DelDOT's 6th annual Bridge Design Competition draws record attendence

DOVER, Del. - Last week's 6th annual Bridge Design Competition hosted at PolyTech High School drew record numbers of student participation according to DelDOT. 

DelDOT says that 161 teams comprising over 500 students across 29 schools were involved in the day long event. Meant to engage students interested in math, science, and engineering, the program is designed to encourage middle school and high school students to consider careers in civil engineering and transportation and address real world issues.

Shanté Hastings, the Secretary of Transportation at DelDOT, was excited by the record turnout and looks forward to what students will bring in the future.

“This year’s event was a great success, and we undoubtedly have students with the potential for careers in engineering," said Hastings. "We hope this event continues to inspire the next generation of engineers who build things big and small that will benefit our state and communities."

The top three finishers in each grade bracket received scholarship money donated by the competition's sponsors. The finalists are as follows:

• Middle School
• 1^st Place: JOLT / Talley Middle School
• 2^nd Place: Big Brains / Shue-Medill Middle School
• 3^rd Place: The A’s / Georgetown Middle School

• 9th and 10th Grades
• 1^st Place: Golden Gate Warriors / Smyrna High School
• 2^nd Place: BLT Balsa Salsa / Smyrna High School
• 3^rd Place: The Studious Bunch / Polytech High School

• 11th and 12th Grades
• 1^st Place: The Baddest Bridges / Smyrna High School
• 2^nd Place: KJP Builders / Caravel Academy
• 3^rd Place: Pinnacle Princesses / Caesar Rodney High School

Other superlative awards were also given out, including:

• Best Logo:
  • Bridges by the Bay / Frederick Thomas Middle School
  • Truss Issues / Polytech High School
  • Constructor Crew / McKean High School
    
    
• Best Team Name:
  • First State Bridges / Georgetown Middle School
  • Get Bridgy With It / Smyrna High School
  • Cross That Bridge When We Get There / Conrad School of Sciences
    
    
• Most Aesthetically Pleasing Bridge:
  • Vidar / Sanford School
  • Bridge Bunch / Polytech High School
  • The Sparklers / Padua Academy