UT Tyler Among Top 10 at 2024 National Concrete Canoe Contest

July 2, 2024 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler placed in the top 10 at this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Competition. This is UT Tyler’s second consecutive top 10 finish at nationals.

UT Tyler placed ninth overall out of 25 teams, taking seventh place in technical paper, ninth place in
oral presentation, eighth place in final product, sixth in co-ed sprint, seventh in women’s sprint and
10th in women’s slalom. UT Tyler represented ASCE Region 6, the largest region worldwide, which
consists of schools from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Mexico.

"Ranking top 10 in the nation in back-to-back years is very impressive,” said Dr. Matthew Vechione,
UT Tyler ASCE faculty adviser and assistant professor of civil engineering. “This was actually the first time we’ve ever been in the top 10 in any of the races at nationals, too. I’m so proud of our group.”

The UT Tyler ASCE student chapter advanced to nationals this year by winning the 2024 Texas-
Mexico Regional Concrete Canoe Competition with their entry, “The Tyler Rose.” At the annual
competition, collegiate teams build canoes out of concrete and are judged in four categories –
technical report, oral presentation, canoe final product and racing.

“Our students’ consistent top 10 finishes at the national level underscore the exceptional quality of
education and hands-on experience provided by our program,” said Dr. Mena Souliman, UT Tyler
Ronald D. Brazzel Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering and interim department chair. “Their
achievements reflect not only their hard work and dedication but also the strong support and
mentorship from our faculty. We are thrilled to see them represent UT Tyler and Region 6 with such
distinction.”

UT Tyler 2023-24 team members by hometown are:

BULLARD – Clay Stewart.
CADDO MILLS – Keagan Rios.
CARTHAGE – Sahara Coultas and Josiah Schumacher.
DIANA – Caleb Mobbs.
ELKHART – Mason Mattern.
FORT WORTH – Pierce Cole.
GIDDINGS – Chandler Hosch.
GILMER – Christopher McMillan.
HENDERSON – Ernesto Colorado.
HOUSTON – Jason Carranza.
KATY – Dominic Patronella.
KAUFMAN – Luis Ortiz.
LONGVIEW – Esther Fajardo, co-captain.
MINEOLA – Angel Suarez.
MOUNT PLEASANT – Javier Garcia and Steven Luna.
SHERMAN – Manuel Salazar.
TENAHA – Jacquelyn Barton.
TERRELL – Gerardo Perez, co-captain.
TYLER – Samuel Gentry and Hannah McGinnis, co-captain.
WHITEHOUSE – Kristofer Niere.
SPAIN – Ana Gay Mesa.

The American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is the nation’s oldest engineering society. For more information, visit asce.org.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT
Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.