Clash of the Concrete Titans

Joan Buhrman
(703) 295-6406
jbuhrman@asce.org

Anthony Reed
(703) 295-6413
areed@asce.org

Finalists Announced for 2009 National Concrete Canoe Competition

                Reston, Va.—In a test of think or swim, this group of civil engineering students will use “concrete” determination to keep their dreams afloat. And, while most people would never dream of making a canoe out of concrete, let alone racing it, these extraordinary students are up for the challenge. As they chase the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering,” hundreds of civil engineering students will trek to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa June 11-13, 2009 for the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) National Concrete Canoe Competition.

“The National Concrete Canoe Competition is about challenging civil engineering students to use the knowledge they have gained in the classroom, combined with their natural ingenuity and ability to work together as a team, in a fun and engaging way,” said ASCE president D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE. “The experience they gain in this competition will go a long way in helping these students overcome the challenges they will face during their professional careers.”

The 2009 National Concrete Canoe Competition finalists are:

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo         University of Alabama in Huntsville

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona                         University of California, Berkeley

Clemson University                                                                                            University of Cincinnati

École de technologie supérieure                                                      University of Evansville

Fairmont State University                                                                 University of Florida

New Mexico State University                                                                            University of Memphis

Ohio Northern University                                                                 University of Nevada, Reno

Polytechnic Institute of NYU                                                                             University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville                                      University of Texas at Tyler

Université Laval                                                                                   University of Washington

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York            University of Wisconsin-Platteville

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 in four categories—the aesthetics and structural integrity of their canoe; a technical design paper highlighting their planning, development, testing and construction; an academic presentation covering their canoe’s design, construction, racing ability and other innovative features; and, of course, the performance of the canoe and its paddlers in five different races—men’s and women’s slalom/endurance races and men’s, women’s and co-ed sprint races. Performance in each of the four categories accounts for 25 percent of a team’s total score.

                The competition will kick off Thursday, June 11, on the Quad at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa campus, as the teams’ canoes are weighed, measured and judged for aesthetics. The teams will also “swamp” their canoes in a tank of water to test their flotation ability, and students will have the opportunity to participate in a career fair, where both national and regional sponsors will discuss their products and employment opportunities. Then, Friday, June 12, the teams will deliver and defend their academic presentations—including outlines of the design, cost and construction of their canoe—in front of a panel of professional civil engineers. Finally, on Saturday, June 13, the students will gather for the canoe races at Lake Nicol in Tuscaloosa. The endurance races will begin at 8 a.m., the preliminary sprint races will begin at 11 a.m. and the sprint finals will begin at 2 p.m. The event will conclude with a banquet, where the winners will be announced and the competition awards distributed.

                The event, organized by ASCE, is being hosted by the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and is made possible by the support of the American Concrete Institute; Baker Concrete Construction; World of Concrete; and Holcim U.S. Inc. For more information on the National Concrete Canoe Competition, including a schedule of events and downloadable high-resolution photos, please visit: www.concretecanoe.asce.org.

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; World of Concrete; and Holcim U.S. Inc. This year’s event is hosted by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.

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