BGSU inspires high school students to explore engineering and robotics through Falcon BEST competition

Local high school students put their STEM skills to the test, designing, building and operating robots during the annual Falcon BEST robotics competition

By Branden Ferguson

As a public university committed to educating future generations of engineers, Bowling Green State University annually hosts a robotics competition that brings high school students to campus to foster their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

As the only BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) robotics competition in Ohio, Indiana or Michigan, Falcon BEST provides high school students from across the region the opportunity to design, build and compete with remote-controlled robots.

This year, 11 high school teams were challenged to design a remote-controlled robot for a low-gravity obstacle course, inspiring students to use skill sets and critical thinking that could one day lead to a career in engineering or robotics.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to engage high school students to explore robotics and engineering, foster collaboration and problem-solving skills and raise awareness about BEST," said Dr. MD Sarder, director of Falcon BEST and the BGSU School of Engineering.

For the first time in the event's history, BGSU engineering students utilized their capstone class and engineering and robotics knowledge to mentor high school students before the competition. BGSU students created a demo robot and showcased its abilities, helping to inspire and challenge the high school participants.

"Our students were once high school students with a passion for robotics. Now, many of them are trained professionals who have real-world experience and dozens of experiential learning projects under their belts," said Sarder. "Seeing what BGSU students can come up with created excitement among the teams and challenged them to do more."

Over the years, Falcon BEST has challenged students to create robots for various themes, including Amazon delivery systems, medical procedure robotics, demolition, clean-up and construction.

BGSU provides robotics kits, creating a unique, hands-on opportunity for students to explore STEM fields. Students spend eight weeks designing, constructing and testing their robots before competing against other teams.

The annual robotics competition is among the many ways the University seeks to inspire the next generation of engineering and robotics professionals, both high demand careers in Ohio.

"In our region, there is a great need for engineers," said Sarder. "Industry leaders often share that the shortage of skilled professionals is driving them toward automation and robotics. This competition helps highlight these career opportunities, as future engineering professionals will be designing, operating and maintaining automated robots."

BGSU also recently launched degrees in robotics engineering, electronics and computer engineering and mechanical and manufacturing engineering that build upon its longstanding offerings in applied engineering. BGSU is further elevating engineering education through the investment in the state-of-the-art Technology Engineering Innovation Center, which is slated to open in spring 2026 and will blend classroom and experiential learning in the three distinct disciplines.

Teams were also required to keep an engineering notebook, create a video and website to market their robots and complete a marketing presentation with a team entrepreneurship interview. Of the 11 teams to compete at the Falcon BEST competition, the top four teams advanced to regionals. Hamilton Southeastern High School, Eastwood Local Schools, Maumee Valley Country Day School and St. Ursula Academy Toledo will compete in the regional competition in Denver on Dec. 7-8.