Western Kentucky University’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter placed third overall at the 2025 ASCE Civil Engineering Student Championship.
Logan County High School graduate Zach Yates of Auburn is a member of the team.
WKU was among 19 teams that competed at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo on June 27-29.
This accomplishment was the fourth consecutive year WKU placed in the top five at the national competition.
“The hard work, creativity, and leadership of the ASCE student chapter and WKU Concrete Canoe team continue to bring national attention to WKU and serve as a model of excellence for student organizations across the country,” said Jason Wilson, Civil Engineering Instructor and faculty advisor for the WKU ASCE student chapter.
In canoe contests, WKU placed third in Technical Paper, Final Product, and Overall.
The theme for the canoe, named Sweet Crete, is chosen by the team members and selected to honor Duncan Hines.
“We picked Duncan Hines because he’s a Bowling Green native, a WKU alum, and someone who turned cake into a legacy,” Evan Brittenham, a senior from Bowling Green and captain of the concrete canoe team, said. “We’re honored to celebrate and share his story, especially as students walking the same campus he once did.”
The team was also designated the recipient of the prestigious Robert Ridgway Award, recognizing the single-most outstanding ASCE student chapter in the nation, as well as being named a runner-up for the ASCE Richard J. Scranton Award, which honors exceptional commitment to community service in student chapter activities.
In addition to Yates and Brittenham, team members include Benjamin Weintz of Fairfield, Ohio, Brandon Knudson of Glasgow, Laken Moffitt of Wingo, James Harper of Glasgow, Farah Janabi of Bowling Green, Ben Ravellette of Dalton City, Illinois, Luke Phelps of Bardstown, Keeley McKnight of Danville, Logan Smith of Bowling Green, Spencer Blee of Nashville, Indiana, Jaiden Jett of Jackson, Adam Crider of Gallatin, Tennessee, Kaya Goertz of Defiance, Missouri, Gabe Marr of Bowling Green, Sophia Adams of St. Louis, Missouri, Dylan Justice of Bowling Green, Landon McGinnis of Harrodsburg, Allen Ross of Lexington, Chas Brassell of Bowling Green, and John Murphree of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.