Local teams take honors at 2015 Bridge Bust Competition

PLANO, Ill. — 4-H'ers, school students, families and residents from DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties put their engineering skills to the test in the third annual 4-H Bridge Busting Competition on Saturday, March 21.

Twenty teams competed in this year's competition sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and Rural King store in Plano and hosted by the Fox Valley Family YMCA.

For weeks, registered teams designed and built their entries, and on Saturday, teams competed in aesthetics and structural efficiency in three divisions: school, family and youth. Aesthetics is judged on provided specifications, quality of craftsmanship, sound structural design and originality. Structural efficiency is determined by a calculation based on maximum weight supported and the weight of the bridge.

The Gajapala team of Naperville earned the Overall Aesthetics prize, following their victory in the Youth Division. The team included 12- and 13-year-olds: Kavishka Fernando, Ruchira Fernando, Nadun Gajapala, Gaveen Godege, and Shakthi Perera.

The father-son duo of Jeff and Austin Nakaerts of Plainfield took home the Overall Structural Efficiency Award for the second year, after winning the same title in the Family Division. The team's bridge held more than 34 pounds with a total rating of 400.44.

“We had another fantastic year of creative bridge designs and tough competition,” said Jo Ann Britton, 4-H and Youth Development Program Coordinator with University of Illinois Extension. “The Bridge Busting Competition provides area youth and families with a unique way to challenge their brains and learn about engineering principles and careers, while having fun.”

O'Neill Middle School Team 5 of Downers Grove took home the School Division top honors in both aesthetics and structural efficiency. Members included: Samantha Erb, Allison Janos, Madeline Pteanc, and Katelyn Scott.

During the judging, attendees and teams learned about real-world architecture and engineering from Luke Martin of RS&H. They also had the opportunity to witness robotics demonstrations from DuPage County 4-H Science Ambassadors Rohan Viswanathan and Revathi Viswanathan of Naperville.

The full results of the 2015 Bridge Bust are as follows:

Family Division

• Aesthetics Awards: first place, Koester family of Yorkville; second, Benning family of Plano; third, Case family of Yorkville; fourth, Vandermyde family of Yorkville, and fifth, Hartford family of Yorkville.

• Structural Efficiency Awards: first place, Nakaerts family of Plainfield; second, Koester family; third, Case family; fourth, Vandermyde family, and fifth, Hartford family.

Youth Division

• Aesthetics Awards: first place, Gajapala Team of Naperville; second, Dhadde Team of Naperville; third, Heidrich Team of Oswego; and fourth, Wood Team of North Aurora.

• Structural Efficiency Awards: first place, Gajapala Team; second, Heidrich Team; third, Wood Team; and fourth, Dhadde Team.

School Division

• Aesthetics Awards: first place, O'Neill Middle School Team 5 (Downers Grove); second, O'Neill Middle School Team 1; third, O'Neill Middle School Team 2; fourth, Grand Reserve Team 1 (Yorkville); and fifth, O'Neill Middle School Team 3.

• Structural Efficiency: first place, O'Neill Middle School Team 5; second, O'Neill Middle School Team 1; third, O'Neill Middle School Team 4; fourth, Grand Reserve Team 1; and fifth, O'Neill Middle School Team 3.

This annual event was sponsored by 4-H and University of Illinois Extension, with cooperation and materials from Rural King and hosted by the Fox Valley Family YMCA.

Volunteer judges for the event were Chris Erickson of Power Construction; Brian Schiber, city engineer for Geneva; and Kyle Dorf, University of Illinois Chicago student. 4-H Science Ambassador Oliver Chen of Naperville assisted with the bridge testing process. This year's event received support through a 4-H Program Grant, sponsored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

“We are grateful to our partners, volunteers and guests for making this annual event a great success,” Britton said. “We also greatly appreciate the support of the Illinois 4-H Foundation, who has backed the 2015 contest with a 4-H Program Grant.”

For information about the event or local 4-H and Youth Development programs, contact your county Extension office, or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/. University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.