The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

Hitting the right notes at Engineering Open House

4/19/2023 Kent Reel

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Engineering Open House, a 100-year student-led tradition, took place on March 31 and April 1.

Grainger Engineering students set up exhibits to demonstrate engineering and science topics for people of all ages to explore.

This year’s theme was “The Future, Today.” The American Society of Civil Engineers Transportation & Development Institute graduate student organization showcased current and future technological advancements in transportation through karaoke. 

To make the learning experience more entertaining, especially for kids, the team used popular songs with updated lyrics about the future of transportation. Children enjoyed singing solo and in duets while learning about transportation. 

ICT students at the Engineering Open House
ICT students Javier García Mainieri, Abdulgafar Sulaiman and Lara Diab, from left, smile while working at the transportation karaoke booth. 
The ICT booth at the EOH
Young visitors participate in the transportation karaoke activity at the Engineering Open House.

Illinois Center for Transportation students involved in ASCE T&DI GSO and planning the exhibit included Lara Diab, Abdulgafar Sulaiman, Javier García Mainieri, Abhilash Vyas, Lama Abufares, Johann Cardenas, Yujia Lu, Han Youngdae, Mohammad Fakhreddine, Renan Maia, Aravind Ramakrishnan, Aditya Singh, Yudi Wang and Yusra Alhadidi.

Lara Diab, an ICT master’s student, coordinated this year’s exhibit. 

“The best part of this EOH was preparing the karaoke setup and writing the lyrics for the songs, in addition to seeing the kids’ excitement while singing along and learning about the research we do at ICT,” Diab said.

ICT students singing at EOH
ICT students Lara Diab, Abdulgafar Sulaiman, and Javier García Mainieri, from left, show off their singing voices while working at the transportation karaoke booth.