MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                      News Directors and Features Editors

FROM:                 UAF Civil Engineering Department

SUBJECT:            UAF Bridge Builders Go National

LOCATION:          UAF Main Campus Fountain of Flags

DATE & TIME:     3 p.m., May 22, 1996

A six-man team will represent the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the 1996 national bridge building competition this weekend in Buffalo, N.Y., after successfully appealing a regional ruling which earlier had barred them from competing.

The UAF student engineers took first place in several categories at a regional bridge design competition at Washington State University in April, but were disqualified because of possible rule infractions. Now judges in the contest, sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Steel Contractors, say UAF broke no rules at the regional meeting, clearing the way for the team to compete nationally in New York May 24.

Judges look for the best in several areas, including overall aesthetics, how much weight the bridge can carry and how fast the team can assemble their bridge.

The entire UAF student bridge design and construction team is made up of 11 men and one woman and is led by civil engineering student Tim Tieaskie of Kenai, Alaska. Team members, all UAF civil engineering students, are: Fairbanksans Matt Emerson, Karen Helgeson, Frank Jenkins, Dave Misiuk and Raj Naidu; Todd Fleming of Sitka, John Pekar of Anchorage, Mike Mwangi of Kenya, Gary Scarbrough of Kenai, Tim Sonnenberg of Tok, and Jeff Stutszke of Racine, Wis.

The student bridge builders will demonstrate their award-winning bridge-building techniques 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at the Fountain of Flags on the UAF main campus. In case of rain, the bridge will be assembled in UAF's Great Hall.

-30-

CONTACT: UAF Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Leroy Hulsey (907) 474-7816, or UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron (907) 474-7122.

DPD/5-20-96/96-080med.adv.