High Schoolers Tour Boeing 737 Factory Floor in Seattle

Imagine being 14 years old and standing on the floor where actual commercial airplanes come to life, watching engineers assemble the planes you've flown in dozens of times.

That's exactly what happened to 30 ninth graders from Mercer Island High School in Washington last November. Thanks to a collaboration between nonprofit Engineering Tomorrow, aerospace giant Boeing, and MIT Leaders for Global Operations alumni, these students got far more than a typical field trip.

The experience started weeks before the factory visit. Engineering Tomorrow sent a liaison to introduce aerospace concepts via Zoom, then returned in person to guide students through a hands-on airplane design lab. By the time they arrived at Boeing's Renton facility, they weren't just wide-eyed tourists—they understood what they were seeing.

Students met with engineering teams who shared surprising facts. (A Boeing 737 takes off or lands somewhere in the world every two seconds.) They learned that building planes requires mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, technicians, and skilled workers from countless backgrounds—not just aerospace degrees.

Then came the factory floor tour. Dozens of unfinished 737s sat under one massive roof, with real-world engineers assembling parts and testing systems. Students could suddenly picture themselves in those roles, whether as design engineers, production specialists, or technical experts.

Cameron Hoffman, an MIT graduate and Boeing manufacturing strategy manager who helped organize the visit, wished he'd experienced something similar as a teenager. "Boeing is a company that a lot of folks work at for their entire career and take a lot of pride in," he says. The students asked great questions about different career pathways and what daily work actually looks like.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership addresses a pressing national challenge. Engineering Tomorrow frames the engineering workforce shortage as both an economic and national security issue. The gap isn't just in engineers with degrees—America desperately needs trained operators and technicians too.

Many kids start as natural tinkerers but get scared off by higher-level math. The solution? Show them real engineers solving real problems before they've decided engineering isn't for them.

Alex Dickson, Engineering Tomorrow's program coordinator, explains their approach: "We want to inspire students by exposing them to professional engineers to illustrate the pathways for them to be problem-solvers in society."

The collaboration grew organically through MIT's alumni network. LGO alumna Kristine Budill connected the nonprofit with fellow graduates working at Boeing who wanted concrete ways to engage with local communities. Boeing has been MIT LGO's longest-standing industry partner, hosting internships and recruiting alumni for years.

Now those connections are creating opportunities for the next generation. Students left the Boeing facility with snacks, swag, and something more valuable: a clear vision that engineering careers are achievable and exciting.

One Mercer Island student summed it up perfectly after the tour: "Conversations with Boeing engineers were inspiring."