Tag: award winning essay

YouthQuest Scholarship Winner: ‘Nothing Is Beyond My Reach’

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YouthQuest scholarship winners Ka’Dejah Riley, Hunter Lusby and Naomi Perez at 3D ThinkLink Vocational orientation at UNC-Charlotte

The latest students to earn scholarships in the YouthQuest Foundation’s essay competition say our 3D ThinkLink class showed them how to achieve their dreams. 

South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduates Hunter Lusby, Naomi Perez and Ka’Dejah Riley won $1,000 apiece to continue their education and stay on course for success in life. The scholarships were announced at the academy’s commencement ceremony in June.

3D ThinkLink scholarship winners Hunter Lusby, Naomi Perez and Ka’Dejah Riley with instructor Germaine Rasberry of South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe AcademySince 2013, more than 300 underserved teens have completed 3D ThinkLink training at National Guard Youth ChalleNGe programs, where we use an introductory class in 3D design and printing as a vehicle to teach both STEM-related job skills and important life skills such as problem solving, persistence and creative thinking.

Twenty-five ChalleNGe cadets have earned a total of $15,500 in scholarships for essays they wrote about the personal impact of their 3D ThinkLink experience.

The contest judge, New York Times bestselling novelist and longtime YouthQuest supporter John Gilstrap, noted the quality of the essays submitted in the most recent round of competition was significantly better than in previous class cycles. “Of them all, three stood out to me,” he said. 

South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadet Naomi Perez with other 3D ThinkLink students at Vocational Orientation at Duncan-Parnell in Charlotte, NC
Naomi Perez at Vocational Orientation

Naomi Perez wrote in her essay that learning about 3D printing helped her overcome the self-doubt she had felt all her life.

Naomi was raised by her grandfather, an auto mechanic who taught her about his trade. Her goal is to join the Air Force and become a mechanical engineer.

“I enjoy putting stuff together,” she wrote.

Naomi said her favorite part of class was helping to assemble and calibrate a new 3D printer with YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks, who visited the SCYCA campus in the spring.

She said she learned so much that when her class went on a Vocational Orientation field trip to the Duncan-Parnell 3D printing center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to see an array of sophisticated, professional 3D printers, “it all seemed easy to me.”

“Now I can proudly say I feel like I’ve accomplished new and helpful things in 3D printing,” she wrote, adding that the scholarship would be “helpful for me to complete my dreams.”

“I believe that anybody and everybody can accomplish their goals in life. Why? Life is full lessons and blessings. That’s why I haven’t given up,” declared Naomi.

‘I’m Going to Make Something Out of Myself’

Along with classroom work and Vocational Orientation, cadets in our classes are required to do a community service project using their 3D skills.

3D printed tag made for children in hospital by South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy 3D ThinkLink class for community service project
3D-printed tag from service project

In his scholarship-winning essay, Hunter Lusby described the satisfaction he felt when he visited a local hospital to teach children about 3D printing and make objects with encouraging messages on them for the kids.

“I’ve always wanted to help children who are in hospitals,” he wrote.

“From seeing how I can help people by creating designs with ‘I Love You’ on it, to realizing that I can do anything and that nothing is beyond my reach,” said Hunter, “It’s boosted my self-esteem.”

Ka’Dejah Riley also gained confidence in herself as a result of her experiences in our 3D ThinkLink class.      

“For me being a 16-year-old African-American female from Sumter, South Carolina, I felt like I have always been doubted and looked upon like I am not level-headed,” she explained in her essay.

Ka’Dejah said she used to get into trouble all the time because she could find anything positive that held her attention.

South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadet Ka’Dejah Riley with other 3D ThinkLink students at Vocational Orientation at University of North Carolina-Charlotte 3D printing lab
Ka’Dejah Riley in UNC-Charlotte 3D printing lab for Vocational Orientation

“I always knew I was smart, but I always made the wrong choices growing up,” she wrote.

She went to the ChalleNGe program to turn her life around. The 3D ThinkLink class taught by Germaine Rasberry is where Ka’Dejah said she discovered her “hidden talents.”

Ka’Dejah hopes to put those talents to work in the field of health care, where 3D printing is used for everything from prototyping medical devices to making models for surgeons to study before operating on patients, to creating prosthetics and even replacement body parts.

“I want to show everyone at home and everyone who has ever doubted me I’m more than just the average teenager. I’m going to make something out of myself and I’m not going to go back to my old ways,” Ka’Dejah wrote.

“Thanks to Mrs. Rasberry, the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy, and 3D-Printing, I have the knowledge and ability to be a better me and to live a better life.”

Click Here to Read the Three Winning Essays

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Spring 2019 Scholarship-Winning 3D ThinkLink Student Essays

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These students from the 2019 spring class cycle earned $1,000 scholarships for these essays about their 3D ThinkLink experience.

By Naomi Perez
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

My name is Naomi, Perez. I’m 16 years old. I’m in a military school called SC Youth Challenge Academy. I came to prove everybody who doubted me wrong all my life. I’ve had people tell me don’t reach for stuff you later on won’t be able to accomplish. I’ve always been determined but also constantly doubted to the point where I question myself everyday if I should go for it or not. I’ve always liked to do right no matter how hard it would be. I would always try and put my best to it. Now I can proudly say I feel like I’ve accomplished new and helpful things in 3D printing.

3D Printing is useful in many ways in this world. In my life 3D printing became an open opportunity where I was able to concentrate and be able to use my creativity my mindset was all in for it.

I learned so much I would’ve never thought or expected to know or even understand. It was different when we went out on the field trip to Duncan Parnell. I’ve been learning so much in class that when I went out to the trip I felt like I was a part of it. I would look at all the machines and the 3D printing models and it all seemed easy to me.

It also became a routine for me to the point where I was just ready for school to end so I can go to 3D printing class. My favorite part of it was when we all helped to build the 3D printing machine.  I learned where the parts came from and where they were made. I honestly owe it all to Mr. Meeks. He was there through it all feeding us information and knowledge about 3D printing. He would inform us about everything we needed to know.

