Tag: John Gilstrap

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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Scholarship Contest Judge Praises Student Essays

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3D ThinkLink scholarship essay contest winner Sthephanie Alvarez-Vega with Freestate ChalleNGe Academy instructor Jamarr Dennis and YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks

Awarding scholarships is YouthQuest’s primary means of helping at-risk youth pursue job training or higher education after they complete our 3D ThinkLink class.

Twenty-two graduates of National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Programs have earned a total of $12,500 in scholarships since 2013 for essays they wrote about our training’s impact on their lives.

The latest winners are Sthephanie Alvarez-Vega from Maryland’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, Caleb Pearson from South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy and Chigaru Todd from the District of Columbia’s Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy. Each of them earned $1,000 to use for their continued education. All three were honored at ceremonies in mid-December at the end of their 22-week class cycle.

Author John Gilstrap, essay contest judge
Author and contest judge John Gilstrap

New York Times bestselling novelist John Gilstrap, author of the acclaimed Jonathan Grave thriller series, is the contest judge. He said he was pleased by the increase in the quality and quantity of the essays in this round of competition.

This was the first class cycle since John took part in an all-day meeting with the YouthQuest staff during the summer to discuss improving the results of the scholarship contest. It was part of the application process for the Drucker Prize, an award named for management expert Peter Drucker that recognizes innovation by nonprofit organizations. 

Using the Drucker Institute’s resources, we took steps aimed at generating more high-quality essays including; telling cadets about the scholarship opportunity earlier in the class cycle, doubling the prize amount from $500 to $1,000, and providing clearer guidance for students and teachers.    

John recorded some short videos to give students advice about writing their essays. He urged them not to turn in a laundry list of the cool things they made and saw.

“What I want to read about is how the 3D ThinkLink experience has affected your life,” he told them, “what it’s taught you about success and failure.”

‘My Path in Life Is Not Ultimately Decided by My Mistakes’

When Caleb Pearson first heard about 3D printing a few years ago, he assumed that it required “genius level skills in mathematics.” Caleb, who said he was never very good at math, was pleased to discover that he was able to create a 3D object after just three lessons in our class at South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy.

3D ThinkLInk scholarship winner Caleb Pearson from South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy with YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks at Immersion Lab Week November 2018
Caleb Pearson with YouthQuest Director of Instruction Tom Meeks in Lab

Caleb explained in his scholarship-winning essay that our training also taught him a larger lesson.

“The key phrase during the class: mistakes are not final, nothing is so bad that you can’t come back from it,” he wrote. “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,” added Caleb, who hopes those open doors will lead to a career in engineering. He said his Vocational Orientation visit to the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in October “really solidified my resolve to pursue that career path.”

In his essay – and in this video recorded during Immersion Lab Week in November – Caleb recalled meeting Nathan Lambert, a graduate research assistant who helped lead the tour at UNCC. Like Caleb, Nathan said he struggled with math in high school and, in fact, he barely graduated. But his determination to become an engineer after six years in the military drove him to eventually become a top grad student in his department.

That was something “I could really relate to but had never heard before,” Caleb wrote.        

Hearing Nathan’s story “lifted my spirits about my future in the engineering field,” he said.

‘I No Longer See Things With a Simple Mind’

Sthephanie Alvarez-Vega’s 3D ThinkLink experience didn’t start as well as Caleb’s did.

Eric Smith explains various types of welding to Cadet Stephanie Alvarez-Vega during the Vocational Orientation tour of The Foundery for our 3D ThinkLink students from Maryland's Freestate ChalleNGe Academy on October 9, 2018 in Baltimore.
Sthephanie Alvarez-Vega at The Foundery

“At first I wasn’t sure if I had made the right choice” by picking 3D instead of the welding program at Freestate, she wrote.

“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!” Sthephanie recalled.  

Her thinking turned around when the Freestate class visited The Foundery, an industrial makerspace in Baltimore, for Vocational Orientation.

While the cadets were looking at the many kinds of machines Foundery members can use, Sthephanie met Festus Jones III, a local craftsman who was working on laser-engraving projects. She asked him what he was doing, and he spent lots of time explaining how he creates elaborate designs and etches them into mirrors with a laser to make things like lighted signs for storefronts. He encouraged her to be confident in her artistic skills and learn the technical skills to create products she can sell.

“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,” said Sthephanie. She also talked about her “lightbulb moment” in this video from November Immersion Lab.

