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UTPA's new civil engineering department competed in their first concrete canoe competition.

"We're making history here," said Clemente Mena, the competition's captain. "It's Valley history in the making."

The society of civil engineers at UTPA has accomplished something they're very proud of.

"We're here. We're brand new, and we're only going to be getting better," said Roberto Palacios, Jr. who also participated in the competition.

UTPA members of the Society of Civil Engineers teamed up and set out to build a 1200 pound concrete canoe.

"When people saw it, they couldn't believe that we were able to lift it up on a trailer," said Palacios.

They built the canoe and floated it in Lady Bird Lake in Austin this past weekend.

"Everything had to be 100 percent recyclable because if it does break, it's going to end up in the bottom of Lady Bird Lake in Austin and needs to be removable," said Palacios.

It was their first concrete canoe competition, and they said they did it for the experience.

They hope it will help them for the next competition.

Next on the list is a steel bridge competition in January, and they're already gearing up for next year's concrete canoe competition.

The society is asking those who would like to compete in engineer competitions to visit the UTPA's website under civil engineering department for more information.