"When I got involved with the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, I had this close group of friends again - I found my small town," civil engineering graduate Brittney Lopushinsky says. Lopushinsky added time to complete her degree so she could contribute to groups like the GNCTR--and she's now planning to pursue a master's degree in structural engineering.
(Edmonton) For Brittney Lopushinsky relocating from the small community of Lamont, AB, to Edmonton to start a degree in engineering was at first, daunting.
Aside from the many unknowns that came along with starting university life, she was also the only one out of her high school class of 36 students going into the Faculty of Engineering.
Originally, Lopushinsky thought she wanted to pursue a career in architecture, but after learning about civil engineering at a university information fair, her career interests took a slight turn.
Up until then, Lopushinsky said she had no idea what engineering even was because she had never been exposed to the diverse profession.
In her first year of engineering, she explored other areas of engineering but her inherent interest in buildings, roads, and infrastructure kept her on course for a degree in civil engineering. Fortunately, this path would also lead to some of her most memorable university experiences.
Lopushinsky credits her naturally outgoing personality for motivating her involvement in some of the many student opportunities available in the Faculty of Engineering. She was excited to dive into the social aspects of university life and to meet new friends. Her first step was joining the Civil Engineering Club and, after a poster in the bathroom caught her eye, she joined the U of A Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) team, which became the real game changer for her university experience.
"I grew up in a small town where I always had about five to six really close friends," she said. "When I got involved with the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, I had this close group of friends again - I found my small town."
For over 40 years, U of A students have been competing nationally in the GNCTR, Canada's largest student-run engineering competition. Teams are challenged to build a five-person toboggan with a concrete running surface, a structural frame, and a functional braking and steering system - all at under 300 pounds.
Getting their toboggan to the race is a year-long endeavour for the team, whose members work closely throughout the design and building processes. During her first year, Lopushinsky helped out in a general role while learning the ropes and by her second year she was in an executive position and doing design work.
She was so passionate about the GNCTR and the other groups she was involved in at the U of A that she extended her degree program.
"I wanted to do well in both," she said, "and I wanted to enjoy both."
The GNCTR is the perfect way for students to have some fun while growing friendships and real-world skills. Besides building and racing gigantic concrete toboggans and making memories with new friends, Lopushinsky values the many learning opportunities she had throughout her experience.
"I learned things about welding and the difference between steel and aluminum," she said. "I learned a lot about concrete and what - and why - things are put into the mix. I also learned how to work with groups of people that might not always work perfectly and how to give good feedback - and how to take feedback."
Lopushinsky's passion for the GNCTR doesn't end with her degree though. The 2019 GNCTR national competition will be in Edmonton and she's helping to organize the event as the vice-president of logistics.
As for school, Lopushinsky says she's not quite done learning yet, and plans to return to the U of A to pursue a master's degree in structural design.