This paper describes the use of a student conference as a novel experience aimed at motivating students enrolled in various computer architecture courses, such as Microprocessor Systems. The goal was to increase student engagement, to decrease failure rates, and to introduce students to the world of research. This multidisciplinary experience enabled students from several universities and cities to participate in a scientific conference while addressing novel research topics. This experience, and the understanding thus gained of the assorted roles of participants in a scientific conference--authors, reviewers, and local, steering, and scientific committees--served to increase the engagement and collaboration of both students and instructors and helped to decrease the dropout rate. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)