SIKESTON—After weeks of work to build the most efficient model bridges, Southeast Missouri high school students put their bridges to the test yesterday at the completion of MoDOT’s 18th Annual Bridge Building Competition.
This screenshot from the MoDOT video of the event shows the moment the bridge entered by Ste. Genevieve High School failed.
When the splinters from falling bridges settled, the Perryville Area Career and Technology Center finished in third place, behind Oak Ridge and Chaffee High Schools.
The competition challenged 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 top three schools received cash prizes donated by the SE Chapter Transportation Employee Association of Missouri.
Two River Region students finished in the top 10: Kile Ullman of Perryville Area Career and Technology Center in seventh place and Braden Huck of Ste. Genevieve in eighth place.
This video shows the Ste. Genevieve entry being tested at the 10 minute mark: https://youtu.be/cW4S1NPwSGU
Additional videos are available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6Vl2TkQ2nYlCF3Bzjqyfw
Prize donations and supply sponsorships have been made possible by the following businesses and organizations: SE Chapter Transportation Employee Association of Missouri, Three Rivers College and the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety.
MoDOT also partnered with Arkansas State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Southern Illinois University to offer seniors interested in civil engineering up to $10,000 in scholarships.
Since this year’s competition was held virtually, the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety partnered with the Bridge Building Competition team to offer participating high school students a chance to win prizes by taking the Buckle Up Phone Down challenge.
To learn more about the BUPD challenge, please visit modot.org/BuckleUpPhoneDown.
For more information, please contact Senior Highway Designer Anita Clark (anita.clark@modot.mo.gov) or Senior Highway Designer Gretchen Hanks (gretchen.hanks@modot.mo.gov) at (573) 472-5294.