June 16, 2010

Student engineering teams take part in National Concrete Canoe Competition

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.

Where is the one place you can find Billy the Kid, the Flying Dutchman and Orion in June? The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 23rd annual National Concrete Canoe Competition, of course.

Twenty-two teams of engineering students from the United States and Canada will meet at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo June 17 to the 19 in a bid to win the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.”

The competition is possible through the support of World of Concrete, Baker Concrete Construction, U.S. Silica. Holcim and Flatiron.

Throughout the year, teams of civil engineering students logged thousands of hours researching, designing and constructing their concrete canoes in search of the winning combination of creativity, knowledge and teamwork.

After coming out on top in regional competitions throughout the spring, the best and brightest from 22 top engineering schools will match wits and skills as they put their concrete creations to the test in a series of events at the national finals.

Among the 2010 finalists are Canada’s École de technologie supérieure with its canoe Montferrand and Université Laval with The Norseman.

The scores are divided into four components that are each worth 25 per cent of the final score: a design paper, an oral presentation, the final product and the results of five different races, men’s and women’s slalom/endurance races and men’s, women’s and co-ed sprint races.

First, second and third place winners receive academic scholarship awards of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500, respectively.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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