Andrew Schanck '12
Photo courtesy of the University of Maine
MCI alum Andrew Schanck '12 is making waves in the world of bridge innovation, speaking out about his time at the ASCC and advice he would give to engineering hopefuls
There's something curious about bridges. A bridge acts as a gateway from one end to another, a means by which one travels from beginning, to end. However, while people always focus on the origins and destinations, the bridges between ends seldom get attention and appreciate for allowing us to traverse the obstacles in life. Maine Central Institute alum Andrew Schanck '12 has made it his mission to study and learn from bridges so that we might better understand how to better navigate the world that we live in.
After graduating from MCI in 2012, Schanck went on to the University of Maine at Orono to pursue his Bachelors in Civil Engineering. While initially unsure of where the field of engineering would take him, there was one discipline and resource that immediately stood out to him: the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC).
"From the time that I learned it was there, the ASCC had a sort of mystique to it: a world-class engineering research lab in rural Maine," explains Schanck. "As a freshman we were given a tour of the facility, which cemented my aspirations... Everywhere I looked there was a student using what he or she had learned in class and applying it to a real problem. And once I started working there that was just my experience."
While working at the ASCC, Schanck was able to gain experience on a number of projects, such as interning at TEC Associates, a small railroad bridge consulting firm based out of South Portland. After graduating with his Bachelors, Schanck immediately began pursuing his Masters in Civil Engineering under the direction of his advisor, Dr. Bill Davids. It was here that Schanck was able to further develop his research and skills in a specific field of engineering: bridges.
"Bridges fascinate me for a lot of different reasons," says Schanck. "First, they’re simply big and impressive structures... second, their structure is out there plainly to see; the structural system isn’t hidden, and you can see everything that’s going on. Finally, they affect everyone – one improvement to bridge infrastructure can improve hundreds of lives."
Schanck's contributions to the field started in his time at TEC, where he spent his days redrawing old railroad bridge designs and doing bridge inspections. As his time in the field has grown, Schanck has gone on to live-load test numerous bridges across the state of Maine, developed a simpler numerical analysis method for older bridges, and helped develop a new fiber reinforced polymer bridge girder system.
Andrew Schanck '12 looks out to the crowd at the 2012 MCI Graduation Ceremony, where he graduated top of his class as valedictorian.
Looking back at his time at Maine Central Institute, Schanck believes that MCI certainly prepared him for his career in engineering and at ASCC. "The high academic standards certainly set me up for success and taught me self-discipline," he explains. "The school’s size allowed me to be treated like an individual and allowed my specific needs... I grew as a person with a confidence of who I am and what I can accomplish."
Schanck was able to restructure his Masters work into a PhD, which he received in December of 2021 and is now a fully licensed professional engineer in the state of Maine. Looking ahead, Schanck is already trying to make a positive impact on the bridge systems scattered across the state. Schanck is trying to further develop and implement the girder system he helped develop, which simplifies the manufacturing process and allows for the replacement and design of bridges with a shorter clearance.
In a call to action for the youth today at MCI and looking to get into the field of engineering, Schanck had few a pieces of advice that he wishes he had known when he spent his time on our campus.
"Focus as much or more on English as you do on math and science. It is vital that you can communicate your work to a wide range of audiences both in writing and speaking," Schanck explains. "Find your niche – Find the thing that fascinates you and learn everything about it. Then turn it into a career and become an expert to whom people turn to when they face a tough problem that only you can solve."
For Andrew Schanck '12, that niche has been bridges. Not only was it the awe of their immensity or the exposed nature of their framework... but it was their impact on all of us. We cross bridges every day on the road, yet if there is no construction we think nothing of the immense structure holding us up as we move from Point A to Point B. A positive change on a bridge or bridge system can impact a vast number of people and their travel, which is exactly what Schanck is setting out to do.
We cross physical and figurative bridges every day, in both our work lives and our personal lives. Andrew married his wife Morgan Thies Schanck '13 back in 2014, who he had met during his time here at MCI. They have since brought into this world their son William and their daughter Margaret, who Schanck remarked "added 'Dad' to my CV."
Bridges do work as a pathway from beginning, to end. As Andrew Schanck '12 began his quest for knowledge at Maine Central Institute, his passion then bridged the gap to experiences at the ASCC, to making positive change in the world around him, and to all that is yet to come. We all have those passions that will eventually bridge the gaps in our lives, and in taking the advice of Schanck, those bridges are built through finding your niche and through putting yourself out there.
"Never miss an opportunity to learn something new or to gain some new experience in your field," explains Schanck. "You never know where an experience will lead you."