That’s the lesson Cadet Adonis Gonzales said he learned by taking part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project for at-risk youth sponsored by The YouthQuest Foundation.
Gonzales and seven other Maryland Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Cadets spent five months learning about the cutting-edge technology of 3D printing in classes led by YouthQuest volunteer Tom Meeks. They used Moment of Inspiration modeling software donated by Triple Squid Software Design and CUBE printers given by 3D Systems in their training at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
On June 6, the Cadets visited Northern Virginia to see how businesses use 3D printing.
The first stop was Prototype Productions, Inc. in Ashburn, where designers and engineers showed how the company creates a variety of products, including military gear and medical devices. The Cadets were especially impressed to hear CEO Joe Travez describe how he and his brother started the business in their garage two decades ago with just $500, a dream and a supportive family.
Next, the Cadets toured the 3D Systems facility in Herndon where the CUBE printers they used in class were made. They marveled at the sight of shelves filled with printers being tested at the end of the assembly line – each machine fabricating a small plastic shoe, layer by layer.
It was clear from the questions they asked during their tours that the students were making connections between what they had done in class and what the employees at PPI and 3D Systems do on the job. Besides getting a taste of 3D printing on an industrial scale, the Cadets saw the importance of creativity, collaboration and perseverance in the workplace.
According to Cadet Joshua Wilcox, the field trip “opened my eyes” to the job opportunities related to 3D printing.
Cadet Nancy Tapia-Loza had been considering a federal law enforcement career, but she said she changed her mind and now wants to explore engineering because of her experience in the 3D printing class.
During a recognition luncheon for the Cadets, YouthQuest President Lynda Mann announced that their instructor, Tom Meeks, had been chosen as the Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year.
The YouthQuest Foundation is a tax-exempt nonprofit that raises funds to provide academic and vocational development, as well as life-enriching experiences, for America’s at-risk youth.
The Freestate Academy is part of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Its mission is to reclaim the lives of high school dropouts by giving them the education, life skills, values and self-discipline they need to become productive citizens.