On Feb. 21, the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at UC Riverside hosted its third annual IGNITE Student Professional Conference. For many of the more than 140 students who attended, it marked the first time they had sat across from a working engineer and had a candid conversation about what their future could look like.

IGNITE bridges the distance between classroom learning and professional life by bringing together students, alumni, and industry partners for a full day of mentorship, skill building, and conversation. Held at the start of National Engineers Week, this year’s conference drew its largest share of first-time attendees yet, with more than half attending for the first time. The turnout reflects a growing community of students eager to find their footing in the profession.

UC Riverside Chancellor S. Jack Hu and BCOE Dean Christopher Lynch welcomed students and reinforced the purpose behind the gathering. They emphasized preparing engineers who are not only technically skilled but ready to lead.

Kaanon MacFarlane, director of engineering at Pinterest and a UC Riverside computer science alumnus, opened the conference with a keynote that set the tone for the day. Drawing on his journey from UCR student to tech industry leader, MacFarlane encouraged students to take ownership of their paths.

“Be the driver, not just the passenger,” he told the room. The message resonated throughout the conference.

Throughout the day, students participated in breakout sessions led by professionals who once stood in their shoes. Ryan Reid, president of Boeing Satellite Systems and BCOE’s inaugural Distinguished Visionary, spoke about building confidence and advocating for oneself in professional environments. Annika Speer, associate professor of theatre, film, and digital production at UC Riverside, coached students on communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences. Mariel Cisneros, senior program manager at Northrop Grumman, shared insights on navigating the early stages of an engineering career.

Speakers from organizations including Amazon Web Services, Vulcan Wireless, and Engineering Minds LLC broadened the conversation further and highlighted the wide range of paths available to engineering graduates.

Between sessions, the conference created space for informal mentorship. Over lunch, students and professionals pulled up 

chairs and talked about early career decisions, unexpected pivots, and the lessons rarely found in textbooks. Bioengineering alumnus and doctoral student Eric Huitt moderated a panel discussion that quickly evolved into an open conversation among peers at different stages of their careers.

The afternoon shifted from conversation to preparation. Students refined resumes, practiced interviews with industry volunteers, and received direct feedback on how to strengthen their professional presence.

BCOE’s IGNITE conference continues to grow because it reflects something fundamental about the college’s community. Engineers here do not simply learn to solve problems. They learn to support one another in doing so. Alumni return to mentor the next generation. Industry partners show up to share their experience. Students leave with more than contacts. They leave with clarity.

This is what it means to engineer excellence.