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Stephanie Torres, electrical & computer engineering student at CU Boulder, excites high school students about LED lights through a hands-on activity.

A group of wide-eyed middle school students huddled as they carefully placed copper tape onto a small card. After their final connection to a battery, a tiny LED light flickered to life.

“Wow! That’s so cool!” one student exclaimed, proudly holding up the glowing light to show to their friends.��

Moments like these filled the air at the 2025��, where CU Boulder’s��Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE) Department engaged with students across the region, igniting their curiosity about STEM.

Held at CU Denver, the event brought together more than 300 students in the greater Denver metro area to engage with STEM professionals.��

Sparking a passion for electrical and computer engineering

At the ECEE department’s activity booth, students experienced hands-on learning through interactive activities like changing the colors of LEDs and building paper circuits that lit up.

Stephanie Torres, an ECCE undergraduate, guided the young students through the activities. Having discovered her own passion for engineering at a young age while building with Legos and assisting her father with household projects, she understood the power of hands-on learning.

Torres helped the middle and high school students explore the technical aspects of LEDs and paper circuits, showing how programming microcontrollers controls voltage and LED colors. Some students hesitated at first, but with a bit of encouragement, they quickly grasped the concepts.��

“My favorite moment was seeing the students’ faces light up when they were able to make the circuits or change the red, blue and green LEDs to different colors,” Torres said. “Interacting with students who were so interested in STEM left me feeling hopeful for the future.”

That spark of curiosity was what the ECEE department hoped to spark in the next generation of STEM students at the fair.��

Hands-on activities with lasting impact

A middle school student shows off their very own created circuit LED.��

Melinda Piket-May, associate professor and chair of the external relations and outreach committee, was thrilled by the students’ enthusiasm.

“My favorite moments happened over and over when students completed the circuit, saw the light turn on and their eyes lit up. When I told them, ‘You just built your first circuit,’ their smiles were filled with amazement,” Piket-May said.

Parents joined in on the fun, eager to try making a circuit. The energy was undeniable, with three full tables constantly in motion and students proudly showing their circuit cards as a badge of honor.

Keriann Jacobson, education and outreach coordinator for the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program at CU Engineering, echoed the excitement.

“Witnessing the students’ excitement as they visited our booths to learn about electrical engineering was my favorite aspect. They were so enthusiastic that they returned with their friends to join in,” Jacobson said.

The ECEE team inspired countless young minds, showing them that engineering is not only about circuits and wires, but it’s also about creativity and problem solving with discovery infused in.��

“One thing I’ve learned is that STEM and electrical engineering can be tough, but if you’re open to learning and have an open mind, it makes all the difference,” Torres said.