In an impressive display of skill and innovation, Cal State Fullerton’s civil engineering GeoWall team was crowned the national champions of this year’s GeoWall Student Competition. The team’s outstanding performance saw them outshine teams from other institutions, including UCLA, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona.
The road to victory began with the submission of a detailed technical design report by the CSUF team, showcasing their in-depth knowledge and innovative approach to civil engineering challenges. Their submission was selected from a pool of 20 collegiate teams across the nation, earning them an invitation to the esteemed Geo-Congress held Feb. 25-28 in Vancouver, Canada.
The team, led by captain Daniel Santa Maria, along with key members Kelvin Arana, Archaela Tadios and Alex Trujillo, demonstrated unparalleled teamwork and expertise. The students competed under the guidance of Xenia Wirth, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and the team’s faculty adviser.
The GeoWall competition tests participants’ abilities to design and construct a model of a mechanically stabilized Earth retaining wall. This year’s challenge required the use of paper reinforcement taped to a poster board wall facing, with the goal of needing the least amount of reinforcement while still supporting the retained soil and additional design loads. This task not only assesses the competitors’ engineering skills, but also their capacity for innovation and sustainability in design.
CSUF’s victory at the national level serves as an inspiration to their peers and future students, highlighting the importance of practical experience and hands-on learning in the field of civil engineering.