Student concrete canoe team places second in competition

The University of Houston edged out the Patriots in their attempt to defend a regional-conference championship title this past weekend.

Ten civil engineering students headed to Austin on Thursday to compete in the 2010 Texas-Mexico Regional Concrete Canoe Competition in Austin.
Of 11 teams competing, the Patriots finished second overall just ahead of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Gregg Lassen, executive vice president for business affairs, Dean James Nelson Jennifer Moore and Emily Moore work together to win the concrete canoe competition that took place Thursday. Photo by Jessica Sibbing.

“Out of the UT system schools we came out on top,” Professor Ronald Welch said. “We are extremely excited. Our team preformed very well, and we hope to meet new goals for the future.”

The competition involves four categories: technical design report, oral design presentation, canoe final product and racing.

Each portion of the contest counts 25 percent toward the overall score.

The University won first overall last year and competed in nationals at the University of Alabama, placing in the top 20.  This year’s team consists of Kevin Graham, Josh Barton, Clint Morrison, Cortland Jones, Owen Sanderson, Emily Moore, Jennifer Moore, Casey Ross, Brittany Meloni and Neda Hosseiny.

The construction of the canoe must incorporate re-used materials and be at least 75 percent eco-friendly.

Welch said this year’s canoe weighs just under 300 pounds — about 180 pounds lighter that last year.

“The students are pushing the boundaries and going beyond what they have learned in the classroom,” he said.

Before leaving for Austin, the team tested its creation in a race with University administrators on Harvey Lake.