Gingerbread House Shakedown provides fun learning experience
Riverside, Calif. (Dec. 16, 2024) — As a creative way to get high schoolers interested in the engineering and STEM fields, California Baptist University hosted its annual Gingerbread House Shakedown on Dec. 13. This event, held for the third year, brings high school students together to build gingerbread houses and test their durability on CBU’s earthquake simulator.
Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, chair of the department of civil engineering and construction management at CBU, created the event for future engineers to let their creativity flow and, most importantly, to have fun.
“Engineering should be fun I think and, as an engineering professor, I am always thinking of how to reach the next generation of students,” Bai said.
This year, 13 teams made up of 60 students from several local high schools participated in the event.
Students were provided everything they needed — graham crackers, a hot glue gun, frosting, even candy decorations — to create a gingerbread house within two hours. Their challenge: Build a gingerbread house that could withstand several different magnitudes on CBU’s earthquake simulator.
CBU’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers served as mentors for the high school teams, asking questions about why their house may or may not withstand the shake table and offering suggestions. Local engineers served as judges for the competition, awarding teams in the categories of Strongest, Tallest, Best Decorated and Best Team Spirit.
Jerry Burke, director of engineering at Inland Empire Utilities Agency, served as a judge of the event on behalf of the American Public Works Association Inland-Empire branch, a sponsor of the Gingerbread House Shakedown. When evaluating the competition, Burke explained that they considered a variety of factors, not only the ability to withstand an earthquake.
“We are looking for team spirit and collaboration,” Burke said. “Are they solving problems together and are they getting along? That’s huge in any work field.”
The competition benefits students by allowing them to see the immediate results of their efforts, Burke said.
“A hands-on approach is one of the best teachers,” Burke said. “We need fresh minds with fresh ideas to solve the problems of tomorrow.”
As the shake table replicated stronger earthquakes of higher magnitudes, gingerbread houses caved in and fell apart and some even jumped around the table. After several rounds, there was only one house left fully intact.
That house was built by the Glazing Gladiators from Santiago High School, who received the Strongest award.
The Best Decorated award went to Gumdrop Gurus, with students from Riverside STEM Academy and Arlington High School. ERHS Maker Club, made up of Eleanor Roosevelt High School students, received the Best Team Spirit award. The Tallest award went to Cookie Monsters, made up of students from the Grove School.
Andre Chen, a student from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, said the best part of the competition was the atmosphere and how everyone was encouraged to work together.
“We love this place, and it’s such a great opportunity and an important event for engineers,” Chen said. “We have great team spirit, and it allows us to understand the structural integrity of working with many different types of materials.”
The Gingerbread House Shakedown event happens every December at CBU. If you are interested in participating, contact the College of Engineering at coedeanadmin@calbaptist.edu.
The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering offers various degrees in engineering, computer science, construction management, and aviation science. Additionally, students and faculty focus research efforts on green technologies, rehabilitation technologies and technologies designed to improve life in developing parts of the world. Additionally, CBU College of Engineering offers an accelerated program that enables students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in as little as three years.
