Geometry Students Put Crunchy Creations to the Test [PHOTOS]

The crunch of fettuccini noodles fracturing reverberated through the Fair Lawn High School auditorium Friday as geometry students put their wheaty feats of engineering to the test at the school's annual Pasta Bridge Competition.

Now in its 15th year, the contest that tasks students with designing a 12-ounce bridge made of only Ronzoni fettuccini and Elmer's White Glue has become a student favorite.

Qualifying bridges are judged on maximum weight supported and aesthetic value.

This year's sturdiest bridge, built by Liana Sina, Daria Ortega and Denise Tarakjian, held a cool 385 pounds before its 11.05-ounce frame snapped under the growing weight of systematically stacked barbell plates.

Student pasta bridges need hold only 25 pounds to receive full credit, but any of the well-constructed ones can support 40 to 50 pounds, geometry teacher Katie Ometz said.

None of this year's bridges even sniffed the all-time record of 795 pounds held.

Since two groups received identical scores in the most aesthetically pleasing category, the team of Jordan Solomon, Mihir Beg and Jen Rivkin and the team of Tamila Akramova, Sharon Cherkassky and Gabriella Matera shared the title.

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