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Bridge to RECOGNITION

Negaunee high schoolers top in nation

The Negaunee High School bridge building teams have been named the top four teams in the United States following this spring’s national Trac Bridge Virtual Showcase. Front row from left are Katelyn Lammi, Ella Lunseth, Tyler LaBreche, Max Churack, Braydon Oglesby and Andrew Feys. Back row from left are Lily Ulvila, Finn Helppi, Lukas Nelson, Preston Toutant, Caulder Hewitt, William Rutherford, Dallas Ducoli and teacher Kevin Bell. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Bell)

NEGAUNEE — National recognition has again come to Negaunee High School.

The NHS bridge building teams have been named the top four teams in the United States following this spring’s national Trac Bridge Virtual Showcase, which was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The students didn’t construct full-sized bridges, but instead balsa wood models. However, that doesn’t make their achievements any less notable.

To get selected, each team had to create a written proposal, build a truss-style bridge and make detailed drawings of the bridge using Bentley Software, said their leader, NHS industrial education Kevin Bell. The teams also had to send in a video of their Google Slides presentation.

The bridge competition took place on April 28 via Zoom. Bell said 13 advanced computer-aided design students took part.

Students, he said, had to find ways to improve and learn software.

“It’s a team effort, too,” Bell said.

He said the participants designed their bridges with software, printed out hard copes and then made the bridges.

The students, according to Bell, competed in the March state competition, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation. All four of the Negaunee teams in the division for 11th and 12th graders were selected to participate in the national competition, held by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.

The presentations had to be between seven and 10 minutes long and include the drawings and CAD programs used to create their bridges. They also talked about construction, scheduling, safety and design features of their bridge.

The four teams were:

≤ Iron Range Engineering — Dallas Ducoli, William Rutherford and Caulder Hewitt.

≤ Iron Bridge Design — Tyler LaBreche, Braydon Oglesby, Andrew Feys and Max Churack.

≤ Irontown Engineers — Preston Toutant, Lukas Nelson and Finn Helppi.

≤ Up North Bridge Builders — Lily Ulvila, Katelyn Lammi and Ella Lunseth.

To view competition videos, visit https://tracrides.transportation.org/national-trac-bridge-challenge/ .

Negaunee Public Schools Superintendent Dan Skewis had good words to say about Kevin Bell, who he called an “amazing” teacher.

“He has quite a few years of experience, yet is always looking for innovative ways to engage his students,” Skewis said in an email. “His courses are in high demand by our student body due to the quality job he does. The string of national championships he has in the AASHTO competition is unreal.

“Our students and our district are lucky to have him as a teacher.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.

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