Karnig Boyadjian Leads Engineering Student Council as President  

Dec. 2, 2025 - Karnig Boyadjian was only a year old when his dad bought him his first car — a small, radio control (RC) model. Though Boyadjian wouldn't use the toy until years later, it unknowingly symbolized his career interest in engineering.   

“I think my dad may have used it as an excuse to get it for himself,” he joked. “But I'm enjoying it now. The problem-solving aspect to me is very interesting. It’s extremely common to use it for only 10 minutes and notice something broke, and you need to figure out what it was, try to fix it and try to prevent it from breaking again.”  

This hands-on problem solving was ingrained in him as he spent his childhood surrounded by engineers; his father was a mechanic and electrical handyman and two of his cousins worked for aerospace companies as electrical engineers.   

“My interest kind of developed through my family,” said Boyadjian. “Even as a kid, I knew this is what I wanted to go into.”  

The fifth-year aerospace engineering student is serving as president of the Samueli School’s Engineering Student Council (ESC) for 2025-26. The ESC is a student-run organization representing the school’s engineering student body. The council is a social and professional group that works to connect students, alumni, faculty and industry professionals. There are 23 active members this fall, and meetings occur biweekly.   

“As president, I am focused on strengthening collaboration between engineering clubs and making ESC more visible to students,” said the council president. “I also want to make it easier for organizations to access funding and resources since that process can feel complicated at first. Another goal is helping first-year students get involved earlier so they can find their place in the engineering community right away.” 

Boyadjian has been involved in multiple engineering organizations, clubs and project teams during his years at UCI. He worked his way through the ranks of the ESC, starting out as a faculty engagement committee member in 2022. That same year, he interned with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at UCI and became a Mech-In Training director, where he established a mentorship program. Simultaneously, Boyadjian found fulfillment in UCI’s Anteater Baja Racing where he started as the brakes engineer then became the brakes and human interface lead engineer. In 2024, Boyadjian was the ESC vice president of finance before becoming president.  

When thinking about how he balances his extracurriculars, coursework and social life, Boyadjian emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you enjoy most rather than trying to do everything at once.  

“I definitely think starting out, it's best to get involved in as much as possible,” he said. “But then narrow down from there to see what you like.”  

Boyadjian gained lots of experience through his varied roles with ESC. He worked on promoting student and faculty engagement along with event planning as the faculty engagement co-director. He organized fundraisers and oversaw budget allocations as the vice president of finance. Now, as president, he looks forward to overseeing and leading the team of engineers.  

“My favorite event is definitely E-Week,” he said. “It is when all the organizations come together and you can really feel the school spirit. It has been great seeing everyone’s c

reativity.” 

National Engineers Week is an annual event aimed at increasing public awareness and appreciation for the engineering profession. At UCI, the ESC hosts events for one week in February to foster social and networking events, engineering competitions, outreach and more.  

EngiTank — a hands-on challenge where students design and develop a prototype of whatever they want to create — is one of E-Week's most popular events. Around 200 students participated in this year’s EngiTank, and they will present their products to industry and academic judges in next year’s E-Week on Feb. 27, 2026. The event was inspired by the entrepreneurial reality show Shark Tank.  

When not busy with presidential duties and school assignments, Boyadjian still tinkers with the 21-year-old RC model.   

“I never really outgrew it,” he said about the car. “Some parts recently broke and I’ve been working on replacing them. It’s a never-ending project.”  

Boyadjian plans to pursue an engineering career – either automotive or aerospace -- when he graduates in spring.  

– Cassandra Nava