For your convenience, our most common questions are answered below.
Still have questions? Reach out directly at dotwvbdb@wv.gov.
Q: Is there a fee for entering the contest?
A: No, there is no fee to enter the contest.
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: You must enter the West Virginia Statewide Contest through this website. You must login to this site to upload your bridge design files.
Q: How do I enter my students in the contest?
A: Each Student or Team must register for the Contest individually once the Qualifying Round begins.
Q: May I make additional copies of the Bridge Designer and distribute the software to others?
A: Yes. The Bridge Designer is in the public domain. You may make unlimited copies of the software, and you may freely distribute copies to others.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for the WV Statewide Contest?
A: Students must be attending a West Virginia school or must be home-schooled at a West Virginia address in the grades 6-12.
Q: When does the Qualifying Round end?
A: Friday, March 1, 2024, at 11:59pm EST
Q: When will I know if I made it to the Finals?
A: Finalists will be notified by Monday, March 4, 2024, with invitation and details of the Finals event.
Q: When and where are the Finals?
A: The Finals will be a combination of a Bridge Designer 2024 computer lab and Balsa wood bridge building contest in-person at the WVU Institute of Technology Campus in Beckley, WV (or virtually depending upon CDC COVID-19 guidelines). The finals will take place April 5-7, 2024 (tentative; subject to change). All information regarding event details, time, schedule, and location will be released on the contest website.
Q: Windows Defender gives me a warning saying “Windows Protected your PC” when I try to install the software. What should I do?
A: This is normal and happens on some computers. To get by it, you can click “More info” at the bottom of the message, and then click the “Run anyway” button. From there, the software should install like normal.
Q: What is the Local Contest Code?
A: There is no Local Contest Code in the Qualifying Round, that is only applicable in the final. Select No and click Next.
Q: How to name my submission file?
A: Please use the following naming convention: “TeamNamexxxx.bdc” where “x” would equal an iteration number.