Local students going to National Bridge Building finals

Special to The Mississippi Link

JACKSON – Middle and high school students around Mississippi recently competed in the Transportation and Civil Engineering (TRAC) program Bridge Building Competition.

Four teams from Mississippi were chosen to compete in the National Bridge Building Finals. Two teams from Tupelo Middle School and two teams from Tupelo High School went on to compete in the finals which were held in Traverse City, Michigan on May 18, during the AASHTO Spring Meeting.

The TRAC program introduces students to a wide variety of career opportunities available in the field of engineering, while teaching students how to apply math and science concepts to engineering problems in the transportation systems.

“Education makes a large impact in the area of transportation,” said Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall. “Allowing these students the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experiences in bridge building will one day influence the transportation system.”

Students from Booneville Middle School, Olive Branch High School, Newton County Vocational Technical School, and Tupelo Middle and High School competed against other TRAC students across the country in the first stages of the National Bridge Building Competition.

In December 2011, students were sent a TRAC Challenge Entry Kit consisting of a problem, challenge and specifications regarding a bridge, and materials to build the bridge. Each team submitted their proposal for the bridge to TRAC headquarters.

Three teams from each grade division, 7 & 8, 9 & 10, 11 & 12, were chosen to attend the National TRAC Challenge Competition Finals at the AASHTO Spring Meeting in May. All teams will be judged on performance, oral presentation, and bridge design and construction.

The four teams from Mississippi competed against other states at the finals.