UB Students' Concrete Canoe Places in Regional Engineering Contest

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Engineering students from the University at Buffalo's Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering recently created a concrete canoe that beat out competitors from some of the region's top engineering schools, taking second place overall at the 2008 regional American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) conference hosted by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system that is its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

The 16-member concrete canoe team from the UB student chapter of ASCE took second place in the annual event's racing section -- including first-place wins in the women's sprint and "fun race;" second-place wins in the categories of women's endurance, coed sprint and men's endurance; and a third-place win in the men's sprint. It also placed second in presentation and in overall final product, and fourth in the design report.

The competition provides engineering students with hands-on practical experience in engineering construction and design.

Miranda F. Robinson of Otego served as team captain.

Other team members were:

Ed Bradfuher -- Lake View

Justin C. Darling -- Clifton Springs

Kevin Dunckley -- Seaford

David J. Hastings -- Carthage

Joseph B. Kasperski -- Penfield

Nate Martin -- Kenmore

Brandi Matwijkow -- Orchard Park

Antonio Miceli -- Spencerport

Timothy S. O'Donoghue -- Avon

Timothy W. Savery -- North Tonawanda

Luke Scannell -- Schodack Landing

Will Smith – Cobleskill

Timothy P. Sugrue -- Coeymans Hollow

Jonathan Thomas -- Whitestone

Joseph T. Wetzel -- Rochester.