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º£½ÇÉçÇø's College of Engineering hosted its annual Discover Engineering event on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The community event, which was free to the public, encouraged kids to get excited about STEM careers. 

"I think it’s really important to get kids, especially younger kids, interested in STEM at an early age so they keep pursuing science and math, and eventually get a career in a STEM field," said Chassidy Hearn, a member of the Society of Women Engineers.

The event included hands-on activities related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) such as make-your-own slime, butterfly art, robot driving, elephant toothpaste, lemon batteries, and a vertical jump test. Activities were hosted by current student organizations, LU departments, and local industry.

"I believe engineering is such a broad aspect and children need to understand the fundamentals that fund our everyday life," Maleigha Ednes, a junior chemical engineering major said. "I thought it was super interesting that we could show them through very simple projects and tasks."

Local industry sponsors helped make the event free for the public. The Blueprint Premier Sponsor, Indorama Ventures, helped fund T-shirts, prizes, and more.

"At Indorama Ventures, we believe that the future of innovation starts with curiosity and creativity in the classroom. That’s why we were proud to sponsor º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Discover Engineering program, which opened the door for K–12 students to explore STEM through fun, hands-on experiences," Kim Hoyt, site director for Indorama Ventures Port Neches said. "Investing in programs like this not only supports our mission to drive innovation and sustainability but also helps build a stronger, more diverse pipeline of future engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers."

"Valero loves to sponsor and participate in Discover Engineering because it is a great opportunity to interact with children of all ages and introduce them to STEM activities," Carol Hebert, public affairs manager for the Valero Port Arthur Refinery said. "Children learn through exploration, and hands-on activities make Discover Engineering a great opportunity to get children excited about STEM."

This year, Discover Engineering included a new alumni circuit with special refreshments, door prizes, and a photo booth for College of Engineering alumni. Alumni also received special giveaways at the event.

"I believe alumni really enjoyed getting away to a quieter space that is indoors where they could sit and relax to enjoy some refreshments and network with fellow alumni," Shannon Figueroa, director of alumni affairs and advancement services said. "I think having the area only for them made them feel special and like it was an exclusive perk they could enjoy with their families."

Students who attended were able to participate in activities and return home with prizes such as saltwater cars, solar robots, and other STEM activity kits.

"At TotalEnergies, the company’s fourth lever of sustainability is 'communities,' and part of living that lever is investing in students and youth of all ages, who are the future workforce," said Jillian Fertig, community relations advisor for the TotalEnergies Port Arthur Platform. "Educating and encouraging our youth to explore potential career paths in industry at an early age can further spark their curiosity and make them aware of opportunities they may not have previously considered."

The event, which has been held for more than a decade, has touched the lives of many students, some of whom have gone on to become engineering students and professional engineers.

"Personally, I’ve been a part of [Discover Engineering] since it started here at Lamar when I was part of SWE, back twelve-something years ago when it first started," Paige Hoyt, supply manager and lead recruiter for Lamar at INEOS said. "This is our favorite event that we do for outreach for our Lamar recruiting team. It’s great to be able to work with Lamar students, as well as affect other future engineers and students of Lamar."

For more information about the College of Engineering outreach programs, visit .