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HGTC Engineering Technology Students Win Second in Regional ASCE Competitions
(Pictured from left-right: Leonard Reik, Orlando Arteaga (faculty), Suliban Deaza
(faculty), Ben Shifrin, Logan Turnage, Bryen Cassidy Patrick Dorton, Ronald Issac,
Mathew Cooke, Christopher Eggert, Brandon Preslar)With the only two-year college team competing against four-year universities, Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) took two second-place trophies this spring in competitions at the Carolinas Conference of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) held at the University of South Carolina.
HGTC took second place in the Geotechnical Challenge, which involved designing and building a levee tested with weight and water. The team also took second place in the Freshmore Challenge, in which students built a tower with LEGO pieces. In selecting winners, judges considered cost-estimating, tower height and construction time.
Prof. Suliban Deaza, team adviser and department head for Engineering Technology, said students were thrilled to compete against such prestigious schools as Duke, Georgia Tech, Clemson, The Citadel, the University of South Carolina and SC State University. He said. “About half of our team members were knocked out on a technicality during the Steel Bridge Competition, but the survivors came back strong to win second place in two categories. I was very proud, especially because this was our first year to compete.”
He said HGTC is set to host the Carolinas ASCE Conference in 2017, bringing about 700 visitors to campus, including deans and engineering faculty from throughout the Carolinas. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore transfer options, which are opening fast for them,” he added.
The HGTC Student Chapter of ASCE has 15 members, and nine attended the Carolinas Conference.