Looking back on her time in our class, Sthephanie said she appreciates how 3D printing lets her use her imagination and “think freely” 

“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,” Sthephanie wrote. “I no longer see things with a simple mind.”

3D ThinkLink scholarship winner Chigaru Todd with 3D printers at Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy
Chigaru Todd with 3D printers at CGYCA

“One of my ultimate life goals is to be able to help my father financially by becoming self-sufficient,” wrote Capital Guardian’s Chigaru Todd, who grew up without a mom. “I watched him struggle to raise me as a young female. I believe that everything I do is in honor of my father.”

Chigaru described being “intrigued” by Moment of Inspiration 3D design software and feeling “empowered” after completing the first project in class, a personalized keychain tag.

“I plan to take the skills I learned from 3D printing and utilize them in my personal life,” Chigaru continued. “I hope to design personalized 3D print items that will provide another stream of income as an entrepreneur.”

A New Dimension in Performance

The key to YouthQuest’s future success is providing the at-risk teens we serve with more opportunities for vocational and academic achievement.

We’ve made our scholarship competition a priority because that’s where we can have the biggest immediate impact in helping former high school dropouts become successful, productive adults.

The changes we’ve made in the contest grew out of the discussions we had in crafting our application for the Drucker Prize, which rewards nonprofits that best exemplify business management expert Peter Drucker’s definition of innovation: “Change that creates a new dimension of performance.”

In doing so, we had to draw on the same critical thinking and problem-solving skills we teach at-risk youth through the 3D ThinkLink Initiative. We believe our innovative ideas will create a new dimension of performance for our organization and our students.

We hope the outstanding essays we received during the latest class cycle are an indication that the changes we’ve made will significantly increase the number of students who compete for scholarships, and the quality of their entries, in 2019 and beyond.

Click Here to Read the Three Winning Essays

Golf Tournament Raises Funds for YouthQuest Foundation

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2018 YouthQuest Golf Tournament

Friends of YouthQuest turned out on August 6 for the 13th annual golf tournament to support our foundation’s work with at-risk youth.

Golfer at 2018 YouthQuest golf tournament Challenge at Trump NationalMore than 80 players enjoyed a day on Trump National Golf Club’s scenic Championship Course in Potomac Falls, Virginia, recently ranked by Golf Digest as one of the nation’s best new private courses. 

In addition to having many new players at this year’s tournament, we welcomed three first-time sponsors: Kipps DeSanto Investment Banking; the Popera, Overholt & Holland Group; and Old Dominion National Bank. We are also grateful to our generous returning sponsors: AOC Solutions; FEDAC Processing; CrossFit PR Star; the Harry & Zoe Poole Foundation; Insperity; Gombos-Leyton and Valley Forge Acquisition Corporation.

Retired Redskins star Larry Brown and the winning team from Kipps DeSanto at the 2018 YouthQuest Golf Tournament
Retired Redskins star Larry Brown and the winning team from Kipps DeSanto

The Challenge at Trump National is YouthQuest’s premier annual event to raise funds for programs such as our 3D ThinkLink Initiative, which uses 3D design and printing as a vehicle for teaching at-risk youth valuable job skills and thinking skills. The program has earned us recognition as a semifinalist in this year’s Drucker Prize competition, which rewards innovation by nonprofits, and as a nominee for the 2017 Greater Washington Innovation Awards in the Public Service category.

Since 2012, YouthQuest has also been the prize money sponsor for the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition. This year, we doubled our support for the contest, in which teens in Loudoun County, Virginia, identify problems in their community and implement projects to solve them.

Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition winners at 2-18 YouthQuest Golf Tournament reception
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition winning teams

At the post-tournament reception and awards ceremony, Loudoun Youth President and CEO Jared Melvin spoke about Step Up. Three first-place teams from recent years also were on hand to explain their projects to tournament guests. This year’s winners, Lina Alkarmi from Dominion High School and Shahlaley Nagra from Heritage High School, showcased their Princess Packages project, which lifts the spirits of young girls who are hospitalized. Students representing 2016 winner PASTA (Peers and Students Taking Action), explained how their group helps teens find opportunities to serve the community. And the young leaders of Charitable Act, the 2015 winner, promoted their nonprofit that provides summer theater camps for underprivileged children.

