Greenville Students Shine in Annual Bridge Design Competition

High school engineering students put their skills to the test in partnership with local firms

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:21pm

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Greenville High School Engineering Tech Prep students recently participated in the program's 18th annual balsa wood bridge design competition, showcasing their engineering and construction skills. The event, held in partnership with Mote & Associates and Brumbaugh Construction, challenged 27 junior and senior students working in 9 teams to design and build bridges capable of supporting the greatest weight with the highest efficiency.

Why it matters

This annual competition provides Greenville students with a valuable opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world engineering challenges while working alongside industry professionals. It highlights the effectiveness of the school's engineering tech prep program in preparing students for careers in STEM fields.

The details

During the competition, the student-built bridges were tested by suspending a bucket from the deck and gradually filling it with sand until the structure collapsed. Efficiency was calculated by dividing the total weight supported by the bridge by the weight of the structure itself. The first-place team achieved an impressive 21,096% efficiency rating.

  • The competition was held on Friday, March 6, 2026 as part of the celebration of National Engineers Week.
  • Students finalized construction the morning of the event, facing a real-world challenge with a two-hour fog delay that shortened their build time.

The players

Greenville High School Engineering Tech Prep

The high school program that organized the annual balsa wood bridge competition.

Mote & Associates, Inc.

An engineering firm that has partnered with the Greenville High School program to mentor students and help judge the competition for the past 18 years.

Brumbaugh Construction, Inc.

A construction company that joined the project this year to provide additional industry insight and expertise.

Mike Manix

The junior class instructor who organized the competition's project guidelines.

Joshua Moore

The senior class instructor who oversees the engineering and manufacturing curriculum.

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What they’re saying

“Events like this let these kids shine. It gets their story out – this is what we're working with, this is what they can do, and then we have the camaraderie of the event, friendly competition. We learn a great lesson working with others and see how they operate. These students learn so many enriching values. They are very teachable, they are very intelligent individuals.”

— Mike Manix, Junior Class Instructor

“Doing anything hands-on shows you what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are. We have some students planning to go into engineering, others are going to get a trade, so being hands-on and having that skillset is helpful.”

— Joshua Moore, Senior Class Instructor

“There are some very unique designs. The designs and how these students got creative with their minds – some very unique designs that are different. The efficiency rating is a cool test because they are so different. Some high-level thinking in this class.”

— Troy Myers, Brumbaugh Construction, Inc.

What’s next

The first-place team will receive certificates and gifts from Mote & Associates in recognition of their winning design.

The takeaway

This annual competition highlights the value of hands-on, real-world learning experiences that allow Greenville's engineering students to apply their classroom knowledge and develop essential skills for future STEM careers. The event's continued success demonstrates the effectiveness of the school's tech prep program in preparing the next generation of engineers and builders.