FSU and WVUIT Host ASCE Competition

Fairmont State University and WVU Institute of Technology will host the 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Virginias Conference on April 17-19 in Summersville, W.Va.

The theme for this event is "Civil Engineers Can Do It." Students from Bluefield State College and students in the WVUIT engineering program on the Marshall campus are also assisting with this venue, making it a collaboration of many dedicated ASCE student members throughout West Virginia.

The Virginias Conference is an annual event bringing together 13 civil engineering and civil engineering technology programs from West Virginia, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Out of state students receive the opportunity to experience what West Virginia has to offer in both civil engineering and natural beauty. About 250 students are expected to participate.

The conference provides students a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience by competing in many engineering related competitions, including two national level events: The Concrete Canoe Competition and The Steel Bridge Design and Construction Competition. A "Can-Do"structure competition will also provide a service component to the conference. All of the canned goods used to build the structures will later be donated to the local food pantry. Additional on-site competitions include the following: Problem Solving, Surveying, Concrete Bowling, Concrete Frisbee, Environmental, Hardy Cross Oral Presentation and Engineering Jeopardy. The general public is invited to watch these competitions.

Most of the competitions will be held on Friday, April 18, at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center. The concrete canoe races will be held on Saturday, April 19, on Summersville Lake along with the athletic portions of Concrete Bowling and Concrete Frisbee.

In addition to the student competitions, a job fair/local business display area will be set up on Friday, April 18, in the arena, along with all the engineered student products.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase your business or learn more about Civil Engineering and the Summersville area," said Tia Como, faculty advisor for FSU. "Please contact me or one of the other faculty advisors if you would like to set up a display. The viewing of this venue is free and open to the general public."

For more information, contact Melissa Thompson, the faculty advisor from WVUIT, at (304) 442-3300 or melissa.thompson@mail.wvu.edu or Tia Como, faculty advisor for FSU, at (304) 367-4629 or tia.como@fairmontstate.edu. For those attending the event, the host hotel is the Comfort Inn.