WKU News

Western Kentucky University’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter brought home an array of accolades from the 2024 ASCE Indiana-Kentucky Student Symposium.

WKU was among 12 teams composed of civil engineering students in the competition held April 11-13 at the Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, IN.

In canoe contests, WKU placed first in the categories of Technical Paper, Presentation, Final Product, and Overall.

In steel bridge contests, WKU placed first in the categories of Lightness and Construction Economy. They also placed in the top three in the categories of Construction Speed, Structural Efficiency, Stiffness, Aesthetics, Cost Estimation, and Overall.

Canoe races were canceled due to weather.

The theme for the canoe, chosen by the team members, was selected to honor the 150th Kentucky Derby. Named Horsepower, the canoe features 150 stained red roses along the bottom. The canoe also features 36 roses along the top to represent each year of the concrete canoe competition, and 20 horses running along the interior of the canoe to indicate the competing horses in the Kentucky Derby. 

Horsepower “reflects pride for our Kentucky home, diligent work ethic, and unbridled spirit at WKU,” concrete canoe team member, Isabel Gray, said.

Team members include Isabel Gray of London, Carelynn Hartmann of Dry Ridge, Rob Skipworth of Russellville, Ryan Greenwood of Louisville, Sarah Holt of Springfield, Tennessee, Mitchell Johnson of Evansville, Indiana, Leah Bell of Monticello, Dylan Jackson of Bowling Green, Meaghan Czarnecki of Georgetown, Hunter Fred of Pegram, Tennessee, Dylan Stephens of Lawrenceburg, Keeley McKnight of Danville, Jaxson McAlpin of Somerset, Laken Moffitt of Wingo, Ryan Bruce of Whitley City, Caleb Massey of Bowling Green, and Evan Brittenham of Bowling Green.

The Concrete Canoe Team will have another opportunity to race at the ASCE Civil Engineering Student Championships held on June 20-22, 2024 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

The Steel Bridge Team qualified for the Student Steel Bridge Competition, a national finals event, held May 31-June 1, 2024 at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.

Contact: Jason Wilson, jason.wilson@wku.edu