Building beyond borders: IDE students bring global impact to life
Two integrated design engineering (IDE) students, Keiron Hannula and Benson Spoor, spent their summers halfway across the world, applying their classroom learning to real-world challenges through Buffs in Action, a CU Boulder initiative that empowers students to design and build infrastructure alongside local communities. Their projects in Bolivia and Eswatini revealed not only the power of engineering, but the meaning of empathy, collaboration, and global citizenship.
Keiron Hannula
Mechanical Engineering Emphasis | Engineering Leadership Concentration
For Hannula, IDE offered something no other engineering path could, a space to combine technical rigor with human understanding.
“I wanted to get a more holistic education because I’m passionate about engineering and things like philosophy, anthropology, and ethics,” he said. “The project work gives me much more valuable experience than simply taking a test.”
That curiosity and compassion led Hannula to Buffs in Action, where students use engineering to create tangible, community-driven change.
“Growing up watching my parents start a social enterprise instilled in me the value of working to improve the lives of others,” he said. “There’s no better way to find meaning in life than centering what you do around others; it’s extremely rewarding.”
Lessons from Bolivia: Redefining What Matters
While working in Bolivia, Hannula experienced firsthand how engineering and empathy intersect. Living in a rural community reshaped his ideas about success and fulfillment.
“The locals were happy and positive despite having very little,” he said. “It made me reconsider what’s truly valuable, not money or possessions, but the relationships you build with others. Community was at the center of life there, and they could probably teach Americans a thing or two about happiness.”
One conversation with a local mason left a lasting mark.
“We had a long discussion about religion. Even though I’m an atheist and he was a Christian, our values were nearly identical,” Hannula said. “It reminded me how easy it is to overlook culture when we disagree but recognizing it builds instant respect.”
When the project neared completion, the team realized they wouldn’t be able to stay to see the finished bridge.
“It was bittersweet,” Hannula admitted. “It reminded us that it wasn’t about us, it was about the community and the relationships we built.”
Leadership in the Field
As morale dipped toward the end of the project, Hannula leaned into leadership.
“When people realized we might not see the final structure, motivation dropped,” he said. “I had to help everyone reconnect with their ‘why.’ That shared purpose grounded us and pushed us to close out strong.”
He learned that problem-solving outside the classroom demanded flexibility and resilience.
“Problem-solving in a high-stress, real-world situation isn’t like taking a test,” he explained. “It’s a skill that improves only with practice — and it’s far more rewarding.”
For Hannula, leadership meant knowing when to serve and when to stand firm.
“Sometimes leadership meant lightening the team’s load and boosting morale,” he said. “Other times, it meant taking a firmer stance to empower everyone to succeed in their roles.”
A Shift in Perspective
Keiron’s experience abroad didn’t just deepen his understanding of engineering, it changed and challenged his views on the kind of work he sees himself doing in his life.
“Being part of Buffs in Action has completely changed how I think about my career,” he said. “I don’t see myself in a job that doesn’t allow me to directly help others.”
The time he spent in Bolivia reaffirmed his belief that engineering, and work in general should serve people first.
“Working alongside the community reminded me that the most meaningful work is the kind that creates real, positive impact in people’s lives,” Hannula explained. “Whatever I do next, I want it to center on that sense of purpose.”
His advice for future Buffs in Action students remains simple and heartfelt:
“Dive in headfirst. You won’t regret it.”
Benson Spoor
Architectural Engineering Emphasis | Business Education Concentration
For Spoor, IDE represented freedom, the flexibility to pursue a non-traditional engineering education centered on collaboration and creativity.
“I chose IDE because it was a non-traditional path to an engineering degree,” he said. “It allowed me to build in other concentrations while gaining direct project experience — something a traditional program might not have offered.”
After meeting a classmate on his COEN 2400 projects course who couldn’t stop talking about Buffs in Action, Benson knew he wanted to experience it for himself.
“It gave me a way to test my engineering and leadership skills under real conditions, something I’d only read about before,” he said.
Lessons from Eswatini: Leadership and Humanity
In Eswatini, Spoor and his team worked closely with a local community on a bridge project. One experience deeply affected him.
“One Saturday morning, we were invited to join the community for a celebration of life,” Spoor said. “We helped the men of our community dig a grave for an elderly community member. It was incredible to see the respect and effort of everyone present. That moment changed how I viewed community and the shared value of hard work.”
Working through long days and slow progress tested the team’s patience and cooperation.
“About four weeks in, things got difficult,” he said. “Excavation was slow, and tensions were high. I learned that understanding what each person needs to succeed makes all the difference. From that point forward, our team grew stronger.”
Through that process, Spoor discovered that collaboration was at the heart of good engineering.
“I learned that I love working with people,” he said. “Living and working together isn’t easy, but there’s something special about solving problems as a team.”
He also developed a nuanced view of leadership.
“Consensus is powerful — it builds trust and unity,” he said. “But there are moments when leadership must make a call alone. Balancing those moments taught me a lot about communication and trust.”
The team’s final week, though exhausting, became a moment of pride.
“After being delayed most of the project, we had so much to finish,” Spoor said. “Seeing it all come together at the end was one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Engineering Abroad
Spoor’s experience redefined what being an engineer means.
“It solidified me as a non-traditional engineer in the best way possible,” he reflected. “IDE and Buffs in Action showed me that I can apply my technical background to almost any project. It’s given me the confidence to pursue paths beyond traditional design roles”.
Could he give one piece of advice to future participants?
“Just trust me — it’s so worth it.”