2018 Volunteer of the Year Tony Sanderson
Volunteer of the Year Tony Sanderson

Also at the reception, YouthQuest Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann announced that FEDAC Vice President Tony Sanderson has been chosen as our 2018 Volunteer of the Year. She also congratulated this year’s Strategic Partner Award winner, Maryland-based 3D printer maker M3D, and the Community Partner Award winner, Maryland’s Harford Community College.

Silver Sponsor Kipps DeSanto was this year’s winning team in the scramble-format tournament with a score of 59. Team members Kevin DeSanto, Scott Green, Rich Holland and Jonathan Moneymaker played with Larry Brown, the former Washington Redskins running back.

Golf Entertainer Brad Denton wields a 10-foot-long driver at the 2018 YouthQuest golf tournament
Golf Entertainer Brad Denton

Other VIP guest players were Redskins alumni Roy Jefferson, Carl Kammerer and Jerry Olsen, Air Force Col. Doug Hall, Loudoun Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Johnson, Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Miguel Quijano, and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputies Joe Heydens and Kenny Tucker.

Edna Davis, YouthQuest’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year, served as the coordinator for our tournament volunteers.

Golf Entertainer Brad Denton was back this year, after missing the last tournament due to injury, to start the event with his always-amazing trick shot demonstration.

Scorpion Strike author John Gilstrap signed books at the 2018 YouthQuest Golf Tournament reception
Scorpion Strike author John Gilstrap

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap, who volunteers his time and expertise to judge our essay contest in which 3D ThinkLink students compete for scholarships, was at the reception signing copies Scorpion Strike, the latest book in his Jonathan Grave thriller series.

We are also grateful to Jeff Mauritzen from inPhotograph.com for his tournament photography, Mercedes-Benz of Chantilly for providing the hole-in-one car, and Honor Brewing for serving cold beer to the thirsty golfers on a hot August day.

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Congratulations to Our 3D ThinkLink Scholarship Winners

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3D ThinkLink Scholarship Essay Contest Winners Asia Baker-Stevenson and LaMarcus Corley

The YouthQuest Foundation has awarded scholarships to two students who recently completed our 3D ThinkLink training.

Asia Baker-Stevenson from Maryland’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy and LaMarcus Corley from Washington DC’s Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy earned $500 each for the essays they wrote about the personal impact of their 3D ThinkLink experience.

YouthQuest provides instruction in 3D design and printing at the ChalleNGe academies to help Cadets develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, explore their creativity and gain self-confidence.

LaMarcus and Asia finished the 22-week residential phase of the ChalleNGe program in June and are now in the year-long post-residential phase, during which they work with an adult mentor to continue on the path to reach their potential as successful adults. The scholarship money is to be used for continued education or vocational training.

“Before I started 3D printing I was very insecure about myself. I thought I would never be good at anything,” Asia said in her essay, adding that she struggled with using the computer and design software at first. But she learned from her mistakes and persevered, making step-by-step improvements with each new project.

“I’ve learned that starting something new is for a purpose and that purpose is to never give up or quit on yourself,” she wrote. “I may not be able to complete things on my own, but I shouldn’t be afraid of failure.”

Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy Cadet LaMarcus Corley in YouthQuest's 3D ThinkLink Creativity Lab during Youth Mentor training in June, 2017
LaMarcus Corley in our lab for Youth Mentor training

Like Asia, LaMarcus discovered that 3D ThinkLink changed his way of thinking. He said it helped him control his anger and improve his concentration.

“When I come to class, my whole mood changes,” LaMarcus explained. “I become happy because I know that I’m in a good place.”

LaMarcus also said in his essay that if he had a 3D printer of his own, he would start a business to make things like toys and parts for bikes and cars.

“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,” he wrote.

Now LaMarcus has the opportunity to give back by being a Youth Mentor. In June, he and three other top Cadets from Freestate and Capital Guardian trained for a week in our 3D ThinkLink Creativity Lab. They received 3D printers, design software and laptops to use in sharing their skills with others in their community, serving as positive role models.

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap, best known for his Jonathan Grave thriller series, reads all the essays submitted and picks the winners in our semi-annual scholarship competition.

CLICK HERE the read the complete essays

Swingin’ in the Rain at the YouthQuest Golf Tournament

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Playing in the rain at YouthQuest Foundation charity golf tournament at Trump National 2017

Even though it rained for the first time in the event’s 12-year history, more than 100 players and volunteers turned out for our annual fundraiser on August 7.

