A total of 14 teams from nine Michigan school districts will gather on the Ferris
State University campus Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, for the 18th annual
Spaghetti Bridge competition.
This event features teams of 9th-through 12th-grade students gathered to compete for one-time scholarships that range from $500 to $2,000, according to Karen Gross, coordinator of the Spaghetti Bridge competition.
“The competition is held in the Granger Center for Construction and HVACR,” Gross said. “Students get acquainted with the technology studies that are available on the Ferris campus, and have an opportunity to meet Ferris students and faculty.”
Participants are asked to take up four areas in the competition: Construction of an ‘authentic bridge’ resembling a famous span somewhere in the world, a written report on their efforts, an oral report and a load-bearing structure that will be tested by officials in the competition.
“Schools can also win monetary awards for placing in first through fifth place in each area of the competition,” Gross said. “Teams are composed of four students each. No more than two seniors can be on any team.”
Competitors will assemble their load-bearing bridges on Friday evening, March 17, after optional tours of the Ferris campus, along with other activities. Authentic bridge judging, oral presentations and testing of load-bearing bridges will precede the awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon, March 18.
In 2016, a team from Big Rapids High School constructed a span that was able to hold 144 pounds. The “Lost in the Sauce” group earned $2,000 scholarships to Ferris, for each student, which are awarded in $1,000 allotments per semester. The team was also able to bring $350 in financial support for the laboratory, classroom or student club of their choice.
“Students are given a unique scenario for experiential learning in a team format,” Gross said. “We are excited to see the teams from far and near get to know Ferris State University, and participate in the competition.”
The following school districts will bring two teams to the 2017 Spaghetti Bridge competition:
Bear Lake
Big Rapids
Clinton
Memphis
Owosso
Individual teams will participate from the following school districts:
Dryden
Harbor Beach
(Wyoming) Lee
Kenowa Hills
The Spaghetti Bridge competition is sponsored by Ferris’ Academic Affairs office.
PHOTO CAPTION: The 18th annual Spaghetti Bridge competition will be held Friday, March
17 and Saturday, March 18 in Ferris State University’s Granger Center for Construction
and HVACR. Pictured is the winning team from the 2016 competition from Big Rapids
High School.