Student Events, Competitions & Traditions
Not all learning happens in the classroom. UAF also offers plenty of opportunities to explore, discover, network, and make new friends through extracurricular activities. Many of these events and activities are in conjunction with our student clubs.
The UAF Steel Bridge Team is one of the best in the nation, consistently placing among
the top 10 schools at the National Student Steel Bridge Competition. Every year, the
steel bridge team designs and fabricates a new bridge for competition, and travels
to the Pacific Northwest Regional Competition to test the bridge against other schools.
A competitive bridge can be assembled in under 10 minutes and support 2500 lbs without
bending more than 1/2". Students on the team learn how to TIG weld, create parts with
milling machines, and use structural design software.
Students from all backgrounds and majors are encouraged to join the team, and no prior
experience is required!
Image above: The 2021-2022 UAF Steel Bridge Team. UAF photo by JR Ancheta.
The annual tradition of building an ice arch dates back to the late 1960s. Engineering students have built the arch through a selective bidding process meant to mimic the situations of the practicing professional. Construction methods have historically been block-by-block, like stonearches, sprayed on ice, packed snow, or by freezing layers of water poured into form work. The construction of the ice arch is intended to be a team-building exercise for students to learn the basics of a construction project from start to finish. All majors and student backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the joint effort to keep the UAF Ice Arch tradition strong for years to come.
UAF brought the Concrete Canoe back to life in 2013 after a decade-long hibernation. Each year, the team participates in the Pacific Northwest regional competition which tests on teamwork, innovative designs, concrete mix designs, writing technical reports, and oral presentations. And of course, canoe racing.
The annual National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition is a one weekend content that tests teams on cyber-security and challenges them to defend a network of computers against a team of attackers.
The annual International Mine Design Competition is hosted by the Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration and the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association. Teams are given two days to design mines based on a scenario that weighs economic conditions, environmental regulations and mineral demand, among other factors.
The American institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Design-Build-Fly Competition tests students' aircraft building abilities. Student teams get to design and fabricate
an unmanned, electric powered, radio-controlled aircraft from scratch and demonstrate
its flight capabilities.
Contact the UAF Aeronautics Club for more information.
Students are competing to build a mining robot that is designed to navigate on the moon.
An annual celebration with a 90-year Nanook tradition, and a way to ease new students into campus life. At times it's a fierce competition of honor between campus dormitories. It's also a living story of the incredible odds the University has faced and overcome.
The Engineering Open House, sponsored by the College of Engineering and Mines, takes place annually in conjunction with National Engineers Week. This family-friendly event aims to increase public awareness and appreciation of all things engineering. Engineering students share their knowledge and passion with our community's young and eager minds through fun demonstrations.
The Engineering Connections Dinner is a great opportunity for networking and connect with future employers.