The Hokies had a stellar weekend at the 2025 Virginias ASCE Student Symposium, hosted at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech). Undergraduate students in civil and environmental engineering secured top finishes in nearly every competition they entered.
Surveying Competition: Virginia Tech’s Surveying Team took home first place, demonstrating precision and expertise in field measurements and mapping techniques. Students were required to use standard field equipment to solve common problems encountered in industry.
Sustainability Competition: The Sustainable Solutions Team also secured first place for their innovative approach to environmentally conscious civil engineering practices.
Marr Technical Paper Competition: In the prestigious Marr Technical Paper Competition, Andrew Donaldson, a senior from Midlothian, Virginia, earned first place.
Concrete Canoe Competition: The Concrete Canoe Team continued Virginia Tech’s tradition of excellence, sweeping all competition categories:
- First place – Project proposal
- First place – Technical presentation
- First place – Paddling
- First place – Final product prototype
- First place overall
Steel Bridge Competition: Virginia Tech’s Steel Bridge Team showcased their technical innovation, efficiency, and precision in structural design and construction.
- First place – Aesthetics
- First place – Lightness
- First place – Construction speed
- First place – Stiffness
- First place – Cost estimate
- First place – Economy
- First place – Efficiency
- First place overall
Looking ahead to nationals
With outstanding performances across the board, Virginia Tech now sets its sights on the American Society of Civil Engineering Student Championships at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in June. The steel bridge team will head to the Student Steel Bridge National Competition Finals at Iowa State University at the end of May. The Hokies will compete against the best civil engineering programs in the country, continuing their legacy of excellence.
By Courtney Sakry