THEA Announces 2024 USF-Selmon Bridge Building Competition Winning Teams

THEA Announces 2024 USF-Selmon Bridge Building Competition Winning Teams

Tampa, FL (February 10, 2024) – The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) announced the winners of the 2024 USF-Selmon Bridge Building Competition at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Engineering. The event took place during the USF Engineering Expo on Saturday, February 10, 2024, and was open to middle and high school students living in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties. 

Almost 30 teams enrolled in this year’s competition. Winning teams worked together to design a bridge made out of balsa wood that could withstand the most weight and pressure before collapsing. Top teams received awards from THEA and invitations to the 2024 FAV Summit. At the summit, the students will get a guided tour and a sneak peek into the future of transportation.

At this year’s competition, student teams showcased their engineering skills to a packed house of supporters. The USF-Selmon Bridge Building Competition is an initiative within the agency’s Selmon STEM Scholarship (S3) Program, designed to honor the late Lee Roy Selmon by furthering students’ academic careers and encouraging STEM degrees. Selmon was a National Football League Hall of Fame member and the former USF Athletic Director. 

“THEA’s S3 Program is part of our commitment to the future of this region. By engaging students to think as engineers and work together as a team, their ingenuity, and creativity are sparked to craft the sturdiest design. We are proud to sponsor this incredible event for our regional students,” said THEA Executive Director and CEO Greg Slater. 

2024 USF-Selmon Bridge Building Competition Winners 

1st Place High School

NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL

Team: Banana Engineers of America, 248 pounds of pressure

2nd Place High School

NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL

Team: Bridgecatnappers, 246 pounds of pressure

3rd Place High School

GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL

Team: ACT Engineering, 176 pounds of pressure

1st Place Middle School

CAMBRIDGE CHRISTIAN

Team: Cambridge Nation, 259 pounds of pressure

2nd Place Middle School

CAMBRIDGE CHRISTIAN

Team: Team Bohr, 172 pounds of pressure

3rd Place Middle School

TERRACE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL (TCMS)

Team: Tech Support, 169 pounds of pressure

Click here for photos of the event. 

ABOUT THEA

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is an award-winning and dynamic transportation agency that owns, manages, and operates the Selmon Expressway, Meridian Avenue, Brandon Parkway, and the Selmon Greenway. THEA is committed to bringing the best technology and most progressive mobility concepts possible to address current and future transportation challenges.

THEA processes 58 million toll transactions and serves almost 2 million customers annually, with an investment plan to deliver over $1.2 Billion in capital improvements to the community over the next ten years. As a community champion, the agency spearheads public-private partnerships for multi-modal transportation, promotes transit-oriented development, and invests in walk/bike-friendly neighborhoods. All upcoming and current projects are funded 100% through THEA’s toll and bond revenues, ensuring that finite taxpayer dollars are reserved for other transportation and community needs.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TampaHillsboroughExpresswayAuthority/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaselmon/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theaselmon/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/67132372/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFl4QVHuqyXNyjcEFTh17Q