Student ASCE group takes concrete canoe for last ride before transition to new professional organizations

Starting in Fall semester 2021, Cincinnati State’s Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will dissolve after 22 years of activities, to be replaced with student involvement in other professional organizations.

• A student chapter of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) will begin in Fall for students in the Land Surveying programs (associate’s and bachelor’s). This organization offers competitions and professional networking opportunities for students.
   
  
• For students in Civil Engineering Technologies – Architecture and Construction Majors, focus will turn to interaction with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) professional organization as well as community outreach through Habitat for Humanity projects.

In early May 2021, several Land Surveying students tested the concrete canoe that was built for the Spring 2020 ASCE Ohio Valley Student Conference. The competitions did not take place because of the pandemic.

The 2020 Concrete Canoe Team (photo above), including team captain Jamie Morman, Cara Morman, Brennan Tryling, and Johnny Swiecki, took the canoe to Hidden Valley Lake in Lawrenceburg, IN, where they ran 2-person and 4-person sprint and agility races against a traditional canoe.

According to ASCE, the concrete canoe competition provides civil engineering students an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical experience and leadership skills by working with concrete mix designs and project management challenges.

After finishing the races, the team broke the vehicle (photo below) so they could dispose of the last concrete canoe that Cincinnati State will race.

ASCE student chapter advisor Dr. Carol Morman, the Program Chair for the Land Surveying associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, thanked the College for the support that was provided to the ASCE student organization.

“The help from the College and from Student Activities in particular was fantastic,” Carol said.

“I believe that each student who participated in our ASCE chapter grew personally, academically, and professionally, and their involvement helped to shape at least a portion of their careers so far,” Carol added.

(Photos provided by Carol Morman)