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Graduate studentsÌýin mechanical engineering areÌýaspiring to getÌýyounger generations excited about the field. The Committee for Equity in Mechanical Engineering (CEME) is accomplishing that goalÌýbyÌýengaging with high schoolers in a manner that is similar to their ownÌýeducation – with hands-on learning.

On Tuesday, February 15, CEME invited 110 freshmen from ÌýtoÌýcampus, where they built insect-inspired robots and toured the (ITLL). ItÌýgave those high schoolersÌýthe chance to see what life is like as an engineering student.

"I think the best part is to connect with the students and show them that they too can pursue STEM," CEME member Rosa Morales said. "I love speaking Spanish with them, demonstrating that we are not very different from one another and showing that if I could do it, they could too. I also love to hear them say 'that was so easy'Ìýafter they've completed the projects we put together! I feel like these projects show them that they really can do STEM."

Arrupe Jesuit serves economically disadvantaged students from Denver's inner-city neighborhoods. The school focuses on community partnerships to better overcome the challenges of servicing urban communities. CEME has stepped up be one of those valuable friendships.

CEME has been working withÌýArrupe Jesuit High School since summer 2021, when the group visited the school and built mouse trap race cars to demonstrate the fundamentals of engineering. The success of that event is what inspired the graduate students to plan the field trip to campus.

Since CEME knew they wanted ongoing interaction with the high schoolers, the visit was step one in a two-part project. On campus, the high schoolers built 30 insect-inspired robots with a focusÌýon the hardware component of the devices. Step two involves CEME members goingÌýback to Arrupe Jesuit High School to teach the studentsÌýabout the software component. The graduate student volunteersÌýwillÌýinstruct the high schoolers onÌýbuilding basic code for the robots.Ìý

"Seeing them get excited about the simple stuff that I still geek out about is so fun," said Brennan Moeller, one of theÌýgraduate student volunteers.

CEME members and the graduate student volunteers hope this work impacts how the freshmen high schoolers envision their futures. Volunteer Brittany Nixon added that the best part of these events is "connecting with the kids, seeing them get excited about science and engineering, and encouraging them."
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