Source: Kimberly Kramer, 785-532-3576, kramer@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Rosie Hoefling, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Thursday, March 18, 2010

K-STATE STUDENTS TAKE FIRST PLACE IN AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE'S INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University team of construction science and management students recently took first place in the American Concrete Institute's international concrete construction competition.

Students will present their winning entry and receive a $300 award March 21 at the American Concrete Institute's convention in Chicago. Team members also received $500 as travel support to the convention, and their entry will be published in Concrete International magazine.

The competition involved determining the most environmentally conscientious concrete formula for a pre-designed parking structure in Chicago. After determining the formula, students also had to decide if any changes needed to be made to the pre-designed structure and describe any impacts of the new concrete formula. The team's analysis was submitted in the form of a planning memo.

According to K-State's Kimberly Kramer, associate professor of architectural engineering and construction science and faculty adviser to K-State's student chapter of the American Concrete Institute, K-State has a winning tradition in the competition. Kramer said that K-State has finished first or second in the competition since 2005, and that K-State has more first-place finishes in the competition than any other team in the world.

"As their faculty adviser, I am very proud of our students and believe this competition is very beneficial to the students," Kramer said. "Recently, I had a K-State graduate who participated in the competition as a student tell me he had to do a task similar to the competition at his job this past year. His employer was impressed by how well he completed the task."

Also assisting the team was Kyle Riding, K-State assistant professor of civil engineering.

K-State team members who participated in the American Concrete Institute's competition, all construction science and management majors, include:

Chris Hansen, senior and project manager, Leavenworth; Kelly Essley, junior, Manhattan; Santos Prieto, junior, Scott City; and Marshall Frey, sophomore, Wichita.