Youth Engineers Initiative

Empowering the next
generation of leaders.

One student at a time.

Equipping Youth to Design the Future

At the Youth Engineers Initiative, we believe every student has the potential to change the world. Through hands-on engineering workshops, mentorship, and real-world challenges, we teach creativity and problem-solving to the next generation of innovators.

The people who bring our
mission to life

Meet our team

Chris Longo

Founder, President

Liam Hong

Founder, President

Tony Lin

Founder, President

Zack Longo

Founder, President

Leo Lin

Founder, President

Hunter Highland

Vice-President

School Chapters

Youth Engineers Initiative School Chapters are independent, volunteer-led organizations that act as sub-branches of the Youth Engineers Initiative. As part of our mission to inspire the next generation of engineers, the Youth Engineers Initiative will help to support efforts to create these chapters.

Existing Chapters

Please check if your school already has a chapter. The Youth Engineers Initiative School Chapters for the 2025-2026 school year are at the following schools (more to come):

Sage Hill School

Newport Beach, CA

Tompkins High School

Fort Bend County, TX

Dana Hills High School

Dana Point, CA

Start Your Own Chapter

If you are a high school student and are interested in starting a Youth Engineers Initiative School Chapter, please read the following instruction manual.

Why Start a Chapter?

Leadership Experience

By starting a Youth Engineers Initiative School Chapter, students will gain leadership experience in outreach to after-school programs, organizing meetings, and running a team.

Volunteer Opportunities

By hosting local workshops to teach engineering to middle school kids, students can earn service learning hours.

Existing Framework

To support ambitious students in starting a chapter, our program offers an extensive workshop curriculum, templates for social media posts, and outreach emails to help make a lasting impact on your community.

Join the Community of Mentors

Ambitious students starting a chapter will gain access to an exclusive community of fellow Youth Engineers Initiative chapter leaders across the nation. This network of mentors will help support the formation of new chapters.

Workshops

Youth Engineers Initiative workshops introduce students to engineering through hands-on projects, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Every workshop is designed to make STEM engaging, accessible, and memorable.

What Is A Workshop?

Workshops are guided engineering experiences where students learn by building, testing, and improving designs. Students gain exposure to engineering principles while developing creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.

Our Curriculum

All YEI workshops are supported by structured lesson plans and educational resources that can be used by students, teachers, and organizations.

Interested In Hosting A Workshop?

We partner with schools, camps, community centers, and youth organizations to bring engineering workshops directly to students.

Projects

Student-led engineering projects that extend learning beyond the workshop environment.

Go-Kart Project

The YEI Go-Kart Project gives students experience with mechanical design, fabrication, electronics, testing, and project management. Use this section to document progress, milestones, and photos.

Drone Project

An upcoming project focused on drone design, flight systems, electronics, and engineering applications. Updates and development progress can be showcased here.

Events

Stay updated with upcoming workshops, chapter activities, outreach opportunities, and community events.

Upcoming Events Calendar

For more details on upcoming events or to submit an event for inclusion, please contact us at youthengineersinitiative@gmail.com

Curriculum

Hold a Youth Engineers Initiative workshop from your own home or learn engineering fundamentals with the official project slideshows linked below.

Wind Turbine

Wind turbines are a powerful source of renewable energy. Learn how to create and test your own model of one! For Educators, this is a great resource for renewable energy. Learn the fundamentals of our earthquake-resistant engineering here.

LINK

Truss Bridges

The bridges we drive over every day are carefully designed with engineering principles in mind: design a truss bridge today!

LINK

Earthquake Tower

Earthquakes are a significant problem worldwide, and real-world engineers have to design around them: learn the fundamentals of earthquake-resilient engineering here!

LINK

Balloon Drop

A classic physics-class project, the balloon drop explores the principles behind the parachutes that keep us safe.

LINK

Financial Literacy Economics

Being financially literate is vital for anybody in our modern-day society, especially for engineers: learn the basics with this course!

LINK

Buoyancy & Boat Design

Discover how boats float by designing and testing your own vessels while exploring buoyancy, stability, and weight distribution.

LINK

Aerodynamics & Flight

Explore the science of flight by designing and testing aircraft while learning the engineering principles behind lift, drag, thrust, and stability.

LINK

Empowering the next
generation of leaders.

One student at a time

Our Purpose

Many students lack early access to hands-on engineering experiences, leaving them unaware of their potential in STEM. This gap limits creative exploration and problem-solving at a critical age.

Youth Engineers Initiative exists to build creative confidence and fill the gap in early STEM education through engaging, hands-on workshops that inspire curiosity and empower the next generation of innovators.

How we make it happen

Workshops

Hands-on learning in collaborative spaces where students build and experiment.

Mentorship

Guidance from aspiring engineers and innovators.

Real World Projects

Applying engineering skills in real-world problem-solving contexts.

By the Numbers

Students Engaged

Leaders & Mentors

Volunteer Hours

Schools Reached

Lesson Plans Created

High School Chapters

Community Partners

Year Established

Our Partners

Real Stories, Real Change

"The program is incredibly well structured for middle schoolers. It challenges them at the right level and builds both their skills and their confidence."

- Anonymous Parent

"I never thought I was a science or math person until I joined YEI. Now I look forward to every single workshop."

- Anonymous Student

"Building real projects with my hands taught me more than I expected. YEI showed me that engineering is something I can actually do."

- Anonymous Student

News

Latest updates from Youth Engineers Initiative.

Featured Article

June, 2026

By Chris Longo

YEI and YMCA Launch Summer Engineering Camp for Junior High Students

Building on their existing partnership, Youth Engineers Initiative and the YMCA are launching an engineering camp for junior high students this summer. Campers will get hands-on experience with YEI's workshop curriculum - building wind turbines, designing truss bridges, and tackling real engineering challenges in a fun, collaborative environment. Beyond the camp, YEI is also making significant internal progress: the Sage Hill chapter is expanding its member base, new curriculum modules are in development, and the organization is laying the groundwork for launching additional school chapters in the fall. This summer marks a turning point for YEI as it grows from a single school club into a broader community program with real reach.