The ASCE Virginias Student Symposium is one of twenty-two ASCE regional student symposia held annually as an opportunity for ASCE student chapters in their respective regions to showcase their skills and achievements by designing, building, and/or competing in various civil engineering activities. The Symposium includes a wide variety of networking opportunities, professional and personal development, and competitions including the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge. This year, the Symposium took place March 27-29 in Beckley, WV and saw 11 universities across Virginia and West Virginia compete, including UVA which the ASCE Richmond Branch partnering with the Blue Ridge Branch provides with professional and industrial expertise.
This year, UVA placed third in the Concrete Canoe Competition, which requires the students to test and create their own canoe including the concrete mix and hull design based off nationally defined parameters. They then compete against other student chapters by submitting a written report of their canoe, orally presenting to a panel, and racing against the other canoes in sprints and slaloms.
UVA also participated in the Steel Bridge Competition which also has national parameters detailing the specifics of what material is allowable, what loads the bridge must carry, the span of the bridge, and construction limitations.
In addition to the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge, UVA also participated in smaller, ongoing competitions in which they placed second in the “Sustainable Solutions Competition” and second in the “Water Resources Competition.” A special congratulations to Margaret Collins who received the “Thompson Award” for most outstanding ASCE Student from UVA.
The see more photos of the event, go to the gallery by clicking here.