BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE

By Harold Gwin

High school students vie in event at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Matt Schaefer and Robin Rockney were a picture of concentration as they meticulously cut and glued tiny pieces of balsa wood to the bridge they were building.

Schaefer, a junior, was the more experienced member of the Canfield High School team, having participated in the first Mahoning Valley Miniature Bridge Building Competition held a year ago at Youngstown State University.

He teamed up with Rockney, a sophomore, for the second annual event Friday at YSU.

“It’s exciting,” Schaefer said.

About 50 students from eight area high schools participated, most working in teams of three — but a few with just two team members.

The latter was the case for Rockney and Schaefer, prompting Rockney to note that they weren’t sure they would be able to finish their wood-and-glue bridge in the allotted time because they lacked a third team member. They made it, with time to spare.

“We’re very confident,” they said in unison, scarcely taking time to look up as they were questioned about their work.

The competition was organized as an introduction to the field of civil engineering, said Rebekah Benner of ms consultants inc., coordinator of the event. It’s supported by civil engineers in the Mahoning Valley, she said, and Boardman Hobby Center has donated the materials used in the construction process for both years of the event.

The long-range goal is to secure enough sponsorships to begin offering civil engineering scholarships for any competition participant who decides to pursue that career field at YSU, she said, adding that the scholarship would be available in the student’s junior year at the university.

Schools usually have their own bridge-building competition to select teams to come to this event, Benner said.

The bridges, measuring just 12 inches long, are judged on the basis of strength (how much weight they can support versus what the bridge itself weighs), meeting mandatory specifications and aesthetics, said Brian Hughes, an engineer with ms consultants.

Most of the teams build some form of a truss bridge but there were some arch-style bridges as well, he said.

Once the bridges are built and the glue dried, they are inspected and then load-tested to the point that the structure fails.

Richard Marsico, Mahoning County engineer, joined Anwarul Islam, assistant professor of civil, environmental and chemical engineering at YSU, in serving as a competition judge.

Marsico helped ms consultants launch the program and pointed out that it’s a good way to promote YSU and the field of civil engineering.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said, adding that it also fosters team-building skills among the participants.

This was the first year that Poland Seminary High School sent competitors to the event, and seniors Monica Gray and Becky Hanna made up a team.

They said they built a prototype bridge before the event, pinpointed some problems with their design and made some adjustments that they incorporated in their competition version.

They were confident that their bridge would perform well in the judging process but didn’t want to brag.

“We’ll just say we’re glad to be here,” offered Gray.

Other participating high schools were Austintown Fitch, Choffin Career & Technical Center, Lowellville, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, Springfield Local and Western Reserve.

gwin@vindy.com