 My plans are to join the Air Force as a mechanical engineer. I enjoy putting stuff together. I was raised by my grandpa.  He’s an auto mechanic and he has taught me everything I’ve needed to know in mechanics. For me this scholarship would be so great and helpful for me to complete my dreams and accomplish my goals. Because I believe that anybody and everybody can accomplish their goals in life.  Why?  Life is full lessons and blessings. That’s why I haven’t given up.

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By Ka’Dejah Riley
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

I always knew I was smart, but I always made the wrong choices growing up. Growing up I didn’t put my mind to work in a positive way as much as I should have. Being in 3D printing has helped me explore further talents I never knew I had. 3D printing has helped me to find and utilize my unique assets.

When I was younger I really couldn’t find anything positive that grasped my attention. It’s seemed as if the only thing that caught my attention was trouble, it seemed so easy to find. Me being so gullible and naive, I did things people told me to do, believing them when they told me I wouldn’t get caught up in mischief. I regret most of the things I did in the past. Looking back, I wish I would’ve done better. For me to right my wrongs I came to South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy, where I found out about 3D printing and discovered my hidden talents.

Mrs. Rasberry introduced me and some other cadets to 3D printing. Mrs. Rasberry taught us the basics and from there we explored, and put our creative side to work. Mr. Tom Meeks taught us how to take apart and put together a 3D printer, and he imparted some his knowledge with us about 3D printing. I visited Duncan-Parnell and UNC in Charlotte North, Carolina.

For me being a 16 year old African-American female from Sumter, South Carolina, I felt like I have always been doubted and looked upon like I am not level-headed. 3D printing has helped me to understand I’m not here to please other people I’m here to live for me, and to make the best out what I have. I am so unique and creative in many ways I didn’t even realize. Thanks to 3D printing, I’m going home with knowledge I didn’t have before. I plan on pursuing 3D printing in the future.

I want to go in the medical field, and make prosthetic body parts. I will work with a 3D printer called a bio-printer to print artificial living tissue. I want to show everyone at home and everyone who has ever doubted me I’m more than just the average teenager. I’m going to make something out of myself and I’m not going to go back to my old ways, I’m going to utilize everything I have been taught. Thanks to Mrs. Rasberry, The South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy, and 3D printing, I have the knowledge and ability to be a better me and to live a better life.

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By Hunter Lusby
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

I’ve always loved the thought of printing objects of my design. Now that I actually have a chance, it doesn’t feel real, like a fantasy or a dream. Then I look at my creation as it prints from the case up and I realize, this isn’t a dream. It’s reality.

3D printing has helped me realize many things. From seeing how I can help people by creating designs with “I Love You” on it, to realizing that I can do anything and that nothing is beyond my reach. It’s boosted my self-esteem because I actually got chosen for this. Then the thought of being able to go to Virginia to represent the whole Academy in 3D printing? That’s definitely a confidence builder.

One way that I can use what I’ve learned is through community service. From teaching children the fundamentals of 3D printing, to actually creating objects for kids. I’ve always wanted to help children who are in hospitals. With 3D printing, I could make them little teddy bears with encouraging messages on them. 3D printing is very useful in many ways. I believe this is the future of building technology.

If I was to be chosen to go to Virginia, it would honestly change my life. I could learn how to become better and advance my skills. Being chosen would also help me in life with finding a job. And with that job, I could influence others with my creations, therefore making the world a happier place.

Fall 2018 Scholarship-Winning 3D ThinkLink Student Essays

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These students from the 2018 fall class cycle earned $1,000 scholarships for these essays about their 3D ThinkLink experience.

By Sthephanie Alvarez-Vega
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

Well I’m going to be honest. At first I wasn’t sure if I had made the right choice about picking 3D Printing over Welding. I was kind of disappointed in the first 3D printing class because it was boring and nothing seemed to catch my attention and I wanted to drop out of the class as soon as possible! Then we ended up going on a field trip and we went to a place called The Foundery in Baltimore. During this trip I got to see a lot of interesting thing such as water jet cutters, blacksmithing, woodworking, welding, laser engraving and a lot of other things. This made me change my perspective and made me realize how cool and unique things can be when you learn to build things on your own and you get a feeling of satisfaction when doing it.

The YouthQuest 3D printing program has helped me think outside of the box. It helped me change the way I look at simple things like lines, shapes, and sizes. 3D printing made me realize that I don’t have to be a kid to have an imagination and being a part of 3D printing allows me to think freely.  It allows me to use the Moment of Inspiration program to use my creativity and put it into practice. This program allows me to make a design and then bring it to life. I got to see 3D designs on a computer screen and comparing it to when it is actually in my hands is a great experience no words can describe.

Another great experience I had was going to the Harford Community College and getting to see all the different types of printers that exist and asking questions about how they work and what they do affects our future in great ways. Technology is a big part of my generation and being able to see a printer that is able to create limbs for people is so amazing.

The 3D program is a good program for people who have a lot of creativity and want to see things come to life. With 3D printing, designs are very complex and they are tiny layers sticking together. It starts from the bottom and comes up layer by layer. With 3D printing you have a freedom of design and customizing at the same time. But this program allows you to use less shaping materials then traditional manufacturing methods. I believe that 3D printing was a great opportunity for me to be a part of something. I got a chance to see things differently than most of the cadets here and I appreciate it. I now realize that I made a great choice to stay with 3D printing because it got me to see the world and what revolves around me differently. I no longer see things with a simple mind. I got to have a different experience and I would do it all over again if I had a chance to.

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By Caleb Pearson
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

When I was twelve or thirteen years old I caught my first glimpse of 3D printing. I saw a man on the news with a 3D printed prosthetic arm writing his own name and that’s when I started to see 3D printing everywhere. It was being mentioned in magazines to describe the structure of certain products and I saw the terminology used in shows and some movies I watched. I never knew how the printing was done or what did it but now thanks to the 3D printing program hosted by the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy I can understand that process much better.

