Local high school wins first place in national competition

NEGAUNEE — Students at Negaunee High School worked their way to first place at the National Bridge Building competition in Iowa.

The high school seniors are part of an engineering class along with other extracurricular activities that helped prepare them for the challenge. The students not only won the national competition, but also the state competition that was through the Michigan Department of Transportation.

“My team took first place in states and second in nationals. The first place in nationals, was another Negaunee team. Said by Negaunee Senior Grant Johnson, “we were excited especially at states and then at nationals, I mean we new they were our competition so it was still close.”

The process to get accepted into the national competition included the writing of a 40–page proposal and detailed drawings. Out of all the teams that sent in proposals from 38 different states, two were selected from Negaunee High School.

“Out of the 149 or 150 teams that sent in proposals, we were lucky to get two of those teams in and they ended up going first and second so we were really proud of those guys” Said Negaunee Teacher Kevin Bell.

The first place group took home $1,200 while the second place still received $900. The students were most excited to gain experience in the engineering field.