West Virginia
Student winners announced in 2024 West Virginia Bridge Design contest
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – The West Virginia Department of Transportation has announced the winners of the West Virginia Bridge Design & Build Contest that was held on April 6, at WVU Tech in Beckley.
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School and PikeView High School took home the most honors with several first-place wins.
WVDOT said that 38 teams form 21 counties competed. Middle and high schoolers competed in both computer software and balsa wood model contests to see who can come up with the most cost-effective and sturdiest bridge designs.
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School took home first place middle in the software design and balsa wood bridge competitions for the middle school division while PikeView High School took home first place in the same categories for the high school division.
Winners included:
Software – middle school:
- First place, Emma Vincent and Ellie Burns, team DumbleDores Army, Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.
- Second place, Laura Du and Riya Zenn, team In it for the money, Suncrest Middle School.
- Third place, Ben Kelso and Saja Huggi, team Scheming, Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.
Software – high school:
- First place, Ben Williams and Jacob Lafferty, team Infinity+2, PikeView High School.
- Second place, Landon Palmer and Landon Lester, team Landon_Squared, PikeView High School
- Third place, Larry Du and Max Chen, team LarryMax, Morgantown High School
Balsa wood bridge competition – middle school:
- Third place, Carley Coleman, team Tinker Belles, Andrew Jackson Middle School.
- Second place, Laura Du and Riya Zenn, team Initforthemoney, Suncrest Middle School.
- First place, Arabella Webb, team The Strawberries, Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.
- Most creative, John Williams, team Johniscool1000000000, PikeView Middle School
Balsa wood bridge competition – high school:
- Third place, Janie Gilchrist and Alex Gilchrist, team AsianInvasion, Morgantown High School.
- Second place, Parker Worline and Ethan Coleman, team PandE, Winfield High School.
- First place, Johnathon Scott Meadows, team UNcivil engineering, PikeView High School.
- Most creative, Madelyn Cole and Parker Shrewsbury, team Ihavethehighground, PikeView High School.
- Most creative, Connor Atkins and Lucas Messenger, team Negative Zero, East Fairmont High School.
To register for next year’s contest, download bridge design software, or find out more about the contest, visit https://wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.
Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.
We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which
enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time.
For any issues, contact support@wvnews.com or call 1-800-982-6034.
West Virginia
Morrisey signs Baylea’s Law, increasing criminal penalties in W.Va. for DUI causing death
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey officially signed House Bill 4712 into law on Friday.
The bill, better known as Baylea’s Law, increases criminal penalties against those who are convicted of driving under the influence resulting in death. The bill is named after Baylea Bower, a 24-year-old woman from Boone County who was killed in a car crash on Easter in 2025 caused by a drunk driver.
The bill passed the House in February, with several of Bower’s family and friends gathered at the West Virginia Capitol in support of the bill.
“Obviously we’re going to be heartbroken,” Bower’s friend India Henderson said. “We have the lifetime sentence of not having Baylea. But if this does help save a life in the future and cause someone to not want to go out and cause this tragedy, then that is a win.”
In accordance with the passage of the bill, Baylea’s Law will take effect on June 12.
“West Virginia will no longer allow those who drive while impaired to escape the full weight of justice,” Morrisey said Friday in a press release. “Baylea’s Law gives our legal system the teeth to demand absolute accountability for the most heartbreaking crimes. Today, our laws stand firmly on the side of victims and their families.”
Specifically, Baylea’s Law introduces the offense of aggravated DUI resulting in death, which will carry the following mandatory sentences, according to a release from Morrisey’s office:
- Five to 30 years in prison
- Fine of $2,000 to $10,000
- Lifetime revocation of the offender’s driver’s license
-
New Jersey6 minutes agoNJ ex-fireman ‘ready for war’ when he launched into violent rampage triggered by breakup: prosecutors
-
New Mexico12 minutes agoPhoebe Bridgers Debuts New Music at First Show in Three Years
-
North Carolina18 minutes agoNorth Carolina man found dead after falling overboard in East TN lake: TWRA
-
North Dakota23 minutes agoFederal judge agrees to toss $28M judgment related to Dakota Access Pipeline protests
-
Ohio30 minutes ago8th Annual Trumbull County Special Olympics Invitational held in Girard
-
Oklahoma36 minutes agoKendall Wells Falls Behind in Home Run Race as Oklahoma Waits for Selection Sunday
-
Oregon42 minutes ago4.9 magnitude earthquake strikes off Northern California coast near Oregon border
-
Pennsylvania48 minutes agoPennsylvania Medical Marijuana And Hemp Regulation Bill Sets The State Up For Broader Recreational Legalization, GOP Senator Says – Marijuana Moment