Bridge the Gap

The West Point Bicentennial Engineering Design Contest is a nationwide,
internet-based competition to promote math, science, and technology 
education in elementary and secondary schools in the United States.  
Students is grades K-12 are challenged to create virtual bridges using 
an award winning software package called the West Point Bridge Designer.
The goal of the contest is to model a bridge that meets a realistic set
of design specifications, is structurally adequate, and can be built 
with a minimal cost.  Participation in the contest is free. 

With the West Point Bridge Designer software, students are introduced to 
engineering through the design of a steel highway bridge.  Students can 
work individually or on a 2 person team.  Teams can submit as many 
bridge designs as they like but only the best design will be saved 
and included in the contest standings.

Initially, participants register for the contest, download the software,
design a bridge, and submit their design electronically for judging.  A 
contest scoreboard breaks competitors into four geographical zones for 
awards and lets competitors see how they stand.  The Qualifying Round 
runs from 11 November 2001 through 28 February 2002.  The top 10 
contestants from each of the four zones enter the Semi-Final Round, 
which occurs on 16 March 2002.  On that day, teams will download, 
develop, and submit a design for a new bridge.  The top team from each 
zone and the top 2 teams overall will be invited to West Point for the 
Final Round of the contest.  The all expenses paid trip takes place 
over the weekend of 26 April, during which contestants will have a 
chance to see West Point, compete in the final 2 hour round, and attend 
the contest banquet. 
 
The prizes are significant.  Each member of the first place team will 
receive a $15,000 scholarship.  Each member of the second place team 
will receive a $10,000 scholarship while members of the third place 
team get a $5,000 scholarship each.  In addition, everyone who 
successfully competes in the Final Round will also receive a notebook 
computer.  

Sponsored by the United States Military Academy’s Department of Civil 
and Mechanical Engineering, the contest is fitting because West Point 
was the first school of engineering in the United States.  The contest 
not only commemorates the Academy’s Bicentennial but it is also 
commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the American Society of Civil 
Engineers - the first national professional engineering society in the 
United States.  Funding for the contest came from multiple sources, 
including the Association of Graduates, the American Society of 
Engineers, Verizon, the Department of the Army, and private individuals.


Many of the nation’s most famous early engineers were West Pointers.  
Herman Haupt, Class of 1835, was the Chief Engineer for the Union Army 
and was a pioneer in truss bridge design.  Montgomery Meigs, Class of 
1836, built our nation’s Capitol dome. Thomas Casey, Class of 1852, is 
credited with completing the Washington Monument. George W. Goethals, 
class of 1880, was the chief engineer working on the Panama Canal.  
Given the Academy’s distinguished 200 year history and these famous 
graduates, the Academy’s Bicentennial Year is the perfect time for the 
Engineering Design Contest.  Who knows.....participants in this contest 
may be West Point’s future famous graduates.  

Author’s Note:  To learn more about the project, head to the West Point 
Bicentennial Engineering Design Contest website at 
www.usma.edu/bridgecontest.  You can also help spread the word about 
the contest by visiting your local schools and media outlets.  Let 
educators, students, and journalists know there is a ready to print 
article about the contest available in the resource section of the 
contest site.  There is also a simple flyer you can print and 
distribute to your schools and libraries.    
  
Jackie (Kalata) Whiteside, USMA ‘93
I welcome your comments at Rangersct@aol.com.