Engineering students at the University of Iowa have brought back a beloved tradition (with a little help from their faculty advisors and support from the Campus Activities Board) — the Iowa corn monument. The 2015 Corn Monument was erected this week on the Pentacrest just west of Old Capitol. The UI student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) organized, designed, built, and erected the monument.

IIHR student Michelle Riedinger led the effort as president of the ASCE student chapter, along with Corn Monument Chair Matt Schleusner. ASCE Faculty Advisors Bill Eichinger and Allen Bradley (both IIHR research engineers) were there to lend advice and a helping hand throughout the process. IIHR lent the students space in one of its research annexes to built the components and prepare the monument for its grand unveiling.

A crane sets the 2015 Corn Monument in place on the Pentacrest.

It takes some ingenuity and engineering know-how to make it all happen, and students and faculty alike know that it always presents some real challenges. Alumni are particularly glad to see the monument tradition live again on the Iowa campus.

Happy Homecoming and go Hawks!