Lincoln Memorial University School of Engineering made its debut at the 2025 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals, and at its first appearance on the national stage, the team brought home a prestigious award.
The event was held May 30–31 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) offer the Student Steel Bridge Competition to give future engineers hands-on steel design knowledge beyond the classroom.
More than 200 universities competed at the regional level. LMU was one of just 43 teams invited to nationals. LMU competed as a guest team while its ASCE student chapter works toward full recognition. The team earned a special invitation to nationals based on its strong performance, professionalism, and potential at regionals.
In its first national appearance, LMU earned the Robert E. Shaw Jr. Spirit of the Competition Award and a $2,000 team scholarship.
“The Rules Committee selected Lincoln Memorial University for their positivity and encouragement to each other and for their professionalism and appreciation to volunteers,” said AISC Senior Director of Education Christina Harber. “It was clear that this group of students truly soaked in the experience as first-time competitors.”
The competition challenges engineering students to design, fabricate, and construct a scale-model steel bridge under real-world constraints. This year’s competition required students to span a river corridor through a wildlife conservation area while navigating protected zones and new construction limitations.
LMU stood out in several scoring categories:
For civil engineering student Holt Hensley, the experience was deeply meaningful both personally and professionally.
“Seeing the bridge come together was a sense of relief and pride. It made me realize all of our hard work, dedication, and time was paying off in a visual representation. It was something I was really proud of—both personally and for representing Lincoln Memorial University,” Hensley said. “When it came time to showcase our work on the national stage, I was shocked it was even possible for us to compete, but I felt at peace during the competition because I knew we had created a bridge that represented our pride and showed off our dedication as both individuals and as a team.”
Hensley also reflected on how the experience mirrors real-world engineering.
“Understanding regulations, design, fabrication, and construction during the competition gave me a feel—on a smaller scale—for what happens in civil engineering applications,” he explained. “Figuring out what works and what doesn’t, using modeling programs to test bridge designs, ordering materials, gathering tools, and organizing the team to fabricate the bridge efficiently—those are skills that will absolutely help me in my career.”
Dean of LMU School of Engineering Ryan Overton, PhD, PE, praised the students’ achievement and the faculty who supported them throughout the process.
“Our students showed the heart, intellect, and discipline needed to succeed on a national level,” he said. “To earn a spot at nationals in our first attempt—and to be recognized for our spirit and professionalism—says a lot about the character of this team and the bright future of engineering at LMU.”
LMU was one of two schools to debut at the national finals this year. The overall national championship title went to the University of Florida, marking their fifth consecutive win.
For full competition results and details, visit: www.aisc.org/education/university-programs/student-steel-bridge-competition
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail at admissions@LMUnet.edu.