The YouthQuest program changed my concept of what 3D printing is into something I never thought to consider. When I first thought about how manufacturers used computers to design their products I thought it took genius level skills in mathematics to complete. Contrary to that belief it’s so simple I learned how to create a 3D object in just three lessons. The YouthQuest program uses nouns and verbs and a little math here and there to create objects in the four viewing platforms. My first project was to make a cookie cutter by extruding two rings and then using another tool to sharpen its edges. It seems like a simple task but I had a blast just doing that with the assistance of the instructional videos, which are very helpful in my opinion. The key phrase during the class: mistakes are not final, nothing is so bad that you can’t come back from it.

The 3D printing program altered my view of that itself, but that phrase changed my mentality towards my reality. I signed up for this 3D program thinking it would teach me how to make and design cool things. I thought they would hand me some papers that told me how to do everything but I was sorely mistaken. The teachers, both physical and digital, get in-depth with the students on issues they might have or run into while working with the program and how to correct them. I was happy to see that the bottom left corner of the menu screen had an “Undo” button when I made a mistake, it makes things so much easier to work with.

Integrating this form of manufacturing into my lifestyle seems a lot more plausible now that I’ve seen it used in the career field I’d like to pursue, which is engineering in general at the moment. The 3D printing team took a field trip to a company called Duncan-Parnell who manufactures and services their machines. We learned about the many different forms of 3D printing and the different materials they can print. I used to believe that carbon-fiber was the toughest material to work with but it turns out their company has a machine that actually prints with that material. My mind was blown by this point of our trip but it got even better.

After the business visit, we went off to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The staff at UNCC took us on a tour with the engineering program. The aerospace program had a rocket with a 3D printed nose cone and rover which they used at a competition which was overseen by NASA. They had a crew of over 15 people which was used to make just that one rocket. I loved the next part where they took us all through the machining and 3D printing facilities, which had a temperature-controlled room which I had never been into. One of the guides for our group shared his story of how he had never gotten that big of an education in math, which I could really relate to but had never heard before, lifted my spirits about my future in the engineering field. I guess that’s what really solidified my resolve to pursue that career path and is how it will affect my life.

I know I’ve learned that my path in life is not ultimately decided by my mistakes and that I am still working on a few that I’ve made. I know that I will still make more of them in future, hopefully not too many, and I’ll learn from those too. Right now I’m happy with the doors I’ve opened and the ones I’m still working on opening to better my future. I hope my efforts pay off and I accomplish everything I put my mind to. Thank you SCYCA for the opportunity to grow into a better person

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By Chigaru Todd
Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy

I truly appreciate being chosen for this potential scholarship. My name is Chigaru A. Todd and I attend Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy. I am 16 years old and I live in Northeast, Washington, DC. I believe I should be chosen for this scholarship because I have demonstrated hard-work ethics, responsibility, and the willingness to learn and further my knowledge. I am a very creative individual with the readiness to work and achieve great possibilities. Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” While attending Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy I was given the opportunity to experience a training which involved a 3D ThinkLink course. This course consists of a program called Moment of Inspiration. While using this program we are able to build objects and produce them on our 3D printing machine.

The program was taught to me in a step by step process. At the end of this process each student in my class was able to build their own 3D key chain. Each student completed their key chain. When I finished mine I felt empowered. I was very intrigued by the 3D software and what it detailed. The wise words of Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible, for the word itself says I’m possible” inspired me to continue on with 3D ThinkLink training and the outstanding growth it brought to my leadership goals.

My fellow cadets and I were greeted with such gratitude and enthusiasm, it made my peers and I feel as though we were on top of the world. To be offered a scholarship of this magnitude at this point in my life is a blessing. Being able to use computers for graphic arts and be recognized for it is a dream come true. Graphic arts is something that has always fascinated me. I plan to stay focused and further my career in the graphic engineering field.

I remember my father always telling me, “You are so intelligent and if you use your mind for good, you can really go far in life.” I always think about him saying this in my mind and use it for motivation. If not for my father I probably, never mind the probably, I would not be where I am right now. He has inspired me to obtain and achieve the unachievable. If I receive this scholarship, it would make my father proud and it would also make me proud. It would be an honor and a blessing to receive this scholarship. Thank you very much for an opportunity such as this that you have given me.

I believe that you must be willing to change your perspective to seek ultimate opportunities. Prior to coming into Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy I had no intentions of participating in any extracurricular activities, but I found interest in 3D Printing and Systems. 3D printing has been an outlet I’ve used to be creative while also gaining knowledge of the next generation’s technology. Since the start of the course I have learned not only the concept of 3D printing, but how to come with up an idea, design it, and turn it into reality. I often had troubles in school understanding key points, but since being a part of 3D printing, my way of thinking has gradually changed. I am very grateful to be able to express myself now through my work.

After graduating Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy, I plan to return as a peer mentor to encourage those who are in the position I was in. After that, I plan to enlist in the Army. My overall goal is to enlist into the military as a Public Affairs Specialist while majoring in Media Communications and Hospitality Management. I plan to take the skills I learned from 3D printing and utilize them in my personal life. I hope to design personalized 3D print items that will provide another stream of income as an entrepreneur.

One of my ultimate life goals is to be able to help my father financially by becoming self-sufficient. Growing up in a single parent household, my father has been the most influential person in life. I watched him struggle to raise me as a young female. I believe that everything I do is in honor of my father.

He instilled in me knowledge and gave me the guidance that I will need to be independent. I am excited for the future and thankful for what 3D printing has given me.

3D ThinkLink Scholarship Winners Look to the Future

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Essay contest scholarship winners Trevor Haney, Bradley Berry and Dante Isom from Freestate ChalleNGe Academy with YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks at graduation on June 23, 2018.

Four students who completed 3D ThinkLink training at National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies have earned scholarships to help them take the next steps on their career paths.

YouthQuest presented the $500 scholarships to Maryland Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Cadets Bradley Berry, Trevor Haney and Dante Isom, and DC Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy Cadet Jacob Foote, during graduation ceremonies in June.

