EducationNovember 22, 2024

High school student excel at MoDOT's 21st Annual Bridge Building Competition, winning cash prizes for innovative designs. Top performers also earn scholarships for civil engineering programs.

Anna Kluesner of Leopold, right, is presented with a check for her first-place finish at the Nov. 21 Missouri Department of Transportation bridge building competition.
Anna Kluesner of Leopold, right, is presented with a check for her first-place finish at the Nov. 21 Missouri Department of Transportation bridge building competition.Courtesy MoDOT
Leopold was presented with second place for its performance at the annual MoDOT bridge competition. Instructor Julia Horell is presented with a check for Leopold's finish in the annual compeition.
Leopold was presented with second place for its performance at the annual MoDOT bridge competition. Instructor Julia Horell is presented with a check for Leopold's finish in the annual compeition.Courtesy MoDOT
Piper Lincoln of Leopold, right, was recognized for placing eighth overall at the MoDOT bridge competition Nov. 21.
Piper Lincoln of Leopold, right, was recognized for placing eighth overall at the MoDOT bridge competition Nov. 21.
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After weeks of work to build the most efficient model bridges, Southeast Missouri high school students put their bridges to the test Nov. 21 at Missouri Department of Transportation's 21st annual Bridge Building Competition.

The competition challenges high school juniors and seniors to design and construct the most efficient model bridge using limited materials — balsa wood, thread and glue.

Ste. Genevieve High School, Leopold High School and Perryville Area Career and Technology Center received first, second and third place for best overall performance, respectively. These schools received cash prizes.

In addition, students were recognized for building the lightest bridges that carried the greatest loads. Winners included:

First – Anna Kluesner, Leopold;

Second – Jonathan Pfeiffer, Saxony Lutheran;

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Third – Aveney Kandiah, Notre Dame Regional;

Fourth – Lane Okenfuss, Perryville CTC;

Fifth – Sophia Huck, Ste. Genevieve.

Other awards included the most aesthetic bridge presented to Ian Cairns of Ste. Genevieve High School and the computer-based electronic bridge award presented to Logan Shy of Delta High School.

MoDOT also partnered with Arkansas State University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to offer seniors interested in civil engineering up to $10,000 in scholarships.

Representatives from Cape Girardeau Safe Communities were on hand to educate students on safe driving with the Fatal Vision goggles.

“It’s important to come to learn about the engineering process and the importance of traffic safety. We have had five kids recently go in to engineering, and I think this event may have helped them go into the programs,” said Darla Bridges, Bernie High School teacher.

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