2001 Chicago Regional Bridge Contest was held at Illinois Institute of Technology on 13 February 2001.
Website: http://bridgecontest.phys.iit.edu/
Congratulations to all the winners, particularly to the top two in each region who will be participating in the 2001 International Contest on 28 April 2001 at IIT!
City of Chicago Region
| Rank | Student | High School | Mass Held (kg) | Efficiency |
| First: | Zheng Cai | Curie Metro | 73.00 | 2536 |
| Second: | Zhenda Lei | Curie Metro | 48.00 | 2307 |
| Third: | Joshua Jasien | Chicago AgScien | 47.00 | 2155 |
| Fourth: | Yinnong Zheng | Whitney Young | 43.00 | 2024 |
North Suburban Chicago Region
| Rank | Student | High School | Mass Held (kg) | Efficiency |
| First: | Tracey Bastiaans | Wheaton-Warrenvl So | 38.00 | 2142 |
| Second: | Craig Erbach | Loyola Academy | 46.00 | 2036 |
| Third: | Gretchen Proesel | Loyola Academy | 45.00 | 1851 |
| Fourth: | Andy Strasser | Evanston Twp | 41.00 | 1614 |
South Suburban Chicago Region
| Rank | Student | High School | Mass Held (kg) | Efficiency |
| First: | Jinnie Eichorst | Riverside-Brookfield | 52.00 | 2141 |
| Second: | James Dickerson | Lincoln-Way | 52.00 | 1674 |
| Third: | Amanda Wagner | Neuqua Valley | 38.00 | 1620 |
| Fourth: | Alex Fridman | Neuqua Valley | 30.00 | 1307 |
First and second place winners received bridge kits and information to compete in the International Contest to be held at IIT on April 28. In addition, First place winners had first choice of a Handspring Visor or an MP3 Player, and Second place winners had second choice. Third place winners received Galileo Thermometers. All, including Fourth place winners, also received Bridge Contest T-shirts.
All the above winners received invitations to the Engineering Week Luncheon, thanks to Chief Judge George Krupa.
Each of the schools having winners receive an elegant trophy for display. Before the month is out, all participating schools should receive - via the US mail (or via up-coming ISPP meetings) - pictures of their students who participated, and all students will receive a Certificate of Merit, with special Certificates for winners. All students have already received an impressive medallion with red-white-blue ribbon. These are worn around the neck to identify them as participants within their schools and/or physics classes. Each also received a special coffee mug, thanks to the Illinois Engineers Council. A special Traveling Super-trophy was retained by Curie Metro High School thanks to Zheng Cai, whose bridge carried the greatest load (73 kg).
A total of 148 bridges were tested by students from 45 city and suburban high schools at this 27th Annual Contest.
A BIG THANK YOU!!...to the Committee (Bill Blunk, Ann Brandon, Roy Coleman, Tom Jensen, George Krupa, Eduardo de Santiago, Carlo Segre, Bill Shanks, Lee Slick, Jim Stankevitz, Thomas Torres, Earl Zwicker) who have made it all possible by giving of their talent and time. Many have served since the inception of the contest - for 27 years now.
Notes taken by Earl Zwicker.