YouthQuest Co-Founder Allen Cage putts at the foundation's 2017 charity golf tournament
YouthQuest Co-Founder Allen Cage putts

Washington Redskins alumni and first responders from Loudoun County, Virginia, were among the VIP guests who joined two dozen teams on the links at Trump National Golf Club’s Championship Course, which was the site of the Senior PGA Championship earlier this year.

“We were pleased to welcome three new sponsors this year; Insperity, Pure Storage and ePlus,” said YouthQuest Foundation Board Secretary and Tournament Committee Chairman Bill Hall.

Returning sponsors were AOC Solutions, 3Delta Systems, FEDAC Processing, Insurance Associates, the Poole Foundation, PNC, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Jones Lang LaSalle, Ritzert & Leyton PC, CrossFit PR Star, Experis Technology Group, AC Properties and Valley Forge Acquisition Corporation.

The tournament’s Silent Auction raised more money than ever and we collected an additional $2,500 through a new fundraising tool, the Giving Tree. The tree displayed at the post-tournament reception was decorated with tags that were 3D printed in our lab. Each tag gave donors an easy way to provide equipment, supplies and other resources for students in our 3D ThinkLink Initiative for at-risk youth.

Volunteer of the Year Tammy Haug (center) with volunteers Erica Stewart and Carol Schick from AOC at YouthQuest's 2017 charity golf tournament
Volunteer of the Year Tammy Haug (center) with volunteers Erica Stewart and Carol Schick from AOC Solutions

During the post-tournament reception, AOC Solutions National Sales Manager Tammy Haug was presented with YouthQuest’s Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to working the golf tournament every year, she helped with our 10th Anniversary Celebration and the workshops we ran to introduce kids to 3D printing at the National Society of Black Engineers Convention in Anaheim, California, in 2015.

Laura d’All, general manager of Copy General’s East Coast Production Center in Sterling, Virginia, also was on hand to accept YouthQuest’s 2017 Community Partner Award. Copy General prints the golf tournament program each year and has made many generous contributions to advance our programs that serve America’s at-risk youth.

Supporters also gathered at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Tysons Corner on August 3 for our annual VIP Reception, where we showcased our 3D ThinkLink Youth Mentor project. Guests watched a video about top graduates of our 3D design and printing classes at Maryland’s Freestate and DC’s Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academies who completed a week of training in our lab to share their skills and serve as positive role models in their communities.

IMADE3D owners Ladi Goc and his wife, Ivana Gocova, accept our 2017 Strategic Partner Award from YouthQuest Co-Founders Allen Cage and Lynda Mann at the foundation's annual VIP Reception on August 3.
IMADE3D owners Ladi Goc and his wife, Ivana Gocova, accept our Strategic Partner Award from YouthQuest Co-Founders Allen Cage and Lynda Mann

Also at the VIP Reception, we announced IMADE3D as the winner of our 2017 Strategic Partner Award. The company makes the JellyBox, a unique, easy-to-assemble 3D printer kit designed especially for education. YouthQuest and IMADE3D have worked together since 2015. Advanced 3D ThinkLink students in our lab were the first group to test-build JellyBoxes with the inventors, Ladi Goc and his son Filip Goc, observing the process. The feedback from the students helped IMADE3D perfect the design and refine the assembly instructions before putting the JellyBox on the market. Now we have several of them in our lab.

Tournament volunteers at YouthQuest's charity golf tournament, August 7, 2017
Tournament volunteers in the clubhouse

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap was at both receptions to sign copies of Final Target, the latest book in his Jonathan Grave thriller series. John supports the 3D ThinkLink Initiative by serving as the judge in our essay contests. Twice a year, we invite ChalleNGe Academy students to write about how being in our 3D class affected them personally. The winners receive $500 scholarships to pursue higher education or vocational training.

Missing from this year’s tournament was Golf Entertainer Brad Denton, who has been part of the event for several years. Brad was injured in a serious car crash the week before the tournament, but he’s on the road to recovery now. To show our appreciation for him, tournament participants made donations to buy a $750 Tech Pack (3D printer, software and laptop), which will be given to a Youth Mentor on Brad’s behalf.

We look forward to having Brad back in action at our next tournament, scheduled for August 6, 2018.

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3D ThinkLink Essay Contest Winners Earn Scholarships

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3D ThinkLink essay contest scholarship winners Brock Jasmann and Aunya’ Jones from Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

YouthQuest’s 3D ThinkLink class at Maryland’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy did more than teach Brock Jasmann and Aunya’ Jones about 3D design and printing.

