Competitions
There’s no better way to learn than by doing. NPCA Foundation gives students from all disciplines an opportunity to put their problem-solving skills and creativity to work while they learn more about precast concrete.
Precast Solutions Student Competition
The Precast Solutions Student Competition teaches future engineers, specifiers and construction management personnel about the many uses, benefits and innovations available in the precast concrete industry. The competition helps students learn more about precast concrete and gain real-world professional experience.
The competition provides a unique opportunity for students to work with academic advisors or professors, interact with precast industry leaders who assist as team liaisons and compete in teams to solve a problem posed by NPCA members, using precast concrete as the solution.
Real-world benefits
The competition project is a real-world project undertaken by an NPCA member. It presents problems that a precast company worked through to deliver the best solution and meet the needs of the customer.
There are a number of factors that a company needs to address and consider when bidding on a project and then executing and delivering the final product. These include production, delivery, budgeting, timelines, engineering, unexpected problems and last-minute changes from the customer, along with many others.
Students are strongly encouraged to build multidisciplinary teams made up of students in engineering, architecture, construction management, project management or logistics.
Who can apply: The NPCA Foundation Student Competition is open to undergraduate students at two- and four-year universities and colleges.
How it works: The finals are held annually at The Precast Show, and the application opens in the fall. The first-place team wins $5,000 (divided equally among the student team members) and $5,000 for the school. Second place wins $3,000 for the team and $3,000 for the school. Third place wins $2,000 for the team and $2,000 for the school.
How to get involved: NPCA members are encouraged to participate as industry liaisons, providing resources and making connections with industry experts for student teams. The competition is an opportunity to reach out to local universities and form relationships with the next generation of engineers and specifiers and potential future employees. Contact the NPCA Foundation at 800-366-7731 or foundation@precast.org for more information.
ASCE Concrete Canoe National Competition
The American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe National Competition challenges students to be creative while giving them practical experience with precast. It provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on practical experience while testing their skills with concrete mix designs and project management skills.
Known as the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering,” the Concrete Canoe National Competition began in 1988 and combines engineering excellence, hydrodynamic design and racing technique. The NPCA Foundation is proud to sponsor the National Concrete Canoe Competition. NPCA scholarships are available to help teams offset the construction and travel costs.