3D ThinkLink scholarship winner Jacob Foote at Capital Guardian graduation
Jacob Foote at Capital Guardian graduation / Photo by DC National Guard

3D students compete for scholarships by writing essays about the personal impact our class had on them. All four of the winners in this latest class cycle said the 3D ThinkLink experience opened their eyes to job opportunities they had never imagined.

“Taking 3D printing has sparked my creativity. I love the fact that it gets my imagination going,” wrote Bradley, who hopes to pursue an engineering associate’s degree at Harford Community College.

“This program has changed my mind on what I want to do after Freestate. I never had an actual passion in life, but I want this to be my career,” he explained. “It’s crazy how a few months can affect the rest of your life.”

Dante’s essay focused on his interest in becoming a graphic designer.

“My 3D ThinkLink experience was a positive experiment for me because it shone some light of a future opportunity for me working in the graphic design industry or something that could involve 3D printing because I would already know how to work with the 3D printers,” Dante wrote.

The Capital Guardian class trips to the University of Maryland’s 3D printing facilities and the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC, made a big impression on Jacob.

“It showed me that I have the skills to continue my education and use it in my future as a 3D designer,” said Jacob in his scholarship-winning essay.

Cadets Haney and Foote examine an ancient vase that they 3D scanned at 3D ThinkLink advanced training in May, 2018.
Cadets Haney and Foote at 3D ThinkLink advanced training

Like Jacob, Trevor was one of the top students in his 3D class and attended advanced training sessions in May at our 3D ThinkLink Creativity Lab in Chantilly, Virginia.

“When I started Freestate, I didn’t have enthusiasm about my life,” Trevor recalled in his essay. “Getting accepted into 3D printing was one of the first things that brought me hope at Freestate. In every class we have, I learn something new, which makes me very intrigued about the next class.”

Trevor credited our class for motivating him to have a positive attitude and stick with the rigorous 22-week residential program at Freestate. He took our failure-is-not-final message to heart and learned that “hard work pays off.”

Trevor’s hard work paid off in the form of several awards, in addition to our scholarship, that were presented to him at Freestate’s graduation ceremony in Joppa, Maryland. Now he’s planning to join the Army and find a position that will allow him to apply the 3D skills he learned in our class.

Our semiannual essay contest is judged by New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap, whose latest novel in the Jonathan Grave thriller series is Scorpion Strike.

Since 2013, YouthQuest has awarded a total of $9,500 in scholarships to 19 essay contest winners.

CLICK HERE to read the four winning essays

Spring 2018 Scholarship-Winning 3D ThinkLink Student Essays

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These students from the 2018 spring class cycle earned $500 scholarships for these essays about their 3D ThinkLink experience.

By Bradley Berry
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

3D printing has taught me how pressing a couple buttons can create a masterpiece. I’m very eager to see how I can apply 3D printing to real world careers. I feel that in a decade or two, every family in the United States will have a 3D printer inside their household. Many new jobs are surfacing due to 3D printing. I learned how using certain verbs such as extrude can change a 2D object into a 3D object that you can manipulate and even print.

3D printing has taught me how programming can be used to create physical and even moving pieces of art. I have become rather fascinated by 3D printing. I am amazed at what you can accomplish with a computer, a printer and an active imagination. I truly believe that by 2020 3D printers will be a commonly used household item! This 3D printing ThinkLink class is preparing me for our future in a fun, yet challenging way. I love the fact that it gets my imagination going.

Taking 3D printing has sparked my creativity in a whole new way, not just by giving me freedom to run wild but by teaching me how to do so. This class has made me want to expand my knowledge by attending programs that teach me about 3D printers and the different parts, how to build them, take them apart, and even what the different parts’ purposes are. I would say my favorite part has been watching a small simple 3D printer print just as good as a high tech big printer. I am considering going to college at Harford Community College for an engineering associate’s degree.

I understand that this scholarship is for a select few but I feel that I will expand my connections in the realm of programs and 3D printing itself that I couldn’t find elsewhere. I feel that I actually excel at 3D printing at the point to where I’ve become passionate about this and want to go far in this field. I have learned a lot and still have much to learn and I feel that this scholarship will benefit me greatly.

I have used some different techniques to see what possibilities may arise and I have often found myself creating new, crazier things. This program has changed my mind on what I want to do after Freestate. I never had an actual passion in life but I want this to be my career. I want to create and show others the possibility of 3D printing.

In conclusion, 3D printing has changed my life forever by opening doors that otherwise would’ve remain closed. It’s crazy how a few months can affect the rest of your life. For that I would like to thank Freestate and the YouthQuest Foundation’s 3D ThinkLink program. Even if I don’t get picked I will still hold the knowledge obtained so far.

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By Trevor Haney
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

The 3D ThinkLink experience has had a very positive impact on my time at Freestate. It has helped me in the program and taught me valuable skills. The 3D printing program has encouraged me and helped give me an extra reason to stay in this program. The 3D ThinkLink program is a great experience for the teens in this program.

Being in the 3D printing program has given me great encouragement about the Freestate program and my future with 3D printing. When I started Freestate I didn’t have enthusiasm about my life. Getting accepted into 3D printing was one of the first things that brought me hope at Freestate. In every class we have, I learn something new, which makes me very intrigued about the next class.

The class/program has helped me in many ways. Its helped time go by faster in Freestate by being in class every week and going on fun trips. It’s also helped me stay positive and push forward while I am here. Making good decisions in Freestate and staying on track has helped me to be able to remain in the 3D printing program. It has also helped me escape the boring life of the barracks. These are just a few of the ways this program has helped me through these past months.

I have learned many valuable skills while using the 3D ThinkLink software. I learned things like how to simply draw a circle or any 2D shape and then extrude it to make it 3D. I also learned more complicated things like taking the 3D circle (cylinder) and using offset to make it hollow. With these skills I have learned, I plan to one day hopefully own my own 3D printer and make many things. I also want to join the military and possibly find a job there that uses the special skills ThinkLink has taught me.

