Padua Students Excel at DelDOT Bridge Design Competition

Padua Academy students showcased their innovation, teamwork, and engineering skills at the DelDOT Delaware Bridge Design Competition 2026, held at Polytech High School. Competing against 42 teams from across the state, three Padua teams rose to the challenge of designing and constructing a specific bridge.

Leading the way was the junior team Arch Angels—Natalie Krevchuck, Eliana Lawrence, Paige Sopirak, and Lydia Roarty (not pictured)—who earned 3rd place overall and a $750 prize for their Tied Arch (Bowstring) Bridge design. This marks the team’s second year competing, building on their experience and success.

The competition required students to complete a comprehensive engineering process, including a written proposal, CAD drawings, bridge construction, and a 10-minute presentation to professional engineers. Each bridge was tested to determine how much weight it could hold while remaining as lightweight as possible.

Padua’s Team Sparklers, competing in their third year, included Emily Glowacki ’26, Juliana Mongiovi ’26, Kasey Nwokobia ’26, and Elena Sangemino ’26. The team is well known at the competition for their creativity and design excellence, having previously earned recognition for their visually striking Tied Arch Bridges, including a “Most Aesthetically Pleasing Bridge” award for their signature sparkling pink design.

Also representing Padua were The Beam Team, first-time competitors Lillian Camp ’28, Isabella Butler ’28, Elise Malmberg ’28, and Francesca Sarko ’29 with their Deck Arch Truss Bridge. Their participation marked an exciting introduction to the competition and a strong start to what promises to be continued involvement in engineering challenges.

All three teams began their work in January, dedicating their own time outside of school to research, design, and build their bridges. Their commitment reflects both their passion for engineering and the collaborative spirit that defines the Padua community.

We congratulate these talented student engineers on their impressive accomplishments and look forward to seeing what they achieve next.