And $15,000 Scholarships––

Brothers Team Up To Win

West Point Engineering Design Contest

By Larissa Lytwyn

Two brothers representing Newtown High School won top prize in the prestigious nationwide West Point Engineering Design Contest recently, each winning a $15,000 college scholarship and a laptop.

Originally intended to be a onetime event commemorating West Point’s Bicentennial anniversary, the contest was so popular it became an annual tradition. Designs, required to conform to strict dimensions and other standards, are judged on the architectural quality of their structure and originality.

Robert Cuccio, then a junior, placed seventh. “I choked in the semifinals,” he said. “I think maybe I was a little bit overconfident.”

This year, Robert and his brother Thomas, a sophomore, decided to work together. “It was convenient because he was always around, always available,” said Thomas. Robert said he worked on the project for about an hour a night for several weeks, then more often as the finals drew nearer.

Technology education teacher Jason Daly formally entered the brothers into the contest. “They placed fourth in the semifinals,” he said. During the final, held at West Point over a two-day period, Robert and Thomas vied with five other teams to win first place.

“It was really very exciting,” said Laura Cuccio, the brothers’ mother. “You could see on the monitors the different placements of the contestants. Robert and Thomas were constantly first and second.”

Mrs Cuccio said she believes that her sons’ artistic background also played a factor in their victory. “The project is very focused on math skills, but also art,” she said. “Thomas especially is very computer oriented and artistic. Robert is very interested in architectural engineering. I think the art classes they’ve had definitely was a part [of their success].”

Robert Cuccio plans to major in architectural engineering at Vermont Technical School in Randolph, Vt., this fall. “I would like to someday build skyscrapers and stuff,” he said.

Mrs Cuccio said she was pleased at the sense of discipline and confidence her sons’ success in the contest has given them. “It’s great,” she said. “My husband John and I are very proud of them.”