CANTON— A team of SUNY Canton students recently placed third at the American Institute of Steel Construction Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition, held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The SUNY Canton American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter's Steel Bridge Team placed third overall, earning the following distinctions against other top bridge building teams:

Second in Aesthetics

Third in Construction Speed

Third in Lightness

Third in Construction Economy

Mathew Greene of Waddington, who is graduating from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program, oversaw the fabrication of the bridge. Greene learned to weld from Instructional Support Associate Neil A. Haney during his first year in college with the intent of building the college's entry at the bridge competition. He has primarily manufactured the college's bridges for the past two years, while many other colleges outsource the fabrication process.

"We had a fantastic group of hardworking, dedicated, and enthusiastic students in the ASCE Student Chapter,"  Dr. Adrienne C. Rygel, an associate professor who teaches in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program said.

"Mathew Greene spent countless hours over his winter break and into the spring term machining connections and cutting and welding all the pieces. His dedication, time commitment, and effort are truly commendable,” she continued.

Design Team members also included Raiden J. Hansen of Fulton, Tim J. McLellan of Ogdensburg, Patience V. Dawson of Brooklyn, and Leo J. Golden of Morrisonville.

The ASCE Student Chapter officers include President Dominic E. Hauptman of Corning and Senator and Treasurer Ronald J. Wood-Terrance of Bombay.

Other team members include Chandradat (Vick) Rampat of Norfolk, Va., Skylar E. Saumier of Norwood, and Justin L. Phillips of Massena.