Source: American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Va.
After a grueling three-day battle of academic and athletic skills, students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, beat out teams from 22 other top engineering schools to win their second consecutive National Concrete Canoe Competition with a 208-lb. vessel named Cetacea. For the year leading up to the event, teams of civil engineering students from the United States and Canada logged thousands of hours researching, designing and constructing their canoes. After winning in regional competitions throughout the spring, 23 top engineering schools matched their skill and wit in the national finals.
Taking home a $5,000 scholarship and a trophy, Cal Poly edged out University of Wisconsin-Madison ($2,500 scholarship) and Université Laval, Quebec City ($1,500 scholarship) in the 24th annual event, sponsored by World of Concrete, Baker Concrete Construction, U.S. Silica, and DS Solid Works. The 25th competition will take place at the University of Nevada-Reno on June 14–16, 2012. — www.concretecanoe.asce.org