Orange County Branch Newsletter

February 2015

ASCE PSBC

Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition Call for Volunteers (February 28, 2015)


By: Remi Candaele, PE

ASCE annually hosts a Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition (PSBC) for the high school students in the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino/Riverside County area. This event brings together hundreds of local high school students to participate in a full-day celebration of math, science, and engineering. This year’s event will be held at Los Angeles Union Station on February 28, 2015.

We are looking for volunteers to assist with judging, facilitating, and or registering the 66 teams of high schools that have signed up. For further details, please visit https://2015-psbc-volunteers.eventbrite.com or contact Eric Walker with questions.

Through this competition, the students will gain exposure to the civil engineering profession while learning about the design process, team work, and meeting deadlines. The popsicle stick bridges will be designed and constructed by the students prior to the event. On the day of the event, the students will present their bridge and test the strength of their bridge under a loading machine. This competition is a fun way for students to think critically, learn to problem solve, be innovative and collaborative, and recognize the importance of pursuing higher education.