CapstoneEngineerMagazineFall2026 - Flipbook - Page 22
UA AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL
BY NATALIE CROUSE
The University of Alabama student chapter of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, in partnership with The University
of Alabama at Birmingham, hosted the 2026 ASCE Gulf
Coast Student Symposium during the spring semester. The
three-day event, which featured more than 16 competitions,
networking opportunities and professional development
activities, brought together approximately 600 students,
faculty and industry professionals from 15 universities.
The symposium was entirely student-run,
with approximately 15 students leading its planning and
execution.
“One of the biggest highlights for me was the level of
student involvement,” said Grace Vaughan, chair of the 2026
symposium. “I had the privilege of leading an amazing team,
and I truly could not have done it without them.”
Supported by more than 150 judges, volunteers, and
faculty and staff, the event provided an outlet for students
to connect with industry professionals and peers across the
region.
Among the symposium’s biggest successes was UA’s
Concrete Canoe team 昀椀nishing 昀椀rst overall for the 昀椀rst time
in program history and advancing to the National Concrete
Canoe Competition.
Dr. Armen Amirkhanian, associate department head
for undergraduate studies in the department of civil,
construction and environmental engineering, said the win
re昀氀ects years of steady development and consistency from
student teams within the program.
The ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition requires students
to design, build and race a canoe made entirely of concrete,
a process that demands signi昀椀cant time and collaboration
across multiple subteams. In a typical year, students dedicate
more than 4,000 hours to working on the project.
Amirkhanian, who has served as the team’s adviser since
2017, noted that this year’s team stood out early in the
process due to their organization and preparation.
“They cast their canoe before winter break, which I
can’t remember happening in recent years,” he said. “These
students do it purely out of passion and motivation. That
intrinsic drive is what sets them apart.”
Team captain John Brady Bowman and co-captains Elena
Evans, Henry Burnson and Aaron Grif昀椀n played key roles in
directing the team, re昀椀ning the design process and helping
execute competition goals.
Other competitions at the symposium included the
Student Steel Bridge, 3D Printing and Sustainable Solutions.
Dr. Robert Bertini, head of the department of civil,
construction and environmental engineering, said the
symposium exceeded expectations and expressed pride in the
department’s students, who worked diligently to make the
event a success and highlight the strengths of the College and
its programs.
“We heard great feedback from all our visitors from across
the region and from ASCE leadership,” Bertini said. “We’re
incredibly proud of everyone who participated.”
22 | CAPSTONE ENGINEER | FALL 2026
