May 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Hewes
805-756-6402 ahewes@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Dominates Regional Civil Engineering Contest
Advances to National Finals
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly students placed first overall in the American Society of Civil Engineers Pacific Southwest Regional Conference for the 11th time in 12 years. The win was secured with six first place wins in the Concrete Canoe competition.
Held at Cal State Northridge, the competition pitted 84 civil engineering students from Cal Poly’s student chapter against teams from Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and Japan.
The first-place regional win secures Cal Poly’s place at the national finals which will be held in Montreal, June 19-21.
"The conference was filled with many exciting moments, including many close canoe races," said Sheila Shideh, executive vice president of the Cal Poly Society of Civil Engineers. "I am so proud of all SCE members who participated, every one of whom contributed to our ultimate victory."
The competition is scored on design, project management, oral and written presentations, teamwork, and the performance of the canoe. Cal Poly placed first in Men’s Sprint, Men’s Slalom/Endurance, Oral Presentation and Final Product. The team came in second for Design Paper, Women’s Sprint, Women’s Slalom/Endurance, and Co-ed Sprint.
In other conference events, Cal Poly placed first in Surveying, Quiz Bowl, Concrete Frisbee, Wiffle Ball and Tug-of-War.
In addition to the Southwest Regional Conference win, the Cal Poly chapter
was awarded the ASCE Region 9 Governor’s Award for most outstanding club.
Cal Poly was also one of six Robert Ridgway Award Finalists this year, a distinction earned by less than 3 percent of all ASCE student chapters nationwide.
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