Robust bridges performed well at the 53rd Annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition

Written by: Peter Soeth

A bridge being tested at the 53rd Annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition.DENVER - Students from around Colorado tested their bridge designs at the 53rd Annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at the Bureau of Reclamation laboratory at the Denver Federal Center. Students designed small scale bridges to meet competition specifications and competed to see whose bridge was the most efficient. The top two finishers in each region are eligible to compete in the International Bridge Building Competition in Chicago, Illinois on May 9.

Each year, students from across Colorado gather at the Bureau of Reclamation’s Concrete and Structural Laboratory to test out their homemade, small-scale bridges. These bridges are made by the students, using only a few, basic materials. At the competition, these bridges are then tested to determine how much weight each is able to support. The top three bridges determined to have the highest structural efficiency ratings determine each region’s top three winners.

The state is split into two regions: northern (Region 1) and southern (Region 2). The first and second place winners from each region are invited to compete at the International Bridge Building Competition, where prizes have included college scholarships that go toward science and engineering education programs. This year, first place students from Region 1 and Region 2 each took home $500 cash and a $1,500 scholarship to attend an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. Accredited Engineering School.

In Region 1, Andre Stablein of Front Range Christian High School took first place when his 6.46 gram bridge held a maximum load of 58.01 kilograms for an efficiency of 8,981. Devin Sexton of Cherry Creek High School took second place when his 21.12 gram bridge held a maximum load of 94.1 kilograms for an efficiency of 4,455. Lastly, Leo Kreinbrink of Denver School of Science and Technology took third when his 25.42 gram bridge held a maximum load of 100.67 kilograms for an efficiency of 3,960.

In Region 2, Max Pizzimenti of Rampart High School took first when his 33.03 gram bridge held 110.47 kilograms for an efficiency of 3,345. Zac Huddle of Rampart High School took second when his 28.56 gram bridge held 75.49 kilograms for an efficiency of 2,643. Lastly, Steven Kintz of Rampart High School took third when his 32.06 gram bridge held 66.2 kilograms for an efficiency of 2,065.

The Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition is aimed at providing interaction and communication among practicing engineers, high school students, and other professionals. Its underlying objectives are to enhance the appeal of engineering careers to high school students, begin establishing their relationships within the professional community, and improve the prospects that such careers will be mutually beneficial to both society and the individual. The competition is sponsored by Reclamation, the National Society of Professional Engineers of Colorado and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado.

Published on March 02, 2020