When the cadets and I first started the 3D classes, many people thought they were “dumb” or “boring”, but now everyone is interested and loves going to 3D class. It has improved their lives by teaching them that using their imagination and taking many steps while being creative can slowly, but surely, turn into something that was just an image in their mind at first, into something greater. It also showed them that hard work pays off and that being good in Freestate can get them accepted into a program like 3D. They can remember that and use it in their everyday lives.

In conclusion, 3D printing has greatly affected my life. It has taught me valuable skills that I’ll use in the future. It also has helped me remain positive and given me another reason to push forward with Freestate. This does not only help me, but any at-risk youth the 3D ThinkLink program serves.

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By Dante Isom
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

Coming into the room I thought that 3D printing would be very simplistic and easy. It was quite the opposite. There were so many things that I had to remember. There were all sorts of things I needed to know like how big the object was, how the object would look when it was printed, and what the proportions were. The thing that I thought would be so easy turned into one of the hardest things I had to do in a while.

3D printing isn’t something that everyone can master right off the bat. When we started with the simple stuff like making a single circle and naming it so that we could make it hide or show back up on the screen it seemed simple until you started to have a lot of objects and you forgot which object was what. The main problem I kept running into was forgetting to name the object that I needed to color or move and I would have to go back a few steps to make it work the way it was supposed to.

The personal impact that 3D printing had on me is that it made me challenge myself to not only think about what I had to do but to envision it in my head and make it a reality on the program Moment of Inspiration. Moment of Inspiration (MoI for short) is a program that you can use to make blueprints of 3D objects and make them move or design them in any way that you need them to look. 3D printing made me think about my future in the terms that I am thinking of taking up Graphic Design as a career and I could implement the things that I learned here in the future.

While I was in 3D printing, we went to a Science Expo in DC and I helped show how a 3D scanner worked and how you could scan an object and it would show up in the screen the way it would appear any other way as a solid. While we were at the expo I had the opportunity to walk around and observe the other booths that were there. My favorite booth was when we used chemicals to separate the genes from a strawberry in a test tube container and we could see the process happening and it was really cool. Another thing that I did at the expo was I went to a booth involving the science of taste and how your sensory organs worked together. In the experiment I ate a cinnamon flavored jelly bean while holding my nose. When I was holding my nose it tasted like a gooey mess and then when I removed my hand from my nose and took a breath it actually had a taste and it wasn’t as bad anymore.

In the end my 3D ThinkLink experience was a positive experiment for me because it shone some light of a future opportunity for me working in the graphic design industry or something that could involve 3D printing because I would already know how to work with the 3D printers.

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By Jacob Foote
Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy

My experience in 3D printing this year at the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy was awesome. On the first trip to the USA Science and Engineering Festival at the Washington, DC Convention Center, I learned a lot about 3D printing and myself. You can scan anything with the 3D camera and the software and put that on the computer to virtually print it. Then you can adjust it and make it look like a replica or add anything you like to change the design. I thought that was kind of amazing. It was also amazing that I learned all this very quickly before the guests arrived.

I also learned that you can make a lot of cool stuff for people with disabilities to help them out with their everyday needs. If I am selected to continue in the 3D printing post-residential program after I graduate, I will work to create a 3D printed wheelchair that is electric and easy for people to get around in. It will be lighter and cheaper so more people can afford to have the best quality things. At Local Motors they showed me a lot of stuff. It was fun to learn and see what they created. I had a lot of fun at Local Motors. They have a very large 3D printer big enough to make a car, a bus, a scooter, and even a chair. Basically I now know you can really create anything from a 3D printer. I saw them at Local Motors creating their electric bus named Olli. They added lots of technology to help the disabled people be more independent and safe.

The 3D ThinkLink class helped me a lot with my stay at the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy. It showed me how to present my work and show little kids in a way that they will understand 3D printing. At the science festival it felt good to show the kids and their parents how to scan shoes and the stuffed animals. Learning about the “smooth” printers at the University of Maryland was cool too. If I go to school there I am thinking of a lot of things I can print.

In conclusion, I think this class was excellent and it showed me that I have the skills to continue my education and use it in my future as a 3D designer.

Spring 2017 Scholarship-Winning 3D ThinkLink Student Essays

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These students from the 2017 spring class cycle earned $500 scholarships for these essays about their 3D ThinkLink experience.

By Asia Baker-Stevenson
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

The YouthQuest 3D printing program has transformed my way of thinking and my way of life in many different ways. Before I started 3D printing I was very insecure about myself. I thought I would never be good at anything. I’ve always believed that I would be a failure in life and that I would never be able to make my mom smile. When I signed up for 3D printing I thought my creativity would never be able to process. But once I started trying and putting my mind towards it, I realized that 3D printing helps society look so much easier. I didn’t know that I would be able to make a house, car, a necklace, and my name from the use of a 3D printer.

The students from the University of Maryland help out the economy by reconstructing cells with the usage of 3D printing. I’ve learned that there are more things in 3D printing than just shapes and colors. I’ve learned that you can use a 3D printing to reconstruct bones, and cells in a biochemistry lab. They used a 3D printer in order to show others the size of a 3 month old’s heart, with the use of an incubator they were able to disinfect and prevent bacteria from forming on new-born cells.

While being at The Foundery I was able to see a blacksmith make a spear while using nothing but fire and a sledgehammer. I also saw a 3D printer that prints with the usage of lasers which to me was amazing.

When I first signed up for 3D printing I didn’t believe that I would be able to create a successful design. Everything to me seemed to be impossible. I struggled to work on the computer. The very first design I made was my name because I felt as though my design wasn’t worthy enough to be put out into the real world. I became frustrated with myself I wanted to give up because my peers’ designs looked better than mine. The outcome of my first design encouraged me to keep going and to move on to create bigger and better things that will later help people out in life.

