News Release Archive

Colorado State High School Bridge Building Competition Demolishes Bridges

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: March 05, 2010

Design and engineering skills were highlighted by Colorado's High School students recently at the 2010 Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition held at the Bureau of Reclamation's laboratory in Lakewood.

In Region 1, Ary Ascencio, a student at the Denver School of Science and Technology, won when his 23.29 gram basswood bridge held 22.50 kilograms. That is 966 times its own weight.

Other students who placed in Region 1 are: Second, Casey Newman of Cherry Creek High School; Third, Joe Stanek of Mullen High School; Fourth, Mitchell Fay of Cherry Creek High School; and Fifth, Jeremy Emmett of George Washington High School.

In Region 2, Max Vanatta, a student at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, repeated as champion when his 19.39 gram bridge held 33.65 kilograms. That is 1790 times its own weight.

Other students who placed in Region 2 are: Second, Adam Vasilakis of Cheyenne Mountain High School; Third, Mike Vail of Cheyenne Mountain High School; Fourth, Stephanie Klein of Buena Vista High School; and Fifth, Hanna Johnson of Coal Ridge High School.

In the team competition from Region 1, Denver School of Science and Technology finished first when their three bridges held more than 1640 times their own weight. Other teams from Region 1 are: Second, Cherry Creek High School; Third, Mullen High School; Fourth, George Washington High School, and Fifth, East High School.

In the team competition from Region 2, Cheyenne Mountain High School of Colorado Springs finished first when their three bridges held more than 3842 times their own weight. Other teams from Region 2 are: Second, Buena Vista High School; Third, Rifle High School; Fourth, Coal Ridge High School; and Fifth, Rangely High School.

The bridges are made of only basswood and glue. The winning models were determined by the structural efficiency ratio, which is the maximum load divided by the weight of the bridge. The state is divided into two regions, northern (Region 1) and southern (Region 2), with winners determined from each region. The first and second place winners from each region will be invited to compete in the international competition to be held on May 1, 2010, in Philadelphia, Pa.

The contest is jointly sponsored by the Professional Engineers of Colorado, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

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Relevant Link:

Bridge Builidng Contest Page