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Fairmont State Concrete Canoe Team places 12th at ASCE National Competition Impact
Fairmont State News

Fairmont State Concrete Canoe Team places 12th at ASCE National Competition

Jun 06, 2022

Fairmont State University’s American Society of Civil Engineers team placed 12th at the 35th Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition taking place over the weekend at Louisiana Tech University.

The University’s ASCE team tied its best performance at the national level, earning a 12th ranking for the fourth time. In addition to the team’s 12th place finish, this year’s canoe, “Colonel,” placed seventh in the final product competition. Colonel earned its namesake from and was dedicated to former Fairmont State Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology, the late Gary Zickefoose.

Fairmont State ASCE students Thomas Graden and Griffin Devericks also secured another seventh-place finish in the men’s sprint division.

The Fairmont State ASCE Concrete Canoe team roster includes:

  • Kristi Daetwyler – Team Captain
  • Exavier Posey – Team Captain
  • Griffin Devericks
  • Taylor Farnsworth
  • Thomas Graden
  • Benjamin Haddix
  • Jack Klug
  • Nicholas Kuhn
  • Kaden Statler

Fairmont State remains the only institution in the State of West Virginia to ever qualify for the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition. The University also holds the overall record for the most consecutive national appearances in the competition.

“These students have worked so hard to build their canoe and get to nationals while adhering to all COVID guidelines in an ever-changing environment,"  said ASCE Faculty Advisor and Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Technology, Tabitha Laffere. "This is no small feat and I’m so proud of their accomplishment. With only one senior on the team, nearly all members will be retuning next year so we can expect great things from the students next year as they apply all of the knowledge they have gained over the weekend.”

The ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition provides students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on practical experience while testing their skills with concrete mix designs and project management challenges. This elite competition combining engineering excellence, hydrodynamic design and racing technique is known as the "America's Cup of Civil Engineering." To learn more, visit https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members/conferences/asce-concrete-canoe-competition

For more information about Fairmont State’s Civil Engineering Technology program, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/CET.

American Society of Civil EngineersASCENational Concrete Canoe CompetitionGary ZickefooseTabitha LafferreCivil Engineering Technology