We are proud to share the highlights from MaaQef’s college tour at North Carolina State University in Raleigh — the final stop in our Triangle college tour series. Organized and led by our own MaaQef Board Members this trip brought our students onto NC State’s renowned Centennial Campus for a day centered on hands-on discovery, cutting-edge engineering, and a firsthand look at where curiosity can lead. Following our memorable visits to UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, this was a fitting close to the series.

With this visit, MaaQef has now introduced its students to all three of the most prominent universities in the Triangle — a milestone we are truly excited to celebrate.

A Success Despite the Odds

We want to be transparent with our community: this tour came together against an unexpected scheduling conflict with another event for high school students. Yet, thanks to careful planning and a committed group of students and volunteers, the day was a success by every measure. Sixteen students participated and made the most of every moment — a reminder that when our community shows up, we make things work.

If we had been aware of the scheduling conflict earlier, we could have taken steps to reach even more students. It is a lesson we carry forward, and it takes nothing away from what turned out to be a rich and rewarding experience for everyone who attended.

Inside the Advanced Electronics Lab

Unlike a standard campus walk-through, this tour offered our students something special: access to two high-end research facilities that most visitors never see. The first was NC State’s Advanced Electronics Lab, home to the FREEDM Systems Center — the group behind the “Smart Transformer,” named one of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies by MIT Technology Review in 2011.

Students filed past workbenches lined with oscilloscopes, circuit boards, and precision testing equipment, getting a real sense of what advanced electronics research looks like day to day. It was a working lab, complete with “wear eye protection” and “high voltage” signage — a genuine window into the environment where tomorrow’s power systems are built

Guided by One of Our Own

What made this tour truly special is that it was organized and led by someone who knows these labs from the inside. Our MaaQef Board Member, Ato Hulgize Kassa, serves as a Research Specialist and Lab Manager at NC State’s FREEDM Systems Center — a leading smart grid research center headquartered in the Keystone Science Center on Centennial Campus. A long-time member of the FREEDM team, Ato Hulgize was recognized by the NC State ECE Department at its 2019 Award for Excellence ceremony for his outstanding service.

It was Ato Hulgize who opened the doors of his own workplace to our students, personally planning the visit and guiding the group through facilities that most visitors never get to see. Watching a member of our community lead confidently through a professional research environment was an inspiration in itself — a living, local example of where a STEM path can lead.

Exploring the Additive Manufacturing Center

The second facility on the tour was NC State’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics — the world of 3D printing and next-generation fabrication. Our students were guided through this portion by Sam Hernandez, Lab Manager for Metal Additive Manufacturing at the center, who generously shared his time and expertise. Here, students walked past labs working on everything from additively manufactured copper components to scalable 3-dimensional superconducting structures for quantum information systems. Seeing the equipment that turns digital designs into physical parts — and hearing from a specialist who works with it every day — helped connect the STEM concepts our students learn about to the real technologies shaping industries today.

A Self-Guided Stop at the Library

To round out the day, students enjoyed a self-guided tour of the university library. Beyond the impressive collections and modern study spaces, the visit gave students a chance to picture themselves as college students — finding a quiet corner to read, collaborating on a project, or simply soaking in the atmosphere of a place built for learning.

Heartfelt Thanks

A day like this depends on the generosity and coordination of many people. MaaQef would like to extend sincere appreciation to:

  • Ato Hulgize Kassa, MaaQef Board Member, for planning, organizing, and leading this tour — and for opening the doors of the very labs he manages so our students could experience research up close.
  • Ato Muluneh Woldetsadik, Ato Fisseha Worku and Dr. Meressa Duffera, MaaQef Board Members for their active participation in providing transportation and serving as chaperones throughout the day.
  • Sam Hernandez, Lab Manager for Metal Additive Manufacturing at NC State’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics, for warmly hosting our students and guiding them through the additive manufacturing tour.
  • Our Parents and Volunteers, who gave their time to transport and supervise students and ensure everything ran smoothly and safely.

Looking Ahead

With this visit to NC State University, MaaQef has completed its Triangle college tour series — introducing our students to UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, and NC State, the three most prominent universities in the region. Together, these visits have given our young people a comprehensive and inspiring look at the world of higher education right in their own backyard.

Programs like these sit at the heart of MaaQef’s mission: empowering youth with the exposure, knowledge, and confidence they need to pursue higher education and build bright futures. We are grateful for every student who showed up with curiosity, every volunteer who gave their time, and every supporter who makes this work possible.

Together, we are opening doors — one campus visit at a time