At WGI, building the future means more than designing infrastructure: it means investing in the people who will shape it. Recently, members of our WGI team participated in the Florida Student Bridge Competition, hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Four office, helping introduce middle and high school students to the real-world impact of engineering and transportation careers.
Bringing together students from Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the competition challenges participants to design, build, and test model bridges while gaining hands-on experience that mirrors the work engineers do every day. With increased student participation this year, the event continues to grow as a meaningful pathway into STEM education and future careers in our industry.
A Competition Built Around Learning and Application
Each year, the Florida Student Bridge Competition challenges student teams to design and construct model bridges that achieve the highest strength-to-weight ratio. Teams of up to three students competed within grade-based divisions ranging from 7th to 12th grade, each aligned with progressively advanced structural concepts.
The event followed a structured flow that mirrors real-world engineering processes. After check-in, each bridge underwent an inspection to verify compliance with competition requirements. Teams whose bridges did not meet specifications were given time to make adjustments before moving forward, reinforcing the importance of standards, constructability, and attention to detail.
Once approved, students advanced to a newly introduced component of the competition: a technical interview focused on communication and engineering understanding. This portion accounted for 25% of each team’s total score and encouraged students to explain their design decisions, testing approaches, and expectations for performance.
The final stage of the competition involved live bridge testing. Bridges were weighed, loaded onto a testing apparatus, and subjected to increasing force until failure. Load data was displayed in real time, allowing students to observe structural behavior and understand how efficiency, not just strength, impacts overall performance.
WGI’s Role in Supporting Student Engagement
Members of our team volunteered throughout the event, supporting the newly introduced technical interview portion of the competition. Serving in FDOT’s “Communication Prep” room, team members conducted brief interviews with each student team, asking grade-appropriate questions related to bridge design, load paths, materials, testing methods, and anticipated failure modes.
This interaction gave students the opportunity to practice explaining technical concepts while receiving feedback from industry professionals, mirroring the collaboration and communication expected in real-world engineering environments. It also reinforced that strong engineers are not only problem-solvers, but effective communicators.
“It was great to see the program’s growth and the level of student engagement and inspiration percolating throughout our community.”
– Samantha Robinson
In addition to volunteering, the WGI team helped document the event, capturing moments throughout the day that reflected the students’ focus and teamwork.
For us, involvement in events like this is also about showing students what a future in engineering can look like. From collaboration and communication to problem-solving and mentorship, the competition reflects many of the skills and values that define a career at WGI.
Supporting the Next Generation of Engineers
The Florida Student Bridge Competition provides students with early exposure to engineering principles through hands-on learning and real-time testing. Events like this help students connect classroom concepts to real-world applications while building confidence in their abilities, and for many, spark interest in future engineering and transportation careers.
At WGI, supporting initiatives like this is an extension of our commitment to developing talent at every stage. By engaging with students early and investing in mentorship, we help create pathways into the profession and cultivate the next generation of engineers, designers, and problem-solvers.
So, congratulations to all the students and educators who made the 2026 competition a success! WGI looks forward to continuing involvement in programs that support education, mentorship, and workforce development, both within our communities and across our growing team.
Living Our Values Through Community Engagement
At WGI, our Core Values guide how we show up not only on our projects, but also within the communities we serve. Supporting events like the Florida Student Bridge Competition allows the WGI family to share knowledge, give back, and help students connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
By volunteering time and expertise, our team is living our core value to Be the Change You Seek: making a meaningful impact through mentorship, education, and community engagement. These experiences reflect who we are as a firm and the type of environment we strive to create for current and future team members.
Contact Us
Whether you’re a student exploring your future or an early-career professional ready to take the next step, WGI offers opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to impactful projects. Explore opportunities on our Careers Page and learn how you can be part of the WGI team!
