MoDOT contest tries to show other sides of engineering

In holding its annual bridge building competition, the Missouri Department of Transportation hoped to make students more aware of the diversity in the field of civil engineering.

Thirty-five area juniors and seniors from 12 schools participated in the second annual contest on Thursday.

Three weeks ago, students were given kits containing wood, glue and blue thread to design and build the most efficient bridge.

Efficient means the lightest bridge that was able to hold the most weight.

First place went to Curt Gegg from Ste. Genevieve High School for a bridge that weighed 30.75 grams and held 57.3 pounds. Gegg won $150.

Second place went to Chris Carnell from Sikeston High School for a bridge that weighed 53.74 grams and held the most weight of all the bridges in the competition, 56.8 pounds. He won $100, plus $25 for the most creative bridge.

Third place went to Tom Polhamus from Oak Ridge High School for a bridge that weighed 31.15 grams and held 32.9 pounds. He won $50.

Ryne Maddox from Sikeston High School, won a $100 savings bond from US Bank in the online bridge-building competition.

Adam Basler from Ste. Genevieve won $25 for the most aesthetic bridge.

The University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Rolla, Arkansas State, Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale all offered scholarships totaling $8,500. The student's efficiency scores, ACT scores and high school transcripts will be sent to the schools so they can award the scholarships.

Other local competitors were Levon Peetz, a senior from Scott City High School, Alex Baugh, a senior from Notre Dame Regional High School, and Brock Seabaugh, a senior at Central High School.

ameyer@semissourian.com

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