Joining 3D printing has taught me to always achieve bigger and better things. It has also taught me to never give up on anything because the simplest mistake that I make could turn out to make my project much better. While being in 3D printing I’ve learned that starting something new is for a purpose and that purpose is to never give up or quit on yourself. I may not be able to complete things on my own but I shouldn’t be afraid of failure.

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By LaMarcus Corley
Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy

I signed up for 3D printing and I did not get accepted the first time. I was very upset. I then talked to my case manager and she found a way to enter me into the class. My first day of 3D-printing was cool I learned a lot that I never knew before using a 3D printer. After my first day I decided that this was something that I would like to do because I am a creative person that likes to use my mind.

Now that I have more experience in the class and I know all the commands by heart for example, extrude means you can extend in the Z direction or be set to taper or follow a path. You can extrude an open or closed object to create 3D surface or solid. In my class, I learned how to make a clock, keychain, bookmark, ring, and a puzzle. I also made a clock for the Commanding General Walker. I also know how to change the filament on a 3D printer, load the cartridge, and level the print pad with the 3D plate attached to it.

If I had a 3D printer, I would start a business. I would create a toy company to be exact. I would create toys, fidget toys, parts for cars, and parts for bikes. The reason I would create these objects is because I know people are less fortune than others and it would let me give back to the community. My company would also be non-profit. All the money would come from my saved earnings. I would also create items for my family, and friends to show my knowledge of 3D printing and for myself.

3D printing has changed my life in many ways. It has helped me control my anger. It has also helped me control my ADHD. When I come to class my whole mood changes, I become happy because I know that I’m in a good place.

Essay Is ‘Clear Winner’ in Scholarship Competition

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YouthQuest 3D ThinkLink esssay contest winner Aaliyah Lilly of South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy with quote: I am excited for the future"

Aaliyah Lilly, a South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduate, has earned a $500 scholarship for writing an outstanding essay about what she experienced in the YouthQuest Foundation’s 3D ThinkLink class.

“I often had troubles in school understanding key points, but since being a part of 3D printing, my way of thinking has gradually changed,” she wrote.

Cadet Aaliyah Lilly receives her essay contest scholarship from YouthQuest Secretary Bill Hall at SCYCA graduation June 10.
Cadet Aaliyah Lilly receives her award from YouthQuest Secretary Bill Hall at SCYCA graduation June 10.

Aaliyah, 17, is one of 25 Cadets at National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies who completed the 3D ThinkLink course during the latest class cycle. In the process of learning the basics of 3D design and printing, the students developed better critical thinking and problem solving skills.

3D ThinkLink training also provided a creative outlet, Aaliyah said, and introduced her to “the next generation’s technology.”

Aaliyah will receive her scholarship money when she enrolls in a higher education or trade school program. She’s interested in studying Media Communications and Hospitality Management and aspires to become a Public Affairs Specialist in the military.

But first, she wants to share what she’s learned with others at SCYCA.

South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy Cadets LaKrisopher McCoy, Aaliyah Lilly and Shiann O'Shea visit 3D Systems headquarters for Vocational Orientation in April.
SCYCA Cadets LaKrisopher McCoy, Aaliyah Lilly and Shiann O’Shea visit 3D Systems headquarters for Vocational Orientation.

“After graduating Youth ChalleNGe Academy I plan return as a peer mentor to encourage those who are in the position I was in,” she wrote.

The competition was judged by YouthQuest supporter John Gilstrap, the New York Times bestselling author whose new thriller Against All Enemies comes out in July. He declared Aaliyah’s essay to be the “clear winner.”

“While several were very well written, this one reached beyond the introspection of how the program changed their lives to embrace how the lessons learned can then be passed along to a new group of future students,” he said.

You can read Aaliyah’s essay at the bottom of this page. Here are excerpts from essays some of her fellow students entered in the contest.

“Back home, not too many people believed in me and I often heard what I could not or would not do, but this program has given me more power to prove them wrong. … Thanks to 3D it has made me a better artist and very creative, I would have never known I could be so passionate and it has been very empowering to develop such skills. I have put a lot of hard work into this program and I have really enjoyed being a part of 3D.” – Tyeshia Blackmond, 17, Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy, Washington, DC

“Since I joined the 3D printing class I have learned that everything does not come out right the first time. I have learned that it takes patience, hard work and dedication to have a successful print. For example the first item we made in 3D was a key chain. I believed it would take no longer than 20 to 30 minutes but it took up to 3 to 4 classes to completely finish because of all the shapes and lines needed. I wanted my project to be perfect so after every print I looked closely at the key chain. When the outcome was not right or did not look presentable to me I would have to fix it. This class also gave me motivation to stay in Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy as a Cadet. Learning 3D was hard but it is worth it.” – Ronnell Dillard, 17, CGYCA

“I knew that I was going to learn something new, but I was not sure what it would be about or how challenging it would be. Once I was in the program, my perception and outlook changed, dramatically. I recently saw a quote that said, “Don’t let your fear of breaking things keep you from trying new experiments. That’s how you learn about the real world.” Now that I’ve gotten an opportunity to practice using the program and learning from it, I see that it is a fun and addictive program that can and is being used in daily society… And if I break something, it’s OK. I’ll print it again.” – TreVaughn McBride, 17, Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, Maryland

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How 3D Printing Has Changed My Life

by Aaliyah M. Lilly, age 17
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

I believe that you must be willing to change your perspective to seek ultimate opportunities. Prior to coming into South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy I had no intentions of participating in any extracurricular activities, but I found interest in 3D Printing and Systems. 3D printing has been an outlet I’ve used to be creative while also gaining knowledge of the next generation’s technology. Since the start of the course I have learned not only the concept of 3D printing, but how to come with up an idea, design it, and turn it into reality. I often had troubles in school understanding key points, but since being a part of 3D printing, my way of thinking has gradually changed. I am very grateful to be able to express myself now through my work.

