From our 1,200+ high-tech, life science, and advanced manufacturing firms to our 3,600 small businesses, it’s no secret that Fremont has a vibrant engineering and maker community.

In recognition of this community and to encourage and inspire the next generation, we recently hosted our first Fremont Engineering Expo at the Downtown Event Center in partnership with Fremont Unified School District (FUSD), Berbawy Makers, and Mission Valley ROP.

During the event, 300 students from various local middle schools and high schools showcased their designs and inventions to over 900 attendees. Students also had the opportunity to learn from some of Fremont’s most prominent manufacturers about how they could further their passions for engineering and pursue a career in manufacturing.

And before we dive in, let me just say, that the future of Fremont’s maker culture is in great hands.

While we wish we could highlight all the students’ inventions, we wanted to call out a few that stood out:

  • Aadhvika Koundinya and Angela Ye, both FUSD students, presented their Hogwarts Sorting Hat, inspired by the Harry Potter book series. Angela had previously attended an engineering expo and was inspired to create an invention of her own after viewing older students’ projects. She loves her Intro to Engineering Design class, which is taught by Kristin Berbawy, the owner of Berbawy Makers and teacher at Irvington High School.
  • Youssef Mahmoud, a senior at Irvington High School and a longtime fan of the Iron Man movies, presented his Iron Man Arc Reactor, which he designed on computer-aided design (CAD) software. Youssef looks forward to continuing to improve his engineering design skills in college next year.
  • Kaitlyn Tseng, a senior at Irvington High School, loves video games and was excited to combine her interests for video games and engineering into one with her Handheld Portal Device. She said she felt the most accomplished when she turned it on for the first time, and it lit up as she envisioned. After graduation, she’s planning to pursue a career in electrical engineering and wants to continue doing similar projects in the future.

But our students weren’t the only ones showcasing their skills.

The Fremont Engineering Expo also featured the latest technologies from some of Fremont’s most well-known manufacturers. In particular, showcased one of its electric vehicles and let guests sit inside to explore its in-cabin features. Meanwhile, Gridscape discussed its innovative microgrid deployments with the Fremont Fire Department.

To educate students on how they can further grow their passion for engineering with career opportunities, Ohlone College presented information on its Smart Manufacturing program and Delta Electronics also highlighted its manufacturing and career opportunities for youth. Additionally, FUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, and Kristin Berbawy praised the huge event turnout and the incredible innovation taking place in Fremont. They shared that across the board, the city is home to industry-leading companies and incredibly talented students at FUSD, making it a hub for education and engineering.

We’re thrilled to offer this opportunity for our students to showcase their work and learn more about advancing their careers in engineering – we cannot wait to see what they accomplish and how their work will further our city’s advanced manufacturing and innovation legacy.