SUNY Canton Students Place Fifth in Regional Bridge Competition

A team of SUNY Canton students designed a steel bridge that could hold approximately 2,500 pounds and could be built in slightly more than 6 minutes.

Students from the colleges American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) chapter recently placed fifth in the Upstate Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy. The team upset Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology and the United States Military Academy, but were topped by teams from Montreal, Quebec, and the University of Buffalo, among others.

Kyle Lorey, a SUNY Canton Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Corning, tightens a bolt during a practice run building SUNY Canton’s steel bridge for the American Society of Civil Engineers Upstate Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition.

“I’m exceptionally proud of this year’s team,” said Paul D. Hitchman, a faculty advisor for the student organization. “They pulled together to design one of our finest bridges. The students demonstrated teamwork and advanced problem-solving tactics that will help them in their careers to come.”

The SUNY Canton ASCE team’s bridge placed first in lightness, first in display, second in deflection, second in efficiency, sixth in economy and eighth in construction speed. All categories are combined creating an overall cost of the bridge. The team with the most economical bridge wins the competition.

Pictured are (L to R) SUNY Canton Steel Bridge Team members Stephen J. Schermerhorn of Cicero, Chase R. Boyer of Clayton, Kyle Lorey of Corning and Erdous Lebron of Puerto Rico.

Jessica L. Fischer, a graduating senior in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program from Buffalo, served as this year’s ASCE vice president and helped lead the entire club over the course of her final two semesters.

“This year we had a unique student chapter membership from a mix of all engineering technology disciplines which gave us a dynamic perspective on the bridge we produced,” Fischer said. “We compete in one of the toughest regions in the ASCE system and we take pride knowing we continually do well against the top engineering schools in the region.”

The collected SUNY Canton Steel Bridge Team includes some of the top students at SUNY Canton and faculty and staff support from across the campus.

The steel bridge is a point of pride at SUNY Canton and garners support from many faculty and staff members. Hitchman is joined by faculty members Joseph F. Reilly, Andrew Reiter and Yilei Shi as advisors for the successful student group. Dennis E. Tuper, an Instructional Support Associate in the automotive program and a precision welder, spent more than 100 hours helping students fabricate their design.

The steel used to construct the bridge was donated by 1991 alumnus Eric S. Tessmer, who owns Riverside Iron, LLC, Gouverneur. The team also receives support from the Canton College Foundation and the SUNY Canton’s President’s Office.

In addition to Fischer, team members include:

• Kristoff J. Adderley, an Electrical Engineering Technology major from the Bahamas.
• Johnathan N. Andre, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Saranac.
• Chase R. Boyer, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Clayton.
• Kristoff J. Adderley, an Electrical Engineering Technology major from the Bahamas.
• Johnathan N. Andre, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Saranac.
• Chase R. Boyer, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Clayton.
• Joseph M. Butera, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Auburn
• Alexis M. Carreau, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Hoosick Falls.
• Kimberly Collins, an Engineering Science major from Saranac Lake.
• Justin Donaldson, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Newburgh
• John C. Drews IV, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Sound Beach.
• Daniel C. Gagnon, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Rensselaer Falls.
• Josh Glosenger, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Endicott.
• Dale R. Harris, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Dundee
• Collin Law, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Canastota
• Erdous Lebron, an Industrial Technology major from Puerto Rico.
• Ashley Livingston, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Lisbon.
• Kyle Lorey, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Corning.
• Jake LeVea, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Fulton.
• Sean P. Marciano, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Mechanicville.
• Sara M. O’Duffy, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Lakeville.
• Daniel Olin, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Canton.
• Jocelyn Racette, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Port Kent.
• Stephen J. Schermerhorn, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Cicero.
• Kevin A. Segit, an Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems major from Fly Creek.
• Bromlen E. Steinburg, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology from Madrid.