Two from Dover Prepare for International Bridge Building Contest

Mary Alice Reporting –

An international bridge building contest for high school students will be held in April and among them will be two Dover students.

Senior Brady Miller won first place and junior Trinity Dreher came in second at the regional contest, where over 300 bridges were submitted.

Both are part of an elective engineering class and Miller says that he used the online software to draw out a design.

“You have to look at the constraints and you have to build something that can load where they want to load it and fit all the clearances and things like that so it takes some time. I’ve done it for four years and it’s just a lot of fun. I enjoy it. I enjoy the problem solving aspects of it.”

Dreher notes that she hand drew and used the online capabilities to finalize a bridge design, and she’s preparing for the next contest.

“Brainstorming different types of joints I can use. Also, I’m going to sketch out multiple ideas and I’m going to test multiple truss designs out before I build the final. I think it’s a really fun process trying to come up with the best thing you can in the time constraint you’re given.”

The 46^th International Bridge Building Contest will be held April 27^th at Kent State Tuscarawas and Dover High School Principal Brooke Grafe wishes them good luck.

“I’m very proud of the kids and we have a wonderful teacher who heads the program, Mr. Conrad. We’ve had many engineers come out of Dover High School and go on to do really great things, and I’m sure these two will be part of that list so we’re very excited for what’s to come.”

Both noted that they enjoy going to competition to see other designs and to talk with peers about their bridges. Miller plans to major in civil engineering and Dreher is also considering an engineering career.