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SUNY Canton Engineering Technology Students Take Third in Bridge Competition

Canton, NY (04/22/2025) — The SUNY Canton American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter's Steel Bridge Team earned an impressive third place overall at the 2025 American Institute of Steel Construction Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition, held recently at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Competing against top teams, the students earned:

Second in Aesthetics
Third in Construction Speed
Third in Lightness
Third in Construction Economy

Mathew Greene of Waddington, who is graduating from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program, oversaw the fabrication of the bridge. Greene learned to weld from Instructional Support Associate Neil A. Haney during his first year in college with the intent of building the college's entry. He has primarily manufactured the college's bridges for the past two years. Many other colleges outsource the fabrication process.

"We had a fantastic group of hardworking, dedicated, and enthusiastic students in the ASCE Student Chapter," said Adrienne C. Rygel, Ph.D., an associate professor who teaches in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program. "Mathew Greene spent countless hours over his winter break and into the spring term machining connections and cutting and welding all the pieces. His dedication, time commitment, and effort are truly commendable."

Rygel provides faculty support for the National Mead Paper Competition, where Chapter Secretary Owen J. Thompson of Ogdensburg represented the team by preparing both an essay and oral presentation on the ethical role civil engineers play in the prevention and response to an infrastructure disaster.

Faculty advisor Saeid Haji Ghasemali, Ph.D., an associate professor who teaches in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program, serves as the faculty advisor for the design portion of the steel bridge. He noted that the team demonstrated incredible coordination, engineering skill and determination.

"This competition is the culmination of a full year of complex design, hands-on experimentation, and focused preparation," said Haji Ghasemali. "Our students handle every aspect of the process-from initial concept to final fabrication-right here at SUNY Canton, with faculty offering only guidance and support."

Greene also served on the build and load teams alongside ASCE Student Chapter Vice President Nathan A. St. Louis of Morrisonville, George H. Staats of Essex, and Mitch W. Timerman of La Fargeville.

Design Team members also included Raiden J. Hansen of Fulton, Tim J. McLellan of Ogdensburg, Patience V. Dawson of Brooklyn, and Leo J. Golden of Morrisonville.

The ASCE Student Chapter officers include President Dominic E. Hauptman of Corning and Senator and Treasurer Ronald J. Wood-Terrance of Bombay.

Other team members include Chandradat (Vick) Rampat of Norfolk, Va., Skylar E. Saumier of Norwood, and Justin L. Phillips of Massena.

In addition to Rygel, Haney and Haji Ghasemali, faculty and staff support was provided by Instructional Support Associates Andrew L. Reiter and Cortney F. Rookey and Assistant Professor Robert F. Burnett, and Canino School of Engineering Technology Dean Michael J. Newtown.

"Our work, and the excitement, does not stop here," Rygel said. "We are already looking ahead to next year's competition and hopefully our continued success."

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.

Media Attachments

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George H. Staats, a SUNY Canton Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Essex, assembles the college’s steel bridge for aesthetics judging at the American Institute of Steel Construction Upstate New York – Canada Regional competition held at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

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Mathew Greene, a SUNY Canton Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology major from Waddington, welds a section of one of the college’s steel bridges. The team came in third in a recent regional competition.

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The SUNY Canton American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter stands with their 2025 entry into the American Institute of Steel Construction Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition.

Raiden

Hansen