Jember – The Simaya 69 team from the Civil Engineering Program of Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA) has once again achieved remarkable success by winning 1st Place in the Balsa Bridge BCF 2024 competition hosted by Universitas Jember. Held in October 2024, this prestigious event reaffirms the champion culture long established in UNISMA’s Civil Engineering Program.
The Simaya 69 team, comprising Abdul Azis Notonegoro, Kurniatur Rofiqoh Putri, and Ori Fadli Fajar (2023 intake), was mentored by Mrs. Ade Fitriyanti Ulu Azmi, S.Ars., M.Ars. They excelled in one of the most challenging categories, the bridge loading test with coral weights, scoring an impressive 81.425. This result made Simaya 69 the absolute champion, far ahead of other contestants who scored between 60 and 69.
Unlike similar competitions, this year’s event required participants to assemble their bridges on-site rather than prior to the event. This added complexity initially made the team feel less confident, particularly during the proposal and presentation assessment stages. However, their meticulous work and persistence paid off, culminating in a resounding victory during the loading phase.
Amid their celebrations, the team acknowledged room for improvement and expressed hope for greater support from their program and faculty, including material and non-material assistance such as dedicated training or coaching clinics to enhance students’ competitive skills in the future.
The newly appointed Head of the Civil Engineering Program for the 2024-2028 term, Anita Rachmawati, S.St., M.T., expressed her commitment to fostering the students’ competitive spirit. “We will continue to support the fiery passion of young talents in civil engineering competitions. Not only in the Balsa Bridge event, but we also aim to excel in tender competitions, design contests, concrete challenges, and hydrology-related research,” she said. Anita also encouraged lecturers to consistently guide their students through these prestigious competitions.
