Trine hosts regional ASCE event, finishes 2nd

Trine University hosted nearly 200 civil engineering students from 11 colleges and universities for the inaugural American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Indiana-Kentucky Student Symposium, held April 7-9.

Trine placed second overall in competition held as part of the symposium, ahead of schools including Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the University of Evansville and the University of Kentucky.

The University of Notre Dame was overall winner.

Trine’s student ASCE chapter has participated in ASCE symposia for more than 20 years, but this year’s was the first held since the ASCE national organization realigned regions last year.

“We are now participating with schools from Indiana and Kentucky instead of schools around the Great Lakes,” said Erin Haase, a Trine civil engineering major from Napoleon, Ohio, one of the event co-chairs. “We were asked to host this year because our faculty advisor is on the committee that helped realign the schools.”

“This was the first in-person symposium that most students have been able to participate in since before COVID, so students did not know what to expect. But we got some really positive feedback. Students enjoyed their weekend at both Trine and Crooked Lake participating in competitions and getting to meet other students.”

In addition to Haase, Makenna Sheets from Fort Wayne, Indiana, chaired the event.

“Trine University surpassed all expectations as hosts of the INKY Symposium. The dedication and enthusiasm exhibited by Trine faculty, students, staff — really the entire Trine community — was evident from the time the symposium started Thursday afternoon until its completion Saturday evening,” said Dan Linzell, Ph.D., who observed the event on behalf of the national organization. “The Trine ASCE student chapter, under the incredible leadership of students Erin Haase and Makenna Sheets, showed everyone who attended how a to run a successful event, even in the snow!”

In the competition portion of the event, three Trine teams took first-place awards.

In ASCE Sustainable Solutions, the Trine team of Hannah Murray of Shelbyville, Indiana, Corey Phillips of Westfield, Indiana, Drew Parsley of Kendallville, Indiana, and Este Alieme of Franklin, New Jersey, won the event.

Arizona Lenski of Merrillville, Indiana, Aspen Fisher of Ossian, Indiana, Austin Zank of Nashville, Michigan, and John Nash of Channahon, Illinois, took first place for Trine University in the Quiz Bowl event.

In the Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall competition, Nick Stevens of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Luke Shively of Churubusco, Indiana, earned first-place honors for Trine.

Other Trine students earning awards were:

• Alex Layman of Ney, Ohio, Mason Fritch of Butler, Indiana, Thaiphi Austria of Saipan, and Austin Zank, third place, Concrete Cornhole.
• Bill Kennelly of Chardon, Ohio, third place, Technical Paper.
• Chris Parker of Lebanon, Indiana, third place, Game Night (Mario Kart).
• Lucas Jackson of Shores, Indiana, fourth place, Game Night (Mario Kart).
• Aaron Loos of Franklin, Indiana, Erin Downing of Columbus Grove, Ohio, and Sophie Aschemeier of Findlay, Ohio, participation points, Mystery Design.

The symposium also included competitions in Steel Bridge Aesthetics, Technical Paper, Concrete Canoe and Surveying.

The event closed with the awards ceremony and a presentation by Jen Sharkey, ASCE Region 4 Indiana Governor. The symposium will be held at Western Kentucky University in 2023.