Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Sponsors University of South Florida – Selmon Expressway Bridge Competition

Tampa, FL., January 28, 2019 – Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) announces its sponsorship of University of South Florida (USF) College of Engineering’s 27th annual Bridge Competition. The competition will take place at USF’s Engineering Expo on February 16th, 2019 and is open to all Hillsborough and Pinellas County middle and high school students.

The USF-SE Bridge Competition began in the 1980’s as a student-run project to connect the University with area under-represented middle and high school students and provide a fun, extra-educational enrichment opportunity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) philosophies. The competition’s theme of Design It, Build It, Break It! allows teams of three students to design and build balsawood model bridges and test their load capacities.

Teachers and student teams are encouraged to watch workshop videos on the competition’s webpage (https://usfbalsabridge.weebly.com/workshop-videos.html), which provide an opportunity to prepare for the competition, and then develop lesson plans that incorporate the fields of engineering and design with math and science through bridge building.

Through its partnership with USF, THEA seeks to provide mentorship, encourage the STEM mindset, and raise educational opportunities for Tampa Bay area students. The USF-SE Balsa Bridge Competition is a branch of THEA’s Selmon STEM Scholarship Program, which supports through education and exposure to transportation careers, USF engineering students who are graduates of Hillsborough County high schools.

For more information on the USF-SE Balsa Bridge Competition, visit https://usfbalsabridge.weebly.com/. For rules and regulations, or to register for the competition, visit https://usfbalsabridge.weebly.com/registration.html.

ABOUT THEA:
A public agency led by local citizens and operating with no tax dollars, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) provides safe, reliable and financially sustainable transportation services to the Tampa Bay region while reinvesting customer-based revenues back into the community. From being the owner and operator of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway to offering real-time testing and showcasing of connected vehicle and autonomous vehicle technologies, to the designing and operating the world’s first reversible all-electronic toll road, THEA continues to drive the conversation on cutting-edge transportation solutions. For more information, visit www.tampa-xway.com.

ABOUT USF’s Engineering Expo:
USF’s Engineering Expo seeks to educate K-12 students on the importance of math, science, engineering, and technology within their lives. The Engineering Expo is a free event that provides students with an opportunity to meet local engineers and engineering student organizations at USF. The Expo also features hands-on exhibits and shows that help encourages more students to pursue fields in science and mathematics. The 48th Annual USF Engineering Expo will take place February 15 and 16th, 2019 at the USF College of Engineering, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620.