Designed for Success

ASCE members have launched dozens of Civil Engineering Clubs at the high school and middle school levels, teaching students the basics of civil engineering and igniting their passion for the profession. Though their methods have varied, their success levels have remained high even during the pandemic. Each volunteer leader works with a teacher or administrator in a specific school or group of schools to establish a club meeting schedule, promote membership to students, and supervise the meetings, which may be held weekly or biweekly. The introductory activity focuses on structural engineering. Students are given a short period of time in which to build the tallest structure they can out of dry spaghetti that will support a marshmallow. The modules cover bridges, transportation, and water. For each module, ASCE provides material lists, instructions, background reading sources, and other material to make implementation easy.