My dad started at tech schools focused on telecommunications with low-voltage communications systems. From there he built his way up to working around the world in telecommunications with global responsibilities. While he worked at home, I would pop onto his computer and sneak a peek at his projects and flowcharts, often innovative products related to beating communications faster than the speed of light.
I saw innovative aspects of telecoms that allow people to use their creativity. This drew me to consider Electrical Engineering not only for the engineering component but also for the hands-on aspect of getting to work with different parts.
During my summers in high school, I worked at an instant oil change shop which sparked an interest in doing practical work in my free time. A few times a week, my dad would spontaneously call me out to the garage, and I would help him fix random projects such as carburetors or electrical on a jet-ski we bought from Facebook Marketplace.
Even though I initially wanted to major in Psychology, writing papers about human behavior and theoretical concepts didn’t give me the same rewarding feeling as calculating or assembling physical parts. As I started taking statistics from Alla Genkin, lecturer in the School of Business, as a pre-requisite for psychology, I rediscovered my interest in math. It gave me a rewarding feeling to solve problems.
UW Bothell’s small class sizes allow for closer connections and networking opportunities. I heard about the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers chapter on campus, and I signed up right away as a member. I threw myself into our activities, and recently, I was voted to become secretary of the club!
This past year my family built a massive shop in our backyard, which gave me an opportunity to shadow my dad, working on electrical projects from scratch. I learned to work on projects ranging from calculating the continuity of electricity to stripping wires. These experiences led me to look forward to Electric Circuits Lab and Power System Fundamentals classes. With the knowledge I’m gaining in my classes, I can see an abundance of possibility in applying it to projects I’m interested in, such as innovating recreational dance floors using renewable energy to fuel speakers.
Connecting people with music is one of my passions, and I am honored to have been serving UW Bothell as radio station manager for UWAVE radio, our student-run radio station. While hosting every quarter’s open mic night, seeing the reaction of peers supporting each other’s freedom of expression inspires me to keep engaging and fostering this type of culture on campus. I work hard to make this one of our best-attended events.
When I’m at the studio in Husky Hall, I love delving into the back end of radio frequencies and different types of analog signals. I’m working to turn UWave into a Low-Power FM station, so students can tune in from their cars. In fall 2025, I initiated a fundraising campaign with a goal of $10,000. Its purpose is to unlock a new field of experiments to improve UWAVE for our campus community. Funds would go toward the LPFM radio tower, studio equipment, training and student development. Eventually I would love the idea of collaborating with Electrical Engineering students to create radio-related projects.
Prior to getting into the EE program, I felt a bit lost because it was impossible to find friends who were interested in the major. Once I immersed myself, I met others who were passionate about electrical engineering. I felt a sense of validation and belonging, and I wanted to help other women to do the same.
I started a Discord group as a safe space for us to connect and to help sharpen one another on our academic journeys. It’s been a great place to ask questions and to learn from others’ experiences. Now that I’m secretary of the IEEE on campus, I hope to set an example and support other women to participate in the club.
I’m honored to be chosen for the 2026 Husky 100 and am excited for my senior year. I hope to leave a lasting impression on the UW Bothell community!
Samantha Szeki Boggs is one of seven UW Bothell students selected to be part of the Husky 100 Class of 2026. These Husky 100 students actively connect the dots between what they learn in their studies with what they want to do to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for our world.
