University of Florida The University of Florida won first place at the 2025 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals at Iowa State University, taking the crown for the fifth year in a row.
But for the team, winning isn’t just about the title, but also the satisfaction of being able to showcase a year’s worth of effort.
“It's really, really rewarding because you put in so much work throughout the year and a lot of your free time outside of school goes into the bridge,” said Damian Blanco, one of two team captains.
A partnership between ASCE and the American Institute of Steel Construction, the Student Steel Bridge Competition is an annual event in which ASCE student chapter teams develop a scale-model steel bridge.
This year’s edition of the event challenged participants to create a bridge over the Skunk River Water Trail in Story County, Iowa. The goal of the bridge is to better connect walking trails throughout the park.
Peterson Park is a popular spot for people in the area to enjoy the river and observe plants and wildlife. The 2025 Student Steel Bridge Competition emphasized protecting and enhancing the park’s environment as a major focus for contest entries.
Teams were scored across seven categories. Of 43 competitors, the University of Florida placed first in both stiffness and efficiency. High performance in lightness, cost estimate, and economy also contributed to the team’s victory.
Lafayette College claimed second place in the competition, and Virginia Tech finished third. Lincoln Memorial University won the Robert E. Shaw Jr. Spirit of the Competition award; Kennesaw State University received the Frank J. Hatfield Ingenuity award; Clemson University secured the John M. Yadlosky Most Improved Team Award; and the University of California, San Diego, won the Team Engagement Award.
In addition to technical skill, Blanco and fellow team captain Emma Robert credit their win to the team’s dedication and camaraderie.
“All of our members were very willing to put in their free time to help us build and design this bridge,” said Robert.
Blanco noted that this year, a majority of team members had returned from previous years. Throughout this time, the team has become very close, which also helped them quickly integrate new members and show them the ropes.
“It doesn't really feel like work or a school project – it feels like we're building something cool with our best friends from college,” he said.
The team – and everyone else at the competition – all demonstrated good sportsmanship, which Robert said made the overall experience very positive.
