The ASCE Student Chaper at UHM competed in the 2009 ASCE/AISC National Student Steel Bridge Competition (NSSCB) at UNLV on May 22nd and 23rd in Las Vegas. The steel bridge team, consisting of Eric Tomishima (captain), Lori Higashi, Joel Reyes, Ben Ng, and Brent Ching, qualified for the NSSBC by placing first at the Pacific Southwest Regional Conference April 2-3-4. At this year’s 18th annual NSSBC, the top 47 bridge teams from across the nation (out of an estimated 300 bridges in the regional conferences) competed in 6 categories including constuction speed, lightness, display, stiffness, economy, and efficiency. In the face of fierce competition, the UHM team did very very well by placing 11th overall in the event, with 4th place in both lightness and display categories as well as 7th in construction speed. The students also enjoyed the wholesome Las Vegas strip and a tour of nearby Hoover Dam. The UHM team also competed at the NSSBCs in 2006 (18th place) and 2008 (27th place) and is planning to qualify for next year’s NSSBC to be held at Purdue University.