Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida Tech’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter brought some serious engineering talent — and a corn-themed canoe — to the 2025 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium, held last month at the University of Georgia.
The event brought together more than 600 students from 19 universities across Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico for a weekend packed with competitions, networking, and hands-on engineering challenges. Florida Tech competed in seven events and walking away with several top finishes, including first place in the UESI (Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute) Surveying Competition — a win that qualifies the team for nationals in June.
Students had to use real-world tools and techniques to complete complex mapping tasks and fieldwork simulations, testing both their precision and teamwork.
Participants also made waves with their concrete canoe — nicknamed the “Cornoe” in honor of its playful corn-themed design. The canoe earned third place in the slalom races for both men’s and women’s teams. But getting there took nearly a year of prep.
“We spent all year preparing for the symposium—we even worked during the summer,” said Callie Siering, a senior in construction management and the chapter’s president. “For concrete canoe, there’s the written proposal, the construction of the canoe, the formal presentation, and the performance demonstration. We work on all of it for nearly the entire year until it’s complete.”
Beyond the marquee events, the team also cracked the top 10 in several other competitions — including the geo-wall, T-shirt design, paper presentation, and the surprise “mystery” event, which turned out to be pickleball.Behind the scenes, longtime civil engineering professor Paul Cosentino continues to be a guiding force for the chapter. He’s been advising Florida Tech’s ASCE students for over three decades, helping lead them to national success — including a win at the National Concrete Canoe Competition and multiple appearances at nationals.
“Being the ASCE advisor has been very rewarding—from the time Ed Kalajian and I worked together until now,” Cosentino said. “Our students are so passionate and fun to work with. People outside the university always comment on how impressed they are, and I see it every day.”
For Siering, this year’s symposium was a fitting finale to her time at Florida Tech.
“I never knew from the beginning how much I would love doing this,” she said. “I’ve changed so much thanks to ASCE. This has been my life for four years.”
