A “Concrete” Commitment to the Civil Engineers of Tomorrow

Industry Professionals Chosen to Serve as 2008 National Concrete Canoe Competition Judges

Reston, Va.—For more than two decades, civil engineering students have come together each June to see if the thousands of hours they have spent researching, designing and constructing canoes made of concrete have paid off. In turn, each summer a group of five leading industry professionals is also challenged with the daunting task of determining which team will take home the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.”

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today announced the elite group chosen to serve as judges for the 2008 National Concrete Canoe Competition. They are:

• Kamal Khayat, D.Sc.A, professor at Université de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec
• Cary Kopczynski, P.E., president of Cary Kopczynski & Company in Bellevue, Wash. Kopczynski will serve as the returning judge for the 2008 competition, having served during the 2007 competition held at the University of Washington in Seattle.
• Stéphane Martel, ing., directeur technique at Groupe Tremca Inc. in Richelieu, Quebec
• Mike Mota, P.E., regional manager, Atlantic Region at the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute in Williamstown, N.J.
• Jim Tully, P. Eng., director of engineering and business development at Munro Concrete Products Ltd. in Utopia, Ontario

“This event would not be possible without the commitment of the National Concrete Canoe Competition judges, who unselfishly lend their extensive knowledge, time, energy and enthusiasm to making it the best learning experience possible for the students,” said ASCE president David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE. “The judges’ endless commitment to civil engineering education will have a significant impact on the future of the profession.”

The event, which challenges civil engineering students to design, build and race canoes constructed of concrete, will take place June 19-21, 2008, in Montreal, and will be hosted by École de technologie supérieure. In its 21st year, this annual test of academic achievement and athletic ability is organized by ASCE and made possible by the generous financial support of the American Concrete Institute; Baker Concrete Construction; BASF – The Chemical Company; Bentley Systems, Incorporated; the Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Holcim (US) Inc.; ICS Penetron; Kiewit; and U.S. Silica Company. The competition will feature teams of the best and brightest from 22 top engineering schools in the United States and Canada competing in four main categories: aesthetics and adherence to design parameters, a technical paper, a business presentation and races.

For more information on the National Concrete Canoe Competition, including downloadable high-resolution photos, please visit http://content.asce.org/conferences/nccc2008/index.html.

The National Concrete Canoe Competition is organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is funded by the generous support of the American Concrete Institute; Baker Concrete Construction; BASF – The Chemical Company; Bentley Systems, Incorporated; the Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Holcim (US) Inc.; ICS Penetron; Kiewit; and U.S. Silica Company. This year’s event is hosted by École de technologie supérieure.

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