best use of the engineering process to include brainstorming approaches, considerations of offensive and defensive strategies. Unusual offensive and/or defensive machine capabilities.
Note: First and Second place awards will be made for this category.
Awarded for the machine requiring the least maintenance during the contest.
Criteria: Robustness during matches, maintenance required between matches, general sturdiness.
Awarded for the most eye-pleasing, functioning machine.
Criteria: Fit and trim of external components, aesthetic embellishments.
Awarded to the team that demonstrates more spirit than other teams and goes above and beyond to show sportsmanship.
Criteria: Show spirit throughout the entire competition. Must show extra effort to aid another team. Must never demonstrate poor sportsmanship.
Awarded for the most elaborate table display and best interview.
Criteria: Must relate to the theme of the game, show all aspects of and expand on the BEST principles. See table display judging criteria for further details. Table display must fit in the required space and must not hinder other table displays.
Awarded for the team that uses the game theme throughout all team activities.
Criteria: Must use theme of the game in all aspects of the competition including T-shirt, table display, robot, etc. This award is for the team that does the most to embrace the game theme.
Awarded for the team that gives their all to the project.
Criteria: A team that all works together with a great attitude, little resources, and never gives up. This award is for the team that does the most with what they have.
Determined by order of finish in the double-elimination tournament.
For the teams that accomplished the greatest interest in engineering, science and technology, determined by final judging order (see the judging criteria).
Note: In order to be eligible for any of the awards listed above, the team must participate in the SA BEST Demo Day, and the Machine Check-in the night before the competition. (Teams that must travel more than 60 miles to reach San Antonio, are exempt from this requirement.)