Students from Dauphin County Technical School emerged triumphant for the third year in a row today at the Pennsy Concrete Challenge, winning with concrete samples that best withstood rigorous strength and durability testing and showcased their newly acquired knowledge on the properties and versatility of concrete.  This year’s competition, held at HACC’s Wildwood Campus in Harrisburg, included three area high schools and technology schools:  Cedar Cliff High School, Cumberland Valley High School and Dauphin County Technical School.

Pennsy Supply Inc., southcentral Pennsylvania’s leading supplier of aggregate, concrete and asphalt, and the Civil Technology Program at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) teamed up to create the program, which includes a classroom curriculum, culminating in a one-day competition to teach high school masonry and technology students about concrete and its many properties and applications.

“This is a unique collaboration between industry experts and college educators to provide hands-on experience to the next generation and inspire them in leading future advancements in concrete application,” said Janka Ovcharovichova, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor and program coordinator, Civil Engineering and Technology, HACC.  “Our goal is to help young people become familiar with civil technology applications and make them aware of the opportunities open to them for future careers.”

                Milan Lipensky, quality assurance manager for Pennsy Supply, approached the Civil Technology Program at HACC with the idea for the Concrete Challenge in 2004.  Under the supervision of Ovcharovichova, two of HACC’s civil technology students took on the Challenge as part of a required project for graduation.  The HACC students visited the schools participating in the inaugural competition, prepared contest rules in accordance with the American Concrete Institute, created the classroom curriculum packages and served as judges for the one-day competition.

                This year’s competition was judged by Ovcharovichova; Tim Kindt, Pennsy Supply; Don Ford, Admixtures, Inc.; Ken Crank, Pennsylvania Aggregate and Concrete Association; and HACC civil technology students Daneen Hutton and Keith Goddard.

                Prior to the one-day competition, students study all components of concrete, including plain and enhanced with admixtures; support the work with computations; and mix several batches of concrete.  On the day of competition, students’ sample concrete cylinders are “broken” to measure strength and durability requirements.

                “We’re excited by the great response we’ve had from area high schools to this program,” said Lipensky.  “HACC’s Civil Technology Program has done a tremendous job helping us create a first-class curriculum and competition and we’re looking forward to expanding the program and preparing the next generation of industry leaders.”