Students Compete Against Universities Across the South During ASCE Gulf Coast Student Symposium

Civil engineering students from Alabama A&M University showcased their technical skills, teamwork and innovation during the 2026 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Gulf Coast Student Symposium at the University of Alabama.

19 members of AAMU’s ASCE Bulldog Chapter competed against peers from universities across the South in a series of engineering challenges designed to test classroom knowledge through real-world applications.

The challenges included structural engineering through the Balsa Wood Bridge and Pre-Stressed Concrete Beam competitions, land development and field practices through Surveying, construction management through the Construction Institute competition, sustainable design through the Sustainable Solutions competition and geotechnical engineering through the Geo-Wall competition.

One of the team’s biggest accomplishments came in the Mystery Competition, where AAMU students earned first place in an intense, on-the-spot engineering challenge that emphasized creativity, teamwork and problem-solving under pressure.

Teams were tasked with designing and constructing a protective structural system using limited materials to shield an egg from a 5-kilogram weight dropped from increasing heights. Competitors had only 10 minutes to complete their designs while balancing structural performance and construction costs to maximize profitability during the challenge.

The competition required students to think critically and apply engineering principles in real time without prior knowledge of the challenge parameters.

In addition to the competitions, students connected with engineering professionals and industry representatives, expanding their professional networks and learning more about career opportunities in the civil engineering field. The chapter also expressed appreciation to sponsors Turner Construction, Building & Earth Sciences, Inc., ECS Limited and GTEC for supporting student participation and professional development opportunities.

Chapter President Nehemiah Ibi-Eletta also represented AAMU during the symposium’s business meeting, where he provided updates as a Region 5 representative for the ASCE Student Presidential Group.

“This symposium was a valuable opportunity for our chapter to strengthen leadership, collaboration and technical skills while showcasing the talent and potential of AAMU engineering students,” said Ibi-Eletta. “Experiences like this continue to prepare us for future careers in engineering and inspire us to pursue excellence both inside and outside the classroom.