Shelby Sovell, of Wells, is a member of the Minnesota State University, Mankato, concrete canoe team that finished 17th in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ recent national concrete canoe competition.

Sovell is a student leader of the team — the only team from Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa that competed in the June 16-18 contest at the University of Evansville, Ind. California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo won the competition.

Sovell and other MSU team members used several new materials and construction techniques to build their 273-pound canoe, infusing pre-stressed concrete with recycled glass, plastic and other materials to make the craft lighter than water.

The American Society of Civil Engineers contest lets students apply engineering principles that they learn in the classroom as they display, discuss and race concrete canoes that they’ve designed and built. The contest includes design and oral competitions and on-water races that challenge students’ knowledge, creativity and stamina.

Those who want more information may see detailed contest results, photos and videos at the American Society of Civil Engineers website, http://www.asce.org/Student-Organizations/Events,-Activities,-and-Awards/Concrete-Canoe/2011-ASCE-National-Concrete-Canoe-Competition/.