POPSICLE STICK BRIDGE COMPETITION
POPSICLE STICK BRIDGE COMPETITION
About PSBC
Join this year's 32nd Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition (PSBC) hosted by ASCE LA YMF! The event brings together hundreds of local high school students to participate in a full-day competition to celebrate the engineering profession and highlight their achievements. The competition is a great opportunity to emphasize the benefits of pursuing higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while promoting the engineering profession in our community.
Participating high school teams will prepare technical reports, display boards, presentations, build and test their popsicle stick bridges! The rules and specifications for bridge design change each year so it is critical that the teams read through and follow all instructions. On the day of the event, these students (and their bridges) will be put to the test!
With hard work and great support, this event continues to grow each year. Our event was recognized with the 2010 Los Angeles Council of Engineers and Scientists' Harry Staubs Memorial Award for Community Service, and the event has been previously featured in the LA Times, Channel 4 NBC, Channel 35, and local university media.
Student Team Registration
Registration is now open for your student teams! Please use only one registration ticket per team. Each registered team will be provided lunch and will be able to take part in the competition. The deadline to register is Friday, April 10, 2026, or when we reach 100 teams*.
*Note: We have limited to 4 teams per school in an effort to allow more schools to participate. We will accept up to 3 additional teams per school to be added to the registration waiting list. If the competition is not full after the registration deadline, we will open additional spaces to those on the waiting list.
Volunteer Opportunities
Local civil engineering professionals and college students can get involved by volunteering to serve as judges testing the bridges; scoring technical papers, display boards, and presentations; hosting an impromptu competition; and giving tours. Volunteers will receive a shirt, breakfast, and lunch.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The competition is a great opportunity to emphasize the benefits of pursuing higher education and careers in STEM while promoting the engineering profession in our community. Want to be a part of this full-day competition to celebrate the engineering profession and highlight students’ achievements? Make a tax-deductible donation to support with one of our sponsorship packages below.
If you have any questions, please contact us at psbc@ascelasection.org
March 6th Update: Rules have been finalized and sent to schools.
FAQs
Last Updated: March 25, 2026
Q: Can teams bring their own tools (e.g., clamps, levels) to the competition?
Yes. Teams are permitted to bring and use **small, non-powered hand tools** to assist with construction.
Examples of permitted tools include:
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Clamps
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Rulers
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Small levels
Q: Can these tools be used as part of the bridge structure?
No. Tools are intended only to assist with construction and may not be incorporated into the bridge in any way.
Q: Do we need to include a walkable top for the bridge?
There is no requirement to make the bridge walkable. Bridges must be able to accommodate the loading apparatus or testing rig.
Q: Which tacky glue will be provided?
We will provide Aleene's® Quick Dry Tacky Glue™, which has a 35 minute cure time. Bridges will have approximately a 2-hour cure time between end of construction and testing.
Q: Do the sticks that comprise the crossing need to have their plane facing up?
Yes. Sticks used for the crossing (wildlife crossing bridge) must be placed flat (wide face down/up).
Q: Can the edges of the crossing sticks touch each other?
No, edges should not fully touch; small gaps are required to comply with the 50% rule.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum gap between the crossing sticks?
No specific minimum or maximum gap is defined. However, crossing stick edges shall not fully touch.
Q: Is there a maximum height for the crossing?
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The overall bridge must not exceed 16 inches in height
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The crossing shall have a minimum of 8 inches clear for wildlife crossing
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The crossing must still meet all clearance and dimension requirements outlined in the rules
Q: How many scholarships are available?
Three scholarships are available for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
Sam is a Civil Engineering Associate working in the Inter-Agency Utility Coordination group at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He is a Cal Poly Pomona alumni and received his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.
Sam is excited to continue his involvement in ASCE! On his free time, he enjoys to traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Samuel Saldivar, PE, M.ASCE
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition Co-Chair
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Contact US
Have questions, feel free to contact us at psbc@ascelasection.org