FSU Team Places at National Concrete Canoe Competition

Fairmont State University's American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter had an impressive showing at the 22nd Annual ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on June 11-13.

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FSU's concrete canoe team placed 17th overall in the competition, hosted by the University of Alabama, and 10th in the Final Product category, the first time the team has ever placed in this category. Team Co-Captain Tabitha Neuhauser received a $1,000 scholarship from Baker Concrete.

FSU's ASCE Student Chapter was presented with the Ridgeway Finalist award, which is the top award for all 300 international ASCE student chapters based on overall activities in the chapter's annual report. FSU also received the Zone 4 Governors Award, the top award for a six-state zone.

FSU remains the only state university to be invited to compete at the national level. FSU has represented the region at the National Concrete Canoe Competition the last five years, with a 20th place finish last year in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The 2009 FSU Concrete Canoe Team is led by Charlie French, Captain, and Co-Captains, Tabitha Neuhauser and Brian Lake. Other team members are Josh Smith, Justin Tennant, Lauren Allan and Stephanie Slaubaugh.

The concrete canoe competition comprises four main categories which are equally weighted. These include a technical paper, an oral presentation, the product and display and five races. The students must follow strict rules that dictate what their concrete matrix can consist of and, of course, the boat must float, to be eligible for the races.

Building on the traditions of previous teams, this year's team wanted to take a new, radical approach for their 2009 entry, "The Punisher." One of the team's main focuses this year was to improve the overall aesthetics, while reducing the weight of the canoe. Last year's entry, "Black Angel," weighed in at a hefty 260 pounds. Input from the paddlers confirmed that the heavier canoe took too long to get to top speed during the races.

The 2009 ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition teams in order of final rank are:

1. University of California, Berkeley
2. cole de technologie suprieure
3. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
4. University of Florida
5. University of Nevada, Reno
6. New Mexico State University
7. University Laval
8. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
9. University of Alabama in Huntsville
10. University of Cincinnati
11. University of Wisconsin - Platteville
12. Clemson University
13. Ohio Northern University
14. Polytechnic Institute of New York University
15. University of Evansville
16. University of Washington
17. Fairmont State University
18. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
19. University of Texas at Tyler
20. University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
21. University of Memphis
22. University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

For more information about Fairmont State's ASCE Student Chapter, call Tia Como, P.E., Professor, at (304) 367-4629 or e-mail her at tia.como@fairmontstate.edu.

 

 

Fairmont State University's ASCE Student Chapter placed10^th in the Final Product category, the first time the team has ever placed in this category.

Shown from left to right in the back row are Josh Smith, Advisor Tia Como, Captain Charlie French, Co-Captain Brian Lake. In the front row are Lauren Allan, Stephanie Slaubaugh and Co-Captain Tabitha Neuhauser.

Pictured from left to right are Stephanie Slaubaugh, Tabitha Neuhauser, Josh Smith, Charlie French, Brian Lake and Lauren Allan.