2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

As of recent, there has been a growing need for individuals to enter careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). To meet future demand for STEM workers, efforts must be made in the present to encourage individuals to enter careers in this area. Often, the best time to educate individuals about STEM career paths is while they are still young and undecided about their future plans. Outreach efforts that are oriented toward individuals at the K-12 level can be effective for encouraging participation in STEM careers.

This paper details the efforts of a group of undergraduate students from [Institution] to encourage K-12 learners to become interested in engineering. Specifically, the efforts outlined were designed to teach individuals about principles of vertical flight engineering. This paper discusses three unique projects that have been used to inspire an interest in engineering among K-12 students. The quantitative results of the educational effectiveness of the projects are outlined as well. The authors of this paper hope to inspire other student groups across the country to participate in similar activities.

The team of students, referred to as the Aerospace Ambassadors, broke into three groups to develop unique educational engagement methods. The first project to be initiated involves using custom-built LEGO models to teach students about relevant vertical flight engineering topics such as power transmission, structures, gearing, and controls.

The second project seeks to teach young students about the concept of autorotation through an engaging, hands-on demonstration using a Chinese Top toy. By incorporating physical demonstrations and simplified physics lessons, students can learn about the fundamentals of aerodynamics.

A third project was initiated to teach students about the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of the F-35B Lightning II. The goal of the project is to teach about basic principles of engineering such as understanding the importance of thrust and weight when it comes to getting a vehicle off the ground.

Thus far, the Aerospace Ambassadors team has participated in several outreach events. Students from 1st grade to 12th grade have learned from several members of the team about their projects. Each outreach visit included a presentation that complimented the physical models that the students were shown. At several visits, students also had opportunities for hands-on activities.

The scope and complexity of the presentations varied according to the age group of those listening. These efforts took place in a variety of settings, from controlled classroom spaces during the school year to STEM-oriented summer programs for K-12 students.

This paper outlines the educational effectiveness of the presentations that were delivered. Pre-validated survey instruments were used to measure a change in engineering interest and knowledge between before and after the presentations were given. These allowed the project team to measure the educational impact of their presentations.

The overall goal of this paper is to inspire other undergraduate student groups at institutions across the country to develop engineering projects similar to those outlined. Undergraduate research teams from other universities can recreate the projects outlined or can seek to develop their own projects based on other engineering principles.