Smithers schools fared best in the lower grades while Prince Rupert dominated the upper grades in a unique engineering contest at the end of April.
Students from schools in four northwestern B.C. communities tested their construction and design skills using popsicle sticks and glue to build small bridges.
The goal is not only to be decorative but also to build a structure strong enough to withstand the downward pressure of a pneumatic test device.
“Each team is given 100 popsicle sticks and a small bottle of multipurpose white glue to use in building the bridge,” explained Stuart Toop from Engineers and Geoscientists, B.C., the association that organized and adjudicated the competitions in collaboration with Coast Mountain College.
“Teams can also include any decorations they would like, as long as it doesn’t add to the strength of the bridge. Some students used figurines, battery-operated lights, sparks, paint and construction paper.”
More than 700 students from Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers and Telkwa built 235 bridges.
Decision day came April 26 at Coast Mountain College in Smithers where students from local schools watched in person while students from elsewhere observed via live stream.
Volunteers helped transport all the out-of-town bridges to Smithers and managed them during the competition period.
A large screen on top of the device displays the pressure in pounds being applied to each bridge.
There were four categories based on grade levels — Category 1 for Grades 3 to 5, Category 2 for Grades 6 and 7, Category 3 for Grades 8 to 10 and Category 4 for Grades 11 and 12. There were winners for both strength and innovative design.
LNG Canada sponsored the event.
Winners (Strength)
Category 1
1. Sandy Salamanders (Grade 4, St. Joseph’s, Smithers)
2. The Bluey Bridge by: PDP Building (Grade 4, St. Joseph’s, Smithers)
Category 2
1. Wonky Donkeys (Grade 7, Heartwood, Smithers)
2. Galactic Monkeys (Grade 7, Walnut Park, Smithers)
Category 3
1. Sugarplum Transit (Grade 8, Annunciation, Prince Rupert)
2. Led Zeps (Grades 7-8, Heartwood, Smithers)
Category 4
1. Cool Bridge (Grade 11, Charles Hays, Prince Rupert
2. Henna and Anu’s Bridge (Grade 11, Charles Hays, Prince Rupert)
Winners (Innovative Design)
Category 1
1. Dubai Girls (Grade 4, Muheim, Smithers)
2. Unicorn Sprinkle Cups (Grade 3, Uplands, Terrace)
Category 2
1. Galaxy Gurls (Grade 7, Walnut Park, Smithers)
2. The Beatles (Grade 6, Thornhill Elementary, Thornhill)
Category 3
1. 3.0 Original (Grade 8, Annunciation, Prince Rupert)
2. Under the Sea, (Grade 8, Annunciation, Prince Rupert)
Category 4
1. Harmony Overpass (Grade 11, Pacific Coast, Prince Rupert)
2. London Bridge (Grade 11, Charles Hays Secondary, Prince Rupert)