The 9th edition of the “Traditional Model Bridge Competition”, organized this year by Malatya Turgut Özal University Darende Bekir Ilıcak Vocational School Construction Technology Program, was held on May 14, 2025, with great interest from the students.

The competition was attended by Dr. Kadir DOĞANŞAHİN, Director of the Vocational School; Muharrem APAN, Deputy Mayor of Darende; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren KINA, Faculty Member of the Department of Civil Engineering at Malatya Turgut Özal University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences; and Construction Technology Program lecturers Assist. Prof. Dr. Mahmut BAŞSÜRÜCÜ and Lecturer Tolga KINA.

The event was both enjoyable and educational, providing a platform where future technicians showcased their technical knowledge and design skills. Held at Darende Bekir Ilıcak Vocational School, students created original bridge designs using only cardboard and adhesive, in accordance with the predetermined technical specifications.

A total of 6 teams participated in the competition, with jury members evaluating the bridges based on load-bearing capacity, originality of design, and construction quality. The most exciting moments of the event were during the load tests of the model bridges. While some bridges impressed the jury with their load capacity, others were eliminated early due to design flaws. The technical jury scored the bridges considering their strength, rigidity, and material efficiency. The event concluded with a group photo session.

🏆 Winning Teams

🥇 1st Place Award – Muhammed Sezen & Semih Gülbenk
🥈 2nd Place Award – Arda Ünal & Miraç Çakır
🥉 3rd Place Award – Okan Çakılı & Erhan Atan