The Annual Detroit Auto Show continues to present a real-life opportunity as 36 De La Salle Collegiate students learned more about the automotive industry and explored the concepts they are learning in Engineering classes.

Mr. Scott Husken, Director of the DLS STEM Curriculum, took students in his Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering classes to the Auto Show on January 22, 2026. 

“The boys all seemed to enjoy themselves and were able to see what the majority of engineers in the Detroit area work on,” Husken said. He hopes students will be inspired to pursue engineering jobs related to the auto industry.

He added, “We are currently learning about electrical engineering in Principles of Engineering, and about sustainability and environmentally-conscious engineering practices in my Intro to Engineering Design class. Sustainability is really gaining traction as the price of fuel increases.”

Many of the manufacturers had cutouts of their vehicles so you could see how intricate some of the electrical systems are.

Students think only about mechanical engineering when they think of automotive jobs,” Husken said. “But the auto industry has a need for electrical engineers, materials engineers, chemical engineers, manufacturing engineers, and software engineers - just to name a few.”

The students had positive responses to their experience:

• Freshman Reid Ryska “The auto show was an exciting experience! Being there helped me appreciate the beauty of car design and the amount of creativity and technology that goes into making each vehicle unique.”
• Sophomore Brendan Tafel “The auto show was a great way to apply and explore all of the concepts we had learned prior in Engineering class. It helped all of the students connect topics together and understand how engineering is used in a real-life scenario.”
• Sophomore Tyler Ryniak “It was really cool to see the concept cars. I want to work in the automotive industry just like my stepdad who works at Chrysler. Going to the auto show strengthened my desire to become a mechanical engineer.”

Husken added, “With the continued growth of robotics in the automotive industry, the field of ‘mechatronics’ is starting to really grow. I want to make sure the boys know what is available to them after they graduate."