USC Viterbi hosted the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) 17th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition bringing together over 250 local High School students to participate in a full-day event that cultivates and celebrates the engineering profession.
More than 60 student teams, professional judges, volunteers, and media came to the USC campus. The event was organized by the local Younger Member Forum of ASCE and the ASCE USC student chapter, facilitated by the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at USC.
A student tests his project before the event
Competition participants from last years 16th Annual event as they gear up for the event.
For over 16 years now students from Los Angeles and Orange County have gathered for this event that rotates among college campuses throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. Activities this year at USC included poster competitions, technical reports, students presenting their project in front of professional judges, campus tours, and, of course, loading their popsicle bridges in the material’s lab.
The competition was an opportunity to expose local high school students to a college campus and help them understand the benefits of pursuing higher education. It also and promoted the engineering profession to the community.
The event kicked off the Engineers' Week celebration, which was nationally observed throughout the country, February 20th to February 26th. The winning students received a scholarship and trophies and will be invited to a formal dinner with other local universities held by the Younger Member Forum of ASCE.
The event continues to grow each year. Last year the Los Angeles Council of Engineers and Scientists recognized the 2010 PSBC event with the Harry Staubs Memorial Award for Community Service, and the event has been previously featured in the LA Times, KNBC-TV, Channel 35, and local university media.
More information can be found on the event’s website: http://bridge.mlab-ymf.org.
Civil engineering students perform final tests before the competition kicks off
