2008 Woodie Awards
Bridge-builders headed to nationals
Matthew Martell
Issue: 5/7/08 Section: News
The top three teams from each region get invited to nationals, so over Memorial Day weekend, the team will fly to Gainesville, Fla., to see how well their bridge stands up to the competition.
Before the team could start constructing the bridge, they had to make themselves a place to work. "We bought a lot of our own tools," said DeBroeck. "We had to build our shop before we could start building the bridge. We started with virtually nothing."
Despite enthusiasm and encouragement from the engineering departments on campus, the team didn't have a location to build until facilities came through for them.
"The engineering departments were a little indecisive about shop access," said Daudistel, "but the facilities guys just let us use their shop. We said we were getting off-campus professional welding training, and they gave us the key."
The team's hard work gave them a huge advantage when it came time for regionals.
"A lot of teams were finishing construction the day before regionals," said DeBroek. "We load-tested six weeks ago, so we scrambled to stay ahead of the game."
Team members also noted the amount of dedication it can take to assemble a bridge of this size.
"The bridge is composed of 53 pieces," said team member Glenn Strid. "It's 20 feet long, and it weighs 190 pounds."
Given that engineers are usually only responsible for designing structures and not for the intensive manual labor they require, the team's do-it-yourself job provided them with loads of perspective on how construction of these structures is really done.
"Doing this shows professionals that you're committed to what you're doing," said DeBroeck. "It gives you a lot of respect for the fabricators. You realize it's not nearly as easy as you thought it was when you were designing it."
Team members said that the university has shown immense support for their efforts. ASSU allocated $2,000 for shop equipment and supplies, and the dean's office of the College of Science and Engineering contributed $1,200 toward travel expenses for regionals. The team is now seeking the $6,000 needed to get the team and their bridge to nationals.
Likewise, local engineering firms have had a hand in getting the team to their destinations. "We've already reached out for regionals and are reaching out again to the engineering community to get money so we can go to nationals," said Daudistel.
More than anything, however, the bridge is a labor of love for the team.
"We just like to build stuff," said Daudistel. "We have idle hands. We felt like there wasn't a lot we could do to enhance our education experience outside of going to class and doing our homework. This project enables us to relate the concept of our homework to the practicum of building a bridge."
Before the team could start constructing the bridge, they had to make themselves a place to work. "We bought a lot of our own tools," said DeBroeck. "We had to build our shop before we could start building the bridge. We started with virtually nothing."
Despite enthusiasm and encouragement from the engineering departments on campus, the team didn't have a location to build until facilities came through for them.
"The engineering departments were a little indecisive about shop access," said Daudistel, "but the facilities guys just let us use their shop. We said we were getting off-campus professional welding training, and they gave us the key."
The team's hard work gave them a huge advantage when it came time for regionals.
"A lot of teams were finishing construction the day before regionals," said DeBroek. "We load-tested six weeks ago, so we scrambled to stay ahead of the game."
Team members also noted the amount of dedication it can take to assemble a bridge of this size.
"The bridge is composed of 53 pieces," said team member Glenn Strid. "It's 20 feet long, and it weighs 190 pounds."
Given that engineers are usually only responsible for designing structures and not for the intensive manual labor they require, the team's do-it-yourself job provided them with loads of perspective on how construction of these structures is really done.
"Doing this shows professionals that you're committed to what you're doing," said DeBroeck. "It gives you a lot of respect for the fabricators. You realize it's not nearly as easy as you thought it was when you were designing it."
Team members said that the university has shown immense support for their efforts. ASSU allocated $2,000 for shop equipment and supplies, and the dean's office of the College of Science and Engineering contributed $1,200 toward travel expenses for regionals. The team is now seeking the $6,000 needed to get the team and their bridge to nationals.
Likewise, local engineering firms have had a hand in getting the team to their destinations. "We've already reached out for regionals and are reaching out again to the engineering community to get money so we can go to nationals," said Daudistel.
More than anything, however, the bridge is a labor of love for the team.
"We just like to build stuff," said Daudistel. "We have idle hands. We felt like there wasn't a lot we could do to enhance our education experience outside of going to class and doing our homework. This project enables us to relate the concept of our homework to the practicum of building a bridge."
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