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By Carol Martin
SooToday.com
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Katrina Brain was one of several hundred Sault-area students who got to learn today about the goodness of gussets.The Grand View Public School Grade 7 student was participating for the first time in the 20th Annual Bridge Building contest at Sault College.
Katrina's design caught the eye of the judges for its unusual style and design.
Her design turned out to be quite effective.
Katrina's bridge supported more than 26 pounds of pressure, a good showing for a first crack at the contest and one that captured second place in her category.
She says she' will be back next year with a bridge with stronger gussets.
The gussets that connected the beams of her bridge finally failed under pressure from the crusher.
International Bridge Authority General Manager Phil Becker, a special guest at the contest, explained to participants that gussets - triangular plates used to connect beams or truss members to load-bearing columns, are one of the most critical component of a bridge.
Katrina was listening.
Carefully.
Thirty students from Grand View Public School attended the event with their teacher, Grant Grbich, who said the school has been participating in the event since it launched and he's been bringing students for 18 years.
A news release with results follows.
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20th Anniversary bridge smashing was a huge success
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - (May 9, 2009) - On Saturday, May 9th Sault College celebrated its 20th anniversary of the Bridge Building competition.
More than 200 area elementary and high school students entered the competition.
Each bridge was tested for strength, design and logic.
Bridges were made out of balsa wood, using a standard purchased kit, and prizes will be awarded in three categories: Grades 5 and 6, Grades 7 and 8, Grades 9 through 12.
YES FM did a remote broadcast in the morning and the multi-media centre was packed with participants and family supporters.
And the winners are...
Grade 5-6 category
44 bridges entered
1 - Franc Marrato and Alex Gelmech
Rosedale
2 - Brendan Acorn
Grand View
3 - Elijah Nielsen
East View
4 - Austin Rowe, Michael Reid
St. Mary’s French Immersion
5 - Jarik Henriksen
Tarentorous
6 - Olivia Lingle, Rosedale
Grade 7-8 Category
86 bridges entered.
1 - Maddison Ryckman
Grand View
2 - Katrina Brain
Grand View
3 - Samantha Holmberg, Lexxi Saarinen
Grand View
4 - Kristen Wise
River View
5 - Cassandra VanBoerdonk
Ben R McMullin
6 - Quinn Barban, Ryan Morin
Grand View
Grade 9-12 category
Six bridges entered
1 - Ryan Griswold, Sir James Dunn
2 - Jason Allen, Sir James Dunn
3 - Juliann Ushley, Sir James Dunn
To mark the 20th anniversary celebration, all participants received a “Get Crushed” t-shirt and enjoyed some anniversary cake.
Phil Becker, PE, general manager of the International Bridge Administration, has generously offered the winners of the Grade 7 & 8 and Grade 9-12 category an exclusive opportunity to an arch tour of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge.
This year the community sponsorship for the competition has been overwhelming.
Sponsors include the School College Work Initiative, Professional Engineers Ontario, International Bridge Administration, JMC Builders, The Ontario Association of Architects, Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, Avery Construction, Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie North, Walker Wm R Engineering Inc., Balsa USA, and of course, Sault College’s Civil/Construction Engineering Technician programs.
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