Middle and high school students from across North Carolina competed recently in the 11th annual Statewide Model Bridge Building Competition in Raleigh. The N.C. Department of Transportation selected the eight finalists from four regional competitions held throughout the state earlier this year. The statewide competition took place at the Transportation Building in downtown Raleigh.

The goal of the event is to make the students aware of careers in transportation, construction and engineering, as well as the services NCDOT provides. Although the competition focuses heavily on math and science skills, it also provides students with an opportunity to enhance their problem-solving, critical-thinking, communication, research and presentation skills.

A panel of judges ranked the teams on the following criteria:

Oral presentation;

Written report;

Design drawing of the bridge; and

Model efficiency score, which is calculated by contrasting the weight of the bridge with how much weight it could support.

The winners of the middle school division of the competition are:

1st&bsp; Place – Northwest Middle School in Greensboro;

2nd Place – Clarkton School of Discovery in Clarkton;

3rd Place – Exploris Middle School in Raleigh; and

4th Place – Polk County Middle School in Mill Spring.

The winners of the high school division of the competition are:

1st Place – Franklin Academy in Wake Forest;

2nd Place – North Moore High School in Robbins;

3rd Place – Enka High School in Candler; and

4th Place – Wayne School of Engineering in Goldsboro.

The competition is sponsored by NCDOT, the Carolinas Associated General Contractors and the American Council for Engineering Companies of North Carolina.