The University of Toledo’s College of Engineering welcomed more than 400 middle and high school students during National Engineers Week.
More than 150 ninth through 12th grade students learned about engineering disciplines on campus before most headed to one of eight local firms to shadow working professionals for the Engineer for a Day program on Tuesday, Feb. 24, while more than 250 sixth through eighth grade students explored magnetic slime and constructed spaghetti-noodle towers, among other hands-on activities, on Friday, Feb. 27.
Industry partners joined faculty and student organizations in leading this year’s middle school program of activities, which were designed to teach participants basic engineering concepts while introducing them to exciting career paths. Students also participated in a panel discussion with area engineers who fielded questions and shared career insights.
National Engineers Week encompasses events across the country to inspire future innovators, highlight the impact of the profession and strengthen connections across the engineering community. It ran Sunday, Feb. 22, to Saturday, Feb. 28, in 2026.
UToledo’s College of Engineering stands out as one of only eight engineering schools in the country to integrate work-based learning opportunities into its academic curriculum, ensuring that engineering science undergraduates graduate with at least one full year of paid industry experience.
Dr. Meysam Haghshenas, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, teaches high school students about fatigue failure using paperclips during Engineer for a Day on Feb. 24.
Left, Jamir Hughes watches as, Alise Tooman creates alginate beads during the Introduce a Middle Schooler to Engineering event.
Domanick Taormina examines the magnetic slime he and his classmates, Clinton Eitniear, left, and Grady Proudfoot, right, are creating during the Introduce a Middle Schooler to Engineering event.