“3D printing has helped guide me into making better decisions and gave me a new life skill along the way. It has really helped me understand my self-worth because now I know I can design my own future,” Aunya’, 17, wrote in her award-winning essay. “I now see the bigger picture to my life’s problems and I’m not afraid to face them.”

“I can make anything if I put my mind to it,” wrote Brock, 17, who described his 3D ThinkLink experience as “awe-inspiring.”

Both Cadets were awarded $500 scholarships for their essays during a ceremony at Freestate on December 9.

Aunya Jones and Brock Jasmann try blacksmithing during Vocational Orientation at The Foundery in Baltimore
Aunya’ and Brock try blacksmithing during a Vocational Orientation tour of  The Foundery in Baltimore

Our program “transformed my way of thinking,” said Aunya’, who plans to join the Navy and become a nurse.

“Before 3D printing I did not believe in myself, and I had accepted the opinion that I was not good enough,” she explained.

Like most of the at-risk youth we serve, Aunya doubted herself when she started our class this fall.

“Everything seemed so foreign to me. I could barely work the program on the computer,” she recalled.

When she printed her first 3D design and it came out nothing like she had intended, she admitted feeling frustrated and wanting to give up. Instead, she made up her mind to work harder so she could “make things that I could be proud to show off.”

Aunya’ started paying close attention to every instruction, asking questions and testing every new design skill she learned.

“One day my instructor Mrs. Metzger said that my design was the only successful one to print. It brought me so much joy because that meant that I was finally getting it,” she wrote. “Joining 3D printing has taught me to never give up.”

Brock’s essay highlighted the effect his class’s community service project had on his self-esteem.

The Freestate Cadets went to a library to demonstrate designing and 3d printing small, personalized objects such as ornaments and keychain tags. 

“It was an amazing experience to see how interested and impressed the kids and adults were at the library when we showed them how to make 3D prints,” wrote Brock.

“3D printing is important to me because now I can express myself in a form of art that I’m talented in. Also, I am more able to educate my community through my new learned skill in 3D printing,” added Brock, who wants to become a Marine.

Brock and Aunya’s essays were chosen from among 13 submitted by students from Freestate, DC’s Capital Guardian and South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academies. The semi-annual scholarship competition is judged by bestselling author John Gilstrap, whose novels include the Jonathan Grave thriller series.

CLICK HERE to read the complete essays

Scholarship Winners Want to Use 3D Printing to Help Others

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YouthQuest Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann presents scholarships to 3D ThinkLink essay contest winners Trevon Ahl and Alycia Freeman at South Carolina Youth ChalleNGE Academy

The YouthQuest Foundation has awarded scholarships to two South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduates for their essays about how 3D ThinkLink training affected them.

Trevon Ahl and Alycia Freeman, both 17, are among the 16 students who completed the latest cycle of the 3D design and printing course YouthQuest provides at the school for at-risk teens in Eastover, South Carolina.

YouthQuest Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann presented the $500 awards to the essay competition winners during SCYCA’s graduation ceremony on June 8.

Bestselling author John Gilstrap, whose latest novel in the Jonathan Grave thriller series is Friendly Fire, has judged the semi-annual contest since 2014.

“This year’s batch of essays featured two standouts for me, both because they focused not on what the writer got from their introduction to 3D printing, but rather on how they will put their knowledge to work for others,” he said.

3D ThinkLink students from SCYCA attend Vocational Orientation at 3D Systems in Rock Hill, South Carolina on April 21, 2016
SCYCA students at 3D Systems for Vocational Orientation

In his essay, Trevon described the excitement he felt the first time he used Moment of Inspiration design software to transform a flat shape into a 3D digital model that he could print.

He also recalled the Vocational Orientation trip his class took to 3D Systems headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he saw high-end printers that go far beyond the simple plastic-extrusion machines he learned to use in class. These professional 3D printers make objects from a variety of materials, including rubber, ceramics and metals.

“When I saw that, I was overall enthusiastic about this new wave of how to use machinery in everyday life that will help others in different ways,” Trevon wrote.

“If I had a 3D titanium printer for my personal use I would make bikes for all the children in my neighborhood,” he added “I’ve seen many kids in my community that walk everywhere and they would be grateful for a bike. I would even have them customize their own bicycle frame and then I`d print it out for them.”

Because he loves to fish, Trevon also said he wanted to 3D print a titