"Texas A&M University"
(15th place overall)

Design Paper (20th):

Presentation (5th):

The presentation was given by two men and two women dressed in costume.  They relied on a James Bond skit to underscore their power point presentation.  Bond was dressed in a tuxedo while his female compatriots wore dresses; one dress was very formal, the other more conservative.  A fourth team member dressed in a lab coat rounded out the players.  The team elaborated on their stronger mix and improved reinforcement scheme.

The judges began with some humorous questions and then proceeded to ask some very detailed questions regarding the canoe's elliptical cross sectional design.  The team was asked to define what they meant by producing a non brittle concrete and what tests they conducted.  They were asked to describe the test results.

The judges rounded out the session by asking questions about the construction scenario and the specific weight of the team's composite section.

In general, the presentation went smoothly and the team worked well under fire.  Not only did they answer the questions at hand but every time that one team member answered the primary question asked, another team member would follow up by making a comment or providing additional information.  

Needless to say, A&M was in charge during the question and answer session and, judging by the audience's response, generated a great deal of interest.  The variety of the costumes worn added to the team's presentation and ensured that everyone in attendance saw something that they liked.  The judges certainly must have thought so when they placed this newcomer fifth in the presentation category.  Great job guys!

Product (19th):

Name: Goldeneye
Length: 21.3'
Weight: 150 lb
Color: red and gold

Vital Stats:

Texas A&M University is located in College Station, Texas and represented the Texas-Mexico Region.  They made their debut at this year's competition and the team's fifteenth place finish is their highest to date.

Display (18th):

Canoe/Materials/Facts:

Texas A&M's canoe was made of lightweight concrete reinforced with Kevlar and fiberglass meshes.  A asymmetrical hull design and a rounded bottom increased speed, yet did not adversely affect maneuverability.  Innovative features such as new aggregates, a fiberglass mold, a change in hull design, and a different reinforcement demonstrated the insight and energy of this year’s canoe team.