Winners of 11th annual bridge competition named

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Students from Oak Ridge, Ste. Genevieve and Notre Dame Regional high schools took the top three spots for best overall performance in the Missouri Department of Transportation's 11th annual Bridge Building Competition.

The winners were named Nov. 20. The contest challenges high school juniors and seniors to design and construct the most efficient model bridge using limited materials -- 15 pieces of balsa wood, thread and glue.

The winning schools received cash prizes donated by the Southeast Chapter Transportation Employee Association of Missouri.

In addition, five students were recognized for building the lightest bridges that carried the greatest loads. First place went to Tessa Mangels of Oak Ridge; second to Gabe Shrout, also of Oak Ridge; and third to Andrew DeRousse of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Fourth went to Jessica Hahs of Oak Ridge, and fifth to Bryan Schaaf of Ste. Genevieve.

Monica Foltz of Notre Dame won most aesthetic bridge, and the computer-based electronic bridge award was presented to Morgan Schenck of Ste. Genevieve High School.

Prize donations and supply sponsorships have been made possible by the following businesses and organizations: Southeast Chapter of Transportation Employee Association of Missouri, Cape West 14 Cine, Three Rivers College, Cape Area Engineers Club, Southeast Physics and Engineering Club, the Southeast Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, Kirlin's Hallmark of Cape Girardeau, Coca-Cola, Sam's Club and the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety.

MoDOT also partnered with Arkansas State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri-Columbia and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to offer seniors interested in civil engineering up to $10,000 in scholarships.

Members of the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety were on hand during the competition to discuss the importance of buckling-up with the Seat Belt Convincer, which simulates how it feels to be in a traffic crash.