After graduating Youth ChalleNGe Academy I plan return as a peer mentor to encourage those who are in the position I was in. After that, I plan to attend AmeriCorps. However, my overall goal is to enlist into the military as a Public Affairs Specialist while majoring in Media Communications and Hospitality Management. I plan to take the skills I learned from 3D printing and utilize them in my personal life. I hope to design personalized 3D print items that will provide another stream of income as an entrepreneur.

One of my ultimate life goals is to be able to help my father financially by becoming self-sufficient. Growing up in a single parent household, my father has been the most influential person in life. I watched him struggle to raise me as a young female. I believe that everything I do is in honor of my father.

He instilled in me knowledge and gave me the guidance that I will need to be independent. I am excited for the future and thankful for what 3D printing has given me.

Scholarship-Winning 3D ThinkLink Student Essays

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These four students from the 2014 fall-winter class cycle earned $500 scholarships for these essays about their 3D ThinkLink experience.

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Unlocking the Wonders of My World
by Kamie Moody, Age 19
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

My name is Kamie Moody. I am a cadet of Freestate ChalleNGe Academy in Edgewood Maryland. I came to Freestate to take advantage of an opportunity to better my future. Although Freestate is a wonderful program, it can get extremely challenging at times and with the kind of person that I am I was desperate to find an outlet. 3D Printing became that outlet.

Since I was a little girl, I absolutely loved arts and crafts. Anything that allowed me to get my hands dirty and let out my inner creativity, I found alluring. I’ve been a tactile learner for as long as I can remember. I loved to put things together to challenge my mind to build things from scraps and make them into something complete. I was pleased to hear that my case manager recognized these abilities and recommended me for the 3D program. My experience in the program has been better than I could have ever imagined, at no time in my life have I ever thought of myself as capable of making the things that Mr.Meeks and Mrs.Mann have given me the opportunity to make. For that I am truly grateful.

3D Printing has given me a completely new confidence about the way I think when creating. I’ve learned that I don’t have to be the best artist, I just have to have the capacity to think outside of the box. Mr.Meeks has always said “The most important part of the process is to learn how to fail.” We as new participants always come up with elaborate designs and because we aren’t as skilled as a professional, it takes us a few tries before we get our desired outcome. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ve bitten off more than we could chew, it just means that we have to put in more work to get to our goal. The key is to keep trying.

As one of my favorite singers Aaliyah said in her song “Try Again”, “If at first you don’t succeed dust yourself off and try again.” I’ve had to dust myself off plenty of times before being able to sit back and admire my creation, but I never quit. The feeling I get when I’ve brought to life something that started off as a mere thought in my head is indescribable. My success in 3D has inspired me to continue my quest in life as a designer. I want to bring my vision to life not only for my enjoyment but for the enjoyment of others as well. I truly believe that I have found my gift and with it I plan to leave my mark. As Beyoncé said in her song “I Was Here”, “I want to leave my footprints on the sand of time, know there was something that meant something that I left behind, when I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets, I’ll leave something to remember, so they won’t forget.”

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On the Path to Success
by Caleb Dujmovic, Age 18
Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

This program has been nothing short of an amazing journey, from learning the foundations of creating a 3D object, to learning the many uses of 3d printing outside of the classroom. Along with learning how to print a 3D spaceship or plane, I’ve learned more about interests I never knew I would have. These include the creating of blood vessels, bones, nerves, and skin tissue to the other side of the spectrum that include the creation of weapons; using the simples tools and techniques our teachers have taught us inside of the classroom. Altogether this has done nothing but enlighten me to 3D printing and to what it can offer me.

When it comes to possible careers, this program has peaked my interest in Bio-Engineering, and it all started when we took our trip to the University of Maryland. My group and I were given the opportunity to visit a laboratory there, and witness first-hand the uses of 3D printing outside of the classroom. We were given a crash course in how the laboratory creates small bones and blood vessels for the human body along with the tests they have done up to this point with the blood vessels and bones they have manufactured. They told us the steps they take from the very beginning were: printing a 3D scaffold, using a protein-rich substance called media to duplicate the desired cell that would wrap around the scaffold, and allowing the cell to grow and envelope the scaffold to form either the bone or the blood vessels.  From this point the bone or the blood vessel can be implanted wherever it is needed. From everything I’ve learned from that amazing experience was my profound interest that I never knew I would have of the Bio-Engineering field.

All together the 3D printing program has done wonders for me, from showing me new career fields I may choose, to careers I have found because of this program. I can’t thank Mr. Meeks and Mrs. Mann, and the people that chose me for this program enough. I hope to use what I learned in this program in a future career, or even just for personal use.

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My 3D ThinkLink Life
by Michael Foster, Age 17
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

My name is Michael Dylan Foster. I am a 17 years old. I live in Florence SC. But I currently attend Youth Challenge Academy where I plan on obtaining my GED and many other opportunities that may be presented to me like the 3D ThinkLink Moment of Inspiration program.

What most people fail to realize is that 3D printing has had an impact in everyone’s daily lives, even if they believe it or not 3D printing is about to make an extraordinary change in the world. Before I truly discovered the amazing capabilities of 3D printing I was one of those people who heard of it but never thought it was anything worth taking interest in. I started the 3D ThinkLink Moment of Inspiration program with the same beliefs. The more and more I learned, the more and more I became fascinated with the idea that whatever you wish to create, you can. There are endless possibilities that derive from the exciting world of three dimensional objects.

3D printing and fashion combined in a harmonious relationship can be so useful and productive by actually printing out clothing and shoes. It can be unimaginably innovative in the medical field by working together to cause people to walk again by giving them a 3D printed exoskeleton. It also operates in synergy with the food service industry to make beautiful works of food. I am the future of 3D printing. I know it sounds a little dramatic but it’s true; it’s up to me and people like me to pick up the torch and carry this passion to the next creative minds. Every extraordinary person made mistakes and had to overcome obstacles in their paths, that’s what made them extraordinary. “To swear off making mistakes is very easy. All you have to do is swear off having ideas.” – Leo Burnett.

