Press Release
Summit County Engineer Announces Winners of the 2025 Miniature Bridge Building Competition!
Feb 13, 2025 - Akron, OH
Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S. is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Miniature Bridge Building Competition (MBBC), which took place at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge, Ohio, on February 12, 2025. High school students from across Summit County showcased their engineering skills in this 24th annual competition, designing and constructing miniature bridges to be tested for efficiency, strength, and aesthetics.
“The Miniature Bridge Building Competition continues to inspire and challenge students, encouraging them to apply engineering principles in a hands on and competitive environment,” said Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S. “We are incredibly proud of all the participants for their hard work, creativity, and dedication. We look forward to welcome teams next year at our 25th year of the competition.”
This year’s competition featured 28 teams from 11 schools, with each team consisting of two or 3 students. After months of preparation and an exciting day of building, the competition’s top three teams should be recognized for their outstanding achievements:
Competition Winners:
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1st Place: Cuyahoga Falls Team 1
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Members: Ben LaFleur, Kieran Work, Sean Bradley
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2nd Place: Cuyahoga Falls Team 3
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Members: Tyler Eberling, Logan Powell, DeAyre Dortch
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3rd Place: Cuyahoga Falls Team 2
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Members: Wyatt Ulbricht, Levent Kaynarea
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Cuyahoga Falls High School achieved a remarkable clean sweep in this year’s competition, securing all three top spots. Their dedication, teamwork, and innovative engineering solutions set them apart from the competition, showcasing the hard work of both students and school educators.
“I’m very proud of these students,” said Peter Geiss, Cuyahoga Falls High School Teacher/Advisor to the three teams. “Mainly for the way they came together to communicate with each other, break down a problem, and develop a solution. They tested their ideas, evaluated results, and actively sought ways to improve upon what they did. Those skills that they worked on developing will help them as they progress in school and in their future careers. For me, seeing them have success at the competition is the “cherry on top” and I’m grateful for the opportunity to play a role in their success.”
The 1st place team will not only take home their competition winnings but also a traveling trophy that will hold a place of honor at Cuyahoga Falls High School until next year’s competition.
In addition to recognizing the competition’s top three teams, the MBBC also presents several other awards to highlight different aspects of engineering and design excellence. The CAD Design Award celebrates teams that demonstrate exceptional skills in computer-aided design, showcasing precise digital modeling and innovation. The Manual Design Award recognizes outstanding hand-drawn bridge plans, emphasizing technical accuracy and traditional drafting techniques. Lastly, the Aesthetics Award is given to the team whose bridge stands out for its visual appeal, creativity, and craftsmanship. These awards encourage students to excel not only in structural integrity and efficiency but also in the precision and artistry of design. The following teams should also be recognized for their outstanding achievements in design:
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Award:
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Winner: Hudson Team 1
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Members: Krishiv Patel, Bingling Song, Ryan Thompson
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Manual Drawing Award:
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Winner: Copley Team 1
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Members: Sarah Lawrence, Gavin Dies, Jack Foster
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Aesthetics Award:
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Winner: Stow Munroe Falls Team 2
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Members: Charles Bernhardt, Nathan Hartenburg, Rogan Allen
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The MBBC provides a unique, learning experience that complements traditional classroom education. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, all skills that are essential in engineering and other fields. Participants who competed had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals who serve as judges and mentors and will have the chance to earn scholarships through the MBBC.
Be a Sponsor and Support Future Engineers!
The MBBC is made possible entirely through sponsorships which fund the competition, its awards, and scholarships for students.
We welcome support from individuals, businesses, and organizations, who want to invest in the next generation of problem solvers. Your sponsorship helps provide students with hands on learning experiences, mentorship opportunities, and financial support for their future education.
Supporting the MBBC isn’t just about engineering, it’s about encouraging creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking in local high school students. Plus, sponsors get some great perks, including breakfast and lunch on competition day, the chance to mentor students, inclusion of a marketing flyer in the event program, and press exposure.
If you believe in inspiring young minds and shaping the future, we’d love to have you as a sponsor! For more details, contact Tina Merlitti by phone at (330) 643-8168 or by email at tmerlitti@summitengineer.net.
You can learn more about the Miniature Bridge Building Competition on our website below.
