ASCE SOUTHEAST STUDENT SYMPOSIUM 2025
An Unforgettable Experience in Athens, Georgia
Written by Outreach Committee Member Keyshla M. González Lorenzo
The ASCE Southeast Student Symposium is an annual event organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where civil engineering students from universities across the Southeastern United States come together to compete in various technical and leadership challenges.
What Does It Include?
The symposium features multiple competitions designed to test students' technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Some of the main events include:
1. UESI Surveying Competition – Focused on land surveying and geomatics engineering.
2. Steel Bridge – Designing, fabricating, and assembling a steel bridge that meets specific structural criteria.
3. Concrete Canoe – Designing, building, and racing a canoe made entirely of concrete.
4. Construction Institute Competition – A challenge that simulates real-world construction management scenarios.
5. Geo Wall – Designing and constructing a retaining wall using geotechnical engineering principles.
6. Sustainable Solutions – Developing innovative, sustainable infrastructure projects.
7. Timber-Strong Design Build – Working with timber materials to create structural designs.
8. Mystery Competition – A surprise challenge that tests creativity and problem-solving skills.
and many more.
Aside from the competitions, the symposium includes technical presentations, networking opportunities with professionals, career fairs, and workshops.
Why Is It Important?
The ASCE Southeast Student Symposium is more than just a competition—it's an opportunity for students to apply their engineering knowledge in real-world scenarios, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and build connections with industry professionals. It’s a great way to prepare for future careers while also having fun and representing their universities at a high level.
In short, it’s an exciting, hands-on learning experience that challenges, motivates, and inspires the next generation of civil engineers!
As part of the ASCE UPRM board, a team member in one competition, and a team captain in another, the pressure this year—after competing for several years—felt more intense than ever, but the ASCE Southeast Student Symposium 2025 was an adventure from start to finish! From the moment we left on Wednesday, I knew this trip was going to be something special and the pressure was more excitement. Our journey started with a flight to Orlando, followed by a connection to Atlanta. Stepping outside, the cold hit us hard—it was nothing like what we were used to back home. But hey, that just added to the experience!
Thursday: Getting Ready to Compete
Thursday was all about settling in. It was check-in day, meaning we had to submit the UESI plans, scope out our competition areas for the next day, and attend the captains’ meeting. I was a bit nervous about the tasks we might be assigned, but everything flowed smoothly. I also got the chance to see the bridge display—seeing all the teams' hard work up close was amazing.
Friday: Competition Mode ON!
Friday was GO time. We arrived at the university at 5:30 AM, ready to take on the Construction Institute competition. We officially started at 7 AM, with just two and a half hours to complete everything. Since I had my UESI presentation at 9:20 AM, we had to rush through everything even faster. The moment we wrapped up, I sprinted to my UESI presentation. Later in the afternoon, I had my CI presentation, which gave me the chance to watch some other competitions, including the bridge assembly, cornhole, mini prestressed beam, timber, and traffic control. Oh, and the lunch? Absolutely delicious—so many options to choose from!
After a long day, we finally left the university around 6 PM, grabbed some dinner, and headed back to the hotel to rest (or at least try to).
Saturday: The Final Stretch
Saturday was another big day—UESI competition day. We stayed up practicing until 1 AM, going over last-minute doubts with our professor/advisor. I was beyond exhausted at that point, barely able to keep my eyes open while he explained things. But the excitement kept me going.
Originally, our competition was scheduled for 1 PM, but the schedule changed, and we had to be there at 8 AM instead. This time, they actually followed the rule of selecting teams at random, which hadn’t happened in my last competition. Luckily, everything went smoothly!
The day was packed with other events too, like the Design Build display, canoe races, mystery competition, GeoWall, and so much more. Once we finished our competition, I finally had time to explore and even stopped by the UGA store—because, of course, I had to get a souvenir! This was my fourth time competing in the ASCE Southeast Symposium, and whether or not it’s my last, I wanted to make the most of it.
Saturday Night: Celebration & Reflection
The awards ceremony that night was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible trip. We brought home around 22 awards and secured third place overall! It was such a rewarding moment, filled with pride and gratitude.
Now, as I approach graduation and transition out of my role as Vice President, seeing new members step in, grow, and find motivation has been the most fulfilling part of this journey. That’s why I took on this role—to guide, inspire, and support the next generation, just as others did for me.
This trip was everything—growth, learning, competition, incredible food, laughter, stress, anxiety, and, most importantly, friendships old and new. Can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes us!
