This past fall at the Lake Claire Recreation Center, IEEE UCF orchestrated a workshop that allowed for nearly 50 students to craft their very own solar-powered phone chargers! Through the guidance of Technical Director Brad Marshall and Chair Alexander Parady, this build allowed for members to gain skills in electrical design, soldering, battery technology, and renewable energy, all while building a practical device to take home and be used by participants. To maintain proper health and safety measures, we constructed eight socially-distant soldering stations, spread out participants into six separate shifts over two days, and had student volunteers disinfect each station after use.
During these difficult times, events like this are a beacon of hope for how innovation and appropriate planning can allow for cherished experiences to continue through the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the going gets tough, UCF Knights will always find a way to Charge On!