Empowering Future Engineers Through Real-World Learning

At Arizona State University, senior electrical engineering student Alexandra Soto-Lopez is leading an effort to bridge the gap between classroom theory and industry readiness for students pursuing careers in electronics. Her project, Circuits Electronics Education (C.E.E.), is a student- built platform offering mentorship, hands-on resources, and real-world advice for engineering students who often find themselves asking, “How do I get an internship when I don’t have experience yet?”

Soto-Lopez developed the platform as part of her Barrett Honors contract in FSE 301: Entrepreneurship + Value Creation. Through the process of customer discovery, industry interviews, and evidence-based design, she identified a common barrier: students feel underprepared for internships because they lack guidance on skills beyond coursework.

“I’ve seen so many talented students get discouraged because they don’t know where to start,” says Soto-Lopez. “I created C.E.E. because I wanted to be the kind of resource I wish I had when I started.” Her platform features include tutorials for PCB layout, embedded systems, and coding—tools commonly used in industry but not always emphasized in class. It also includes resume-building tips, student success stories, and interviews with engineers from companies like MJS Designs. The platform’s goal is to help students build confidence and portfolios that reflect their capabilities.

Through three rounds of peer feedback and mentoring, Soto-Lopez refined her final pitch deck and video to highlight C.E.E.’s societal and economic impact. As a Latina in engineering and the NASA ASCEND project manager at ASU for 2025-2026, she emphasizes equity and access: “Circuits Electronics Education isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about making sure underrepresented students don’t fall through the cracks.”

The platform has already supported multiple students through resume help and internship preparation, including first-time applicants who’ve secured interviews after engaging with  the content.

Check out these resources:
Pitch Deck
Pitch Video
Circuits Electronics Education Website

Soto-Lopez plans to grow C.E.E. into a nonprofit or student-led initiative in partnership with engineering organizations on campus. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in aerospace and analog circuit design while continuing to mentor students navigating the engineering world.