Padua Students Shine at DelDOT Bridge Design Competition

Padua Academy recently competed in the 2025 DelDOT Delaware Bridge Design Competition at Polytech High School, bringing two talented teams who built arched truss bridges.

Team Sparklers — Emily Glowacki '26, Juliana Mongiovi '26, Kasey Nwokobia '26, and Elena Sangemino '26 — earned the Most Aesthetically Pleasing Bridge award for the second year in a row with their sparkling pink design.

Team Arch Angels — Natalie Krevchuck '27, Eliana Lawrence '27, Lydia Roarty '27, and Paige Sopirak '27 — placed 7th out of 28 teams in their first-ever competition.

Using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), students meticulously designed their bridges before building balsa wood models. With grace and confidence, Team Sparklers presented their masterpiece to judges, fielded questions, and put their bridge to the test.

Beyond the competition, students immersed themselves in the world of engineering by exploring exhibits, examining engineering vehicles, and experiencing real-world problem-solving. This hands-on experience is more than a competition — it sparks future careers in transportation and civil engineering.

Both teams took time to speak with Lorri Grayson, GGA Construction’s founder. Lori delivered the keynote address, sharing her journey from the first girl in her school to take mechanical drawing to leading $100M+ projects and serving as ABC National’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice Chair.

We are so proud of these future engineers! Special thank you to Mr. Brandon Lawler and Mrs. Lisa Kowalski for assisting and supporting these teams. For more pictures visit our Facebook & Instagram account.