FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 19, 2019
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — A team of Tarleton State University students placed first at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Concrete Frisbee competition hosted last weekend by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley at South Padre.
The competition was part of the annual ASCE Texas-Mexico Student Symposium.
Tarleton’s team — Taylor Polk, Trevor Pack and Kristoffer Oropeza — created concrete disks that are aesthetically pleasing and not only fly but don’t break upon landing.
“Our concrete Frisbees are 10 inches in diameter and roughly 1.3 inches thick, weighing around 1.25 pounds,” said Polk, team captain. “The longest distance we were able to throw during competition was 105 feet.”
Polk said the team used a non-typical aggregate of polystyrene to make the disks lighter, then sanded and painted each of the five required Frisbees for appearance.
There were other symposium competitions for concrete bowling balls and concrete canoes.
“Each competition at the ASCE symposium provides a dynamic hands-on experience for students to develop problem-solving skills related to engineering,” said Dr. Rajesh Vuddandam, faculty advisor to Tarleton’s ASCE student chapter. “Construction of concrete Frisbees gives an opportunity for students to understand and implement the principles of concrete mix design, aerodynamics and structural testing.”
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact: Phil Riddle, News and Information Specialist
817-484-4415
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