Florida International University (FIU) students recently showcased their creativity and engineering skills at the annual Walk on Water event on the main campus in West Miami-Dade. The challenge, open to architecture students, required participants to design and construct shoes that could help them walk across a 232-foot lake.
One of the participants, Juan Goya, expressed his focus and determination during the competition. “I just, like, arms and legs, arms, legs, kept doing that,” he shared. Goya was pleasantly surprised to discover that he had won the contest, exclaiming, “I think I won! Oh, my God. I’m going to Disney World!”
Aside from the thrill of crossing the lake successfully, participants had the opportunity to earn grades based on their performance. According to FIU Professor Jaime Canaves, those who completed the challenge received an ‘A.’ Additionally, the first-place finisher was awarded a $1,000 prize, with an extra $1,000 up for grabs for breaking the current record of 44 seconds.
The event drew a crowd of spectators, with students eagerly watching their peers attempt the unique task. Professor Canaves, who initiated the tradition at FIU, expressed his delight in seeing the competition grow in popularity. He mentioned, “The assignment is fairly unique, and we start that as an assignment only, but people started to come. We started getting sponsors, we started printing the shirts, giving awards, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
While there could only be one winner, participants like Michelle Rivadeneira emphasized the importance of taking part in the project and reaching the finish line. “I fell at the end, but I made it through, fourth [place]! That’s all that matters,” Rivadeneira shared.
Looking ahead, Professor Canaves shared his vision of expanding the event beyond the university setting. He hopes to involve high school students from the community in the future, extending the creative challenge to a wider audience.
The Walk on Water tradition at FIU not only showcases students’ innovative designs and determination but also fosters a sense of community and friendly competition on campus. As the event continues to grow in popularity, it serves as a testament to the ingenuity and spirit of collaboration among students at Florida International University.
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