The Magic of Electricity

The wonders of electrical engineering have eluded Colton Sant since he was young. Now, set to graduate at the end of this school year, Sant looks back on a fulfilling academic career.

“As a kid, I was fascinated by how electricity made things work,” Sant said. “Lights blinked on and robots moved, and all because of some simple wires. It seemed like magic to me.”

He spent his childhood taking things apart and putting them back together, and checking out every engineering book he could get his hands on. This curiosity eventually led him to pursue a career in electrical engineering.

Sant’s high school years were filled with activities that pushed the boundaries of what a typical student might experience. He skipped grades in math, started taking trigonometry and calculus as early as seventh grade, and enjoyed being part of his school’s gifted and talented program. Robotics and 3D printing projects often meant skipping regular classes—something Sant relished. Alongside his academic achievements, he was active in sports, participating in tennis and cross country, and was heavily involved in student government, serving as Junior and Senior class president.

After high school, Sant moved from Kansas to Utah to attend Snow College, a community college in Ephraim. One of the biggest draws for Sant was being able to attend debt-free and be close to family in Utah. After earning his associate’s degree, Sant applied to USU.

“Snow had a great engineering program,” he shared, “but I knew USU would be a straightforward path toward my bachelor’s in electrical engineering.” USU’s strong department connections, combined with its easily accessible resources, played a significant role in his decision to transfer to the university.

The social side of his education was just as crucial to Sant. Upon arriving at USU, his leadership continued to shine as president of the Engineering Council, a member of Tau Beta Pi and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He also joined the Engineering Ambassador program, helping prospective students learn more about the engineering programs, and running an innovation team that designed training programs for tours and other outreach activities.

One of Sant’s most memorable moments during his time as an ambassador was working with young students on a bridge-building activity. “We gave them toothpicks and marshmallows and watched them build bridges,” he said. “It was awesome seeing their eyes light up when they figured out how things worked.” It reminded Sant of his own childhood fascination with electricity, a full-circle moment that reinforced his love for engineering.

Outside of academics, Sant fondly remembers a few occasions when he and his friends would drive up the canyon after school for bonfires and take Spring break trips to St. George.

As Sant prepares to graduate, he encourages future students to take advantage of everything college has to offer.

“Be active in extracurriculars,” he said. “The curriculum is only a small part of what you’ll take with you after graduation. Most importantly, enjoy yourself while you’re here.”

###

Writer: Sydney Dahle, sydney.dahle@usu.edu, 435-797-7512

Contact: Colton Sant, colton.sant@usu.edu