Adam Van Hal
  • computer Science with an emphasis in systems administration and hardware.
  • Class of 2015
  • Leighton, Iowa

Adam Van Hal Participated in Concrete Canoe Competition with Dordt College

2012 May 4

Adam Van Hal of Leighton, Iowa, was part of the Dordt College engineering team that floated to a third-place victory at the annual regional Concrete Canoe Competition held by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, Wisconsin. Van Hal is a sophomore with a major in computer science with an emphasis in information systems and systems administration. He also has a minor in the Kuyper Scholars Program.

The competition was divided into four parts, the design paper, an oral presentation, the display setup, and the racing portion. The canoe, named The Kernel, brought the team to a third-place finish in the women's endurance and men's sprint competitions, and a first-place finish for the second year in a row in the oral presentation category.

"This year's competition made us realize the importance of paddling practice. Although we did decently in some races, it was tricky to get the steering down," wrote co-captains Benjamin Hofland and Anna Jefferson. "This is partly due to the fact that we had only one paddling practice the weekend before the competition, but also because the bow of the canoe was not symmetrical which caused difficulties in steering. So next year we plan to get out on the water more often to practice paddling, and we plan to change or enhance the hull design."

The Kernel takes its name from the Sioux Center, Iowa, rich tradition and history of farming. "The circles and stripes along the side of the canoe were added to suggest the presence of kernels, as in an ear of corn," they added.

Last year was the first time a Dordt team participated in the competition, and they placed fifth overall. This year was their first opportunity to race, though, because last year's weather was judged too dangerous for racing.

"This project has improved significantly since our first year, as seen by The Kernel's weight of 202.5 pounds-about half the weight of last year's canoe, The Cannon," said Hofland and Jefferson.

Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. U.S. News & World Report, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,400 students. To learn more about Dordt College, visit www.dordt.edu.