The ASCE Timber-Strong Design Build (TSDBSM) Competition team, “Shiver Yer Timbers,” at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, finished an incredible year. Over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year, we dedicated countless hours to designing, fabricating and learning about timber design. Our team was composed of eight students: Lucas Baum, Maddie Gotlieb, Gavin Nelson, Jordi Ramos Nunez, Alex Reil, Madelyn Riley, Zaid Safian and Tyler Worley. Advisors included: Dr. Hongyan Liu, Garrett Erickson, David Sparks and Dr. Shilling Pei.
Category: Engineering Students
What I Did This Summer: Working as a Simpson Strong-Tie R&D Intern
This summer, we welcomed Wyatt Munsch, a senior electrical engineering major at San Jose State University, who spent the summer interning in our Karen Colonias Research Laboratory in Pleasanton, California. He jumped into projects ranging from small-scale fastener tests to large-scale structural builds, learning how engineers and technicians collaborate to bring ideas to life. Wyatt gained hands-on experience with tools, setups, and material prep, even building a planter box for our scholarship student trip. Along the way, he picked up practical skills and made personal and professional connections..
A No-Equal Experience: The Simpson Strong-Tie® Student Scholarship Trip
Hear from Koby Stewart, a civil engineering senior at the University of Michigan, as he shares his experience as a Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship recipient. Koby dives into his background in construction and his introduction to Simpson Strong-Tie’s “No Equal” philosophy of excellence. Koby discusses how the experience broadened his professional network and influenced his career plans, including participation in ASCE competitions and pursuing a master’s degree in structural engineering.
Structuring Success: How Cal Poly’s Team Designed Victory in the 2024 Timber-Strong Design Build™ Competition
Nick Mackechnie, a senior at Cal Poly majoring in civil engineering and minoring in mathematics, recounts his project management role on his Timber-Strong Design Build team, which won at the 2024 Pacific Southwest Symposium. This event challenges engineering students to design and construct a two-story wood-framed building, providing practical experience in structural engineering and project management. Nick discusses navigating the complexities of design, team dynamics, and unique collaboration while sharing valuable lessons and insights.
Putting Engineering into Action: Interning at a Simpson Strong-Tie R&D Test Lab
Meet Tristan St. John, a mechanical engineering student from Colorado State University who joined Simpson Strong-Tie this summer as an intern at the Karen Colonias Research Lab in Pleasanton, California. His work involved assembling designs, selecting wood, and conducting tests using hydraulic presses. Tristan gained insights into the complexities of lab work and the importance of the various testing we do in our labs. The internship provided him with practical experience and exposure to a professional engineering environment, complementing his academic studies.
Learning on the Job — Insights from a Mechanical Engineering Intern at Simpson Strong-Tie
Aaron Lim, a recent graduate from UC Irvine, recounts his summer internship at Simpson Strong-Tie in Riverside, CA, where he gained practical experience in manufacturing engineering and learned about lean engineering principles. Under the mentorship of Shoen Davis, Aaron contributed to continuous –improvement projects and appreciated the company’s commitment to community and other core values. His internship gave him valuable insights into the field and solidified his career interests in manufacturing.
My Adventure Visiting Simpson Strong-Tie As a Student Scholarship Recipient
Daphne Milkert, a senior at Milwaukee School of Engineering is a recipient of the 2023 Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship. During her scholarship trip to the Bay Area, she engaged in activities like visiting Pier 39, exploring the Tyrell Gilb Research Lab, and participated in a hands-on tradeshow showcased the versatility of Simpson Strong-Tie products. Discover her insights from the trip and what she found valuable about her experiences and the connections she made.
Beyond the Classroom: A Scholar’s Adventure on Simpson Strong-Tie’s Scholarship Trip
Laura Hernandez- Cancelado, a senior at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, pursuing civil engineering, was a recipient of our 2023 Simpson Strong-Tie scholarship. She traces her journey from childhood curiosity to her path into civil engineering. Lara reflects on her scholarship trip visit this summer, highlighting the educational significance of being able to visit our testing lab. She delves into Simpson Strong-Tie’s engineering innovation and the opportunity for networking among professionals and students that the trip provided.
From Intern to Aspiring Engineer — My Internship at Simpson Strong-Tie
Meet Anthony Fung, a lab intern at the Karen Colonias Research Lab in Pleasanton, who joined Simpson Strong-Tie this summer to explore the world of testing and research. Throughout his internship, Anthony gained valuable hands-on experience in the lab, deepening his understanding of structural engineering. Additionally, he had the opportunity to engage in activities hosted at our Pleasanton office, providing him with insights into our company culture and the people behind our endeavors.
Empowering Future Engineers: Cal Poly Students’ Journey in the Timber-Strong Design Build Competition
The Timber-Strong Design Build℠ (TSDB℠) Competition is an annual event sponsored by the the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in partnership with the American Wood Council (AWC), APA (the Engineered Wood Association), and Simpson Strong-Tie in which student teams design and build an artistically creative two-story wood light-framed buildings that are sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and structurally durable. The competition enables students to gain experience in common structural engineering design as well as the business management and building practices used in construction environments. The authors of this article are graduating civil engineering students in the Civil Engineering program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.