This experience has taught me so much and made me realize that we really have no limitations. Others have their reasons for taking this class but I believe that this is the place where I put my foot in the door to the future and I know for a fact that there will be many more amazing and unique opportunities for me to come. No matter how hard we try technology will keep moving forward and all we have to do is put in the effort and catch up with it.

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What 3D Printing Has Taught Me
by Sherquana Adams, Age 18
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy

My name is Sherquana Adams I’m from Santee, SC. I have a two year old son, and  I’m currently a Cadet at South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy.

3D printing is changing the world in many ways, but let me tell you how 3D printing has changed my life. The training in this class really opened my mind and eyes to a lot more than I thought I would know. I never knew you could do so many things by just using a computer. I now have a way to express myself by making the things that I have always wanted as a child, but couldn’t afford. I would not make them just for myself, but for people all over the world.

Recently, my class and I took an amazing trip to 3D Systems in Rock Hill, Sc. The trip really made me interested in 3-D printing. I saw so many different 3D printers. The Chef Jet really caught my eye because I love food! 3D printing is really taking over technology.

The child who received a 3D printed hand was very intriguing to me as well.

Anastasia was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, this condition leads to congenital abnormalities. In her case, her left arm ends in a tiny, partial palm and button-like buds of fingers. The doctors thought very hard about how to help her.  ‘’We thought we could finally get a prosthetic device that could allow Anastasia to use fingers to pick up and grab things.’’ I thought this was so amazing how 3-D printing design and built a hand to help her accomplish things more easily.

I think she now feels more confident in herself; she is even playing sports, and now is a cheerleader thanks to her 3D printed Robohand. I really enjoyed this class it affords me the opportunity to gain experience and continuing education in the medical field, which is my career goal. I would like to become a surgical technician.

Thank you for this opportunity.

 

Essay ‘From the Heart’ Earns Scholarship for 3D Printing Student

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YouthQuest President Lynda Mann presents a $500 scholarship to Requan Da Sant for his winning essay about his experience in the 3D ThinkLink class at Freestate ChalleNGe Academy.

Recent Freestate ChalleNGe Academy graduate Requan Da Sant is the winner of the first essay competition for students in the YouthQuest Foundation’s 3D ThinkLink Initiative classes.

He earned a $500 scholarship for writing about how the STEM education project for at-risk youth has affected his life.

Requan Da Sant shows a Morgan State University student how to design a 3D object.
Requan Da Sant shows a Morgan State University student how to design a 3D object.

“Being able to use computers for graphic arts and be recognized for it is a dream come true,” Requan said in his essay, The Impact of Creativity.

YouthQuest provides instruction in 3D design and printing at Freestate in Aberdeen, Md., as well as the District of Columbia’s Capital Guardian and South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academies, where high school dropouts get the opportunity to turn their lives around in residential programs run by the National Guard Youth Foundation. The 3D ThinkLink classes promote critical thinking and creativity while introducing students to the booming technology of additive manufacturing.

Requan’s essay focused on a visit in April to Morgan State University in Baltimore, where he and his classmates showed college students how to create 3D objects. He described it as a “life-altering event” that made him feel “empowered” and helped improve his leadership skills.

YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks watches as Freestate Cadet Requan Da Sant operates a 3D scanner at YouthQuest's booth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC, April 25, 2014.
Requan Da Sant operates a 3D scanner as part of  YouthQuest’s exhibit at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC.

Requan, 16, said the opportunity to teach college students also reassured him that he should continue his education.

Students in all three 3D ThinkLink classes were invited to write about their experiences. Members of the YouthQuest Foundation Board of Directors judged the entries.

“The reason he was selected by the Board was because he wrote from the heart,” YouthQuest President and Co-Founder Lynda Mann said at the Freestate awards ceremony June 10.

Requan plans to return to high school and earn his diploma, then join the Air Force Reserve and study graphic engineering in college. He will receive the scholarship money after he completes high school.

“I am a very creative individual with the readiness to work and achieve great possibilities,” he wrote.

We have no doubt Requan will do exactly that.

Here is his winning essay:

My 3D ThinkLink Experience: The Impact of Creativity

I truly appreciate being chosen for this potential scholarship. My name is Requan Da Sant and I attend Freestate Challenge Academy. I am 16 years old and I live in Edgewood, Maryland. I believe I should be chosen for this scholarship because I have demonstrated hard-work ethics, responsibility, and the willingness to learn and further my knowledge. I am a very creative individual with the readiness to work and achieve great possibilities. Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination”. While attending Freestate Challenge Academy I was given the opportunity to experience a training which involved a 3D ThinkLink course. This course consists of a program called Moment of Inspiration.  While using this program we are able to build objects and produce them on our 3D Printing Machine.

I had the honor to teach college students at Morgan State University on April 23, 2014. This was their first encounter with the program. The program was taught to the students in a step by step process. At the end of this process each student was able to build their own 3D key chain. As each student completed their key chain I felt empowered. They were very intrigued by the 3D software and what it detailed. The wise words of Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible, for the word itself say I’m possible” inspired me to continue on with 3D ThinkLink training and the outstanding growth it brought to my leadership goals.

Being given an opportunity to teach college students at such a prestigious school such as Morgan State University is a life-altering event. It gave me the reassurance that going to college is the best option for me. My fellow cadets and I were greeted with such gratitude and enthusiasm, it made my peers and I feel as though we were on top of the world.

To be offered a scholarship of this magnitude at this point in my life is a blessing. Being able to use computers for graphic arts and be recognized for it is a dream come true. Graphic arts is something that has always fascinated me. I plan to stay focused and further my career in the graphic engineering field.

I remember my mother always telling me, “You are so intelligent and if you use your mind for good, you can really go far in life”. I always think about her saying this in my mind and use it for motivation. If not for my mother I probably, never mind the probably, I would not be where I am right now. She has inspired me to obtain and achieve the unachievable. If I receive this scholarship, it would make my mother proud and it would also make me proud. It would be an honor and a blessing to receive this scholarship. Thank you very much for an opportunity such as you have given me.