Are you looking for practical feedback on your design for the Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC)? What if you could get the perspective of someone with years of real-world experience in bridge design and structural engineering?

Partnering with a professional mentor can invite such expertise and guidance to your team. It can also give you and your team the opportunity to connect with members of the industry, building relationships that can last well into your career.

The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) is a supporting affiliate of the SSBC and can help get you connected to someone in your area. Learn more about NCSEA and how they may be able to support your team below!

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While a mentor will not design or build your teams’ bridge, they may be able to give you advice and support your bridge project in other ways. Your faculty advisor is there to help you as well, so bringing in even more support and knowledge will only help you.

Here are some ways a mentor can help:

- Ask them to serve as a general mentor for the main competition
- Your mentor may be able to advise on the analysis of your bridge and/or review your design calculation package
- Ask if they can offer advice on software
- Invite your mentor to be a guest speaker at club or team meeting to discuss real projects and careers in structural engineering

Find your mentor!

NCSEA comprises 44 structural engineering associations throughout the United States, and each association has a delegate who will help your SSBC team find a local mentor. Request the list of local representatives, find the organization that is closest to you, and reach out to their delegate about getting connected to a mentor.

Request Contact List

Who is NCSEA?

The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) serves the needs of the structural engineering profession, its clientele, as well as Architects, Professional and Trade Organizations, Engineering Societies and more! NCSEA was formed to constantly improve the standard level of practice of the structural engineering profession, and to provide an identifiable resource for those needing communication with the profession. The Association’s vision is to be recognized as the leading advocate for the practice of structural engineering via its ongoing mission of representing and strengthening its 44 Member Organizations. Through their network of local Structural Engineers Associations and members throughout the country, NCSEA may be able to find a practicing structural engineer to mentor your team.