[email protected]

2025 ASCE Upstate 4TH GRADE POPSICLE STICK BRIDGE EVENT

​Date:          March 8, 2025
Location:   Greenville Convention Center
                    Conference Hall
                   1 Exposition Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
Time:          9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
PLEASE NOTE: THE GREENVILLE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE CHARGING $10 PER VEHICLE FOR PARKING.
"The Center provides parking services to ensure the safety and satisfaction of our guests. All parking operations are under control of the Center. Our parking facilities are cashless; credit and debit cards and NFC payments are accepted at all parking lots."
Consider using Greenlink Route 501 - North Pleasantburg Drive & Tower Drive.

See the live leaderboard here
​#ASCEUpstateBridge2025

Volunteer Opportunity
Many volunteers are needed in order for our event to be successful each year.  Anyone interested in volunteering on event day or the afternoon before, please contact [email protected] or sign up below. We need event greeters, bridge testers, station runners, and other volunteers to help make this event a success. We strongly encourage engineering students and professionals to volunteer however, volunteers do not need to be ASCE members or engineers to help out.  Volunteers will receive breakfast and lunch following the event.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
The ASCE SC Upstate Branch is also inviting companies to register as a sponsor for the Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Event. The company name & logo will appear on signage in exhibit areas, volunteer t-shirts, event flyers, and be announced during the ASCE Upstate Branch Meetings. We are still accepting sponsorships, but at this point, logos will not be included on the t-shirt. Sponsorships can be submitted below. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. If you would to pay via check, please contact the bridge chair. Once registration is completed, the contact for the sponsorship will receive additional instructions. Thank you for your support!
$2,575.00
Sponsor
$1,030.00
Sponsor
$515.00
Sponsor
$260.00
Sponsor
$130.00
Sponsor
Background
The ASCE SC Upstate Branch has been hosting the Popsicle Bridge Event since 2009. The event was started by the Upstate Branch members and the Greenville County Challenge Program teachers. The Challenge program includes students that achieve high scores on academic testing. This classroom unit and event was created to help them learn more about math, science, and engineering in a fun and practical way. The students spend approximately 3 months in the classroom learning about bridge design and the challenges of creating a strong, yet lightweight bridge which is essential in today’s real world scenarios of cost efficient design. The 4th grade students construct their bridges with popsicle sticks and white craft glue and must adhere to certain constraints regarding height, length, width, and weight. The bridges are then brought to the event for final weigh-in and testing to conclude the lesson.

Typical Agenda
7:45am – Volunteer arrival and registration
8:00am – Final setup and preparation
9:00am – Testing Group 1 Begins
10:30am - Testing Group 2 Begins
Awards will be presented via video the week following the event.

Bridges are judged by a panel of judges and winners are chosen for the following categories:

1.    Best Architectural Design
2.    Most Original Design
3.    Best Craftsmanship
4.    Best Structural

The “Best Structural” category is based on load testing the bridges to failure while taking into consideration the weight of the bridge.

Vendors & Activities
This year the event will also have the following additional activities:
  • Event T-shirts for sale ($16 card / $15 cash)
  • Touch-a-Truck by APWA
  • Imagination Playground by TCMU
  • Roper Mountain Science Center
  • Paper Pie Books
  • Wurster Engineering & Construction, Inc.
  • Building Bridges Using Alternate Materials by WTS
  • Girl Scout Cookies
Things to Keep in Mind at the Event:
  • Testing will begin at 9:00 AM for Group 1. Please arrive early in order to locate your school testing station. There will be a brief break before testing for Group 2 begins.
  • Bridges are NOT tested in alphabetical order by school. A listing of schools and testing locations will be sent out before the event.
  • Some seating will be available along the perimeter of the event (testing is not viewable from seated areas).
  • Parents attending with students must supervise them at all times.
  • Please allow students to stand at the front of the line in order to watch the testing of their school’s bridges.
  • Please do NOT touch any bridges prior to testing.
  • The acoustics are not perfect for this type of event, so please listen carefully.  Signs will be used as available to help alleviate some sound issues.​
**All workers at the event are volunteers. If there are any questions or concerns about the testing or rules, please direct them to teachers or the event coordinators.**
See videos of previous events below:
 YouTube Event Playlist 

Event Location

2025 SPONSORS/vendors

Foundation Sponsors

Pier Sponsors

Truss Sponsors

Deck Sponsors

    Questions?