SALINE COUNTY NATIVES COMPETE ON K-STATE AT SALINA CONCRETE CANOE TEAM

May 9, 2005

SALINA – Kansas State University at Salina’s concrete canoe team competed at the Mid-Continent regional competition, March 30 - April 2 at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

The annual concrete canoe competition draws more than 250 collegiate teams to 21 regional contest sites across the United States. Teams work throughout the year to test the properties of various materials that can be added to concrete to influence performance. The objective is to develop a method of preparing the concrete mix to be sturdy, yet lightweight.

“The basic difference between normal concrete and the mix used for the canoe competition is what is mixed in,” said Bill Tipton, K-State at Salina instructor of construction engineering technology and co-adviser of the college’s team. “Rather than using traditionally heavier gravel and sand to blend with the concrete, we could use ceramic spheres and glass beads to lighten up the final product.”

During the competition, teams participate in a variety of events, including sprint races, endurance tests and other events designed to measure the efficiency of a team’s concrete mix for durability and lightness. Static events include a design paper and oral presentation. The K-State at Salina team finished ninth overall in the regional competition.

Students competing on the K-State at Salina team were Benjamin Henry, Salina, junior in construction engineering technology; Derek Lilly, Salina, senior in technology management, Matt Markle, Salina, senior in technology management, Lance Miller, Salina, senior in technology management, and Jesse Thompson, Assaria, sophomore in construction engineering technology.

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