We are pleased to introduce our 2024-2025 Student Steel Bridge!
We are all very excited to have the opportunity to represent both our university as well as our thriving Canadian steel industry. As UMSB members we aim to relate our course work to real-world applications through further exposure to the Canadian steel industry and the civil engineering industry as a whole.
Some information about each of our team leads can be found below!
John Desousa [Co-Team Captain]
John Desousa is in his final year of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. This is John’s 4th year on the team and 3rd year being an executive member on the team, having previously taken the executive roles of Design and Analysis Co-Lead and Executive Assistant. John has also been a member of the Construction and Drafting Sub-Teams in previous years. John plans on applying his project management and design experience gained from internships, course work and past years of being on the team to further strengthen and improve the team. Outside of engineering, John’s interests lie in playing the guitar, cooking, and going to the gym. John is looking forward to co-leading the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge Team and help host the 2025 Canadian National Steel Bridge Competition at the University of Manitoba!
Alexandr Polovinka [Co-Team Captain]
Alex is our Co-captain. He is in the final year of Civil Engineering where he focused on structural electives. This is his fourth year at University of Manitoba Steel Bridge Team (UMSB). Previous two years Alex was a Construction lead. Last summer Alex also spent time as an Engineering Assistant at a bridge design/construction firm. He hopes to apply his experience from previous year and his time inspecting bridges to improve our bridge. He has also been part of Design and Analysis, Aesthetics and Drafting. Alex hopes to combine our passion for bridges and hard work to perform well at Canadian National Steel Bridge Competition (CNSBC). Alex likes to be active outside of school. He enjoys mountain biking, swimming, and hiking. His passion for design extends to his hobbies. He enjoys 3D printing and designing the models.
Max Anderson [Treasurer]
Max Anderson is this year’s Finance Lead for UMSB. This is his 3rd year on the team. In the past he has also been part of frame design, drafting, and construction. Being on the team has helped him develop valuable experience beyond the classroom and has given him an opportunity to connect with other students. It has been amazing to see how the team has grown and improved over the past 2 years. Max Anderson is very excited to see the team put their best foot forward this year with the competition being held on home ground. Let’s show them what U of M can do!
Leon Nulman [Design and Analysis Co-Lead]
Leon Nulman is in his fifth year as a civil engineering student at the University of Manitoba and is the Design & Analysis Co-Lead of the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge (UMSB) team. This is Leon’s third year on the UMSB team, with three years of experience in the design team. Leon brings extensive knowledge from his previous years and aims to expand upon the work done in prior seasons.
With strong skills in SAP2000, Leon plans to teach this software to the rest of the design team. He hopes to foster a creative environment where team members can innovate more freely while also becoming aware of the manufacturing capabilities of the UMSB team. This approach will shape the 2024-2025 team, particularly on the design side. Outside of school, Leon enjoys tennis and recently rekindled his passion for the sport over the summer. He is also on a personal quest to find the best poutine in Winnipeg, having developed a newfound love for the dish.
Tony Tran [Design and Analysis Co-Lead]
Tony is a fifth year Civil Engineering student who is a co-lead for the Design and Analysis sub-team for this year. Tony has been a member of UMSB for a year and two years of leadership experience with the student team UMCCC that he wants to bring to UMSB. With extensive knowledge in 3D modelling and simulation analysis, Tony plans to deliver the best bridge design our team has to offer. When Tony isn’t studying, he enjoys training at the gym whether it’s lifting weights or practicing martial arts. Otherwise, he’ll spend his time playing video games on his computer!
Amar Singh [Aesthetics Co-Lead]
Amar Singh is in his final year in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Manitoba and is taking on his role as the co-lead of the Aesthetics Section for the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge (UMSB) team. This is his second year as a member of the team and the first as a lead, bringing a breadth of experience from his work outside of school in the field of construction. With a strong passion for blending form and function, his focus is on ensuring the team’s bridge designs are visually impressive. His role involves enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the team’s projects while collaborating closely with other members.
Outside of his engineering work, Amardeep enjoys writing poetry and exploring the natural beauty of Manitoba, drawing inspiration from the outdoors and his creative pursuits.
Luke Qually [Aesthetics Co-Lead]
Luke is a third year student studying civil engineering at the University of Manitoba. This is Luke’s first year being an asthetics co-lead but has been a member of the team for the past three years. He has experience with the drafting, PR socail and anaylsis sub-teams. He has also headed up the production of the team’s competition video since he joined.
For as long as he can remember, Luke has always had a love for science but also for art and communication. Since he has started his engineering journey he has been interested in how engineers can better communicate to their peers and more importantly, to public. As such he is thirlled to have the opportunity to continue the momentum from last year’s competition as an asthetics co-lead by helping to create a bridge that is functional but also fits into the community it is set to serve.
Luke is wanting to specailize in transportation engineering and when he isn’t nerding out about cities he likes to play Dnd with his friends.
Julia Garcea [Drafting Co-Lead]
Julia Garcea is in her fourth year of Civil engineering at the University of Manitoba. This will be her second year as a member of the UMSB team, and her first year as a co-lead for the drafting sub-team.
She has gained valuable industry and drafting experience through her Co-op/IIP work terms, spending over 16 months as a Field Engineering Student with PCL Construction, and this past summer as a Structural Engineering Student with Wolfrom Engineering. She plans to share her knowledge learned from these experiences to help lead and contribute to a successful team this year. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, spending time with friends, and being outdoors or at her cabin.
Danté Lourenço [Drafting Co-Lead]
Danté Lourenço is in his final year of civil engineering at the University of Manitoba. Danté will serve as a co-lead for the drafting sub-team in his third year with UMSB, previously being a part of both the drafting and PR social sub-teams. Danté plans to utilize his proficiency in AutoCAD and leadership skills to help foster a positive and productive environment within UMSB.
In his spare time Danté enjoys playing soccer and travelling.
Evander De Guzman [Construction Co-Lead]
Evander De Guzman is in his 4th year in the civil engineering department at the University of Manitoba. This is his second year as a member of UMSB, and his first year as a lead. He is this year’s construction lead and has taken the position after devoting much of his free time in practices and participating in last year’s competitions. He plans to coach a team of builders with teamwork and leadership in mind, aiming to guide the team to victory this year, continuing the momentum built from the successes we achieved last year.
In his free time (outside of building bridges) Evander loves everything about music, consuming and enjoying it in every way he can. He swing dances with the University of Manitoba Swing Dance Club, plays several instruments, does music production in FL studio and Ableton and of course, listens to music anytime he can!
Fridaous Yahya [PR/Social Lead]
Fridaous Yahya is in her final year in the Civil engineering department at the University of Manitoba. This would be her third year as a member of the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge (UMSB) team, but her first run as a lead. She is the lead of the PR Social sub-team, and with her experience in the UMSB team, and using the social media platform to promote who she is and what she stands for, leading the PR Social sub-team will just be showcasing her forte. She plans to promote the UMSB team by carrying every member along in all the major stages of the team’s journey, making the team feel like family, and showing off what the UMSB team has to offer to the public.
She is obsessed with suspense/ thriller movies, and especially if they are based on a true story. She sometimes likes to draw and recreate things that catch her attention. She also recently found out that she loves to write.