Bridges such as the Golden Gate and Millau Viaduct are more than just monumental. They also serve an important function for roads. When it comes to making them, a strong foundation is a requirement. Students can solve real-world problems, like designing bridges, through the Transportation and Civil Engineering program, a STEM-based program. Gabriella Mbakop, Wania Sahbaz, and Tanitoluwa Ojifinni from the TRAC (Transportation and Civil Engineering) Bridge Club at ERHS have put in all their effort to qualify for Nationals this year. This spring, they will be going to Savannah, Georgia, to continue to compete.
“TRAC Bridge is a competition series where people build 3D prototypes of things like bridges that you walk on,” explains Gabriella Mbakop, the President of the TRAC Bridge Club. Before her freshman year, Mbakop “did it in middle school,” and when she came to Roosevelt and found out that it wasn’t here, she was disappointed. She adds that she “decided to email the headquarters and ask them if they could implement it at school.” Since then, they have rigorously trained for the competition.
Wania Sahbaz, the writer of the team, remarks that she “was really happy to find out” that her team qualified and was “excited to work on the project.” The process of making their bridge wasn’t easy. Sahbaz reveals that their bridge design was “made out of thin balsa wood and uses a lot of geometrical design.” Mbakop notes that “Tanitoluwa built the bridge, and the most difficult part for her was cutting the balsa wood at precise angles.” She recalls how “One slight measurement off and the whole thing collapses”. Despite these challenges, this team was able to power through, highlighting both the club’s growth and hard work through the competition.
As the team prepares for nationals, they all have high expectations for the future of the club. Mbakop states that she is “sure it’s gonna boost our credibility a lot more.” With dedication and teamwork driving them forward, they are determined to represent ERHS proudly and see how far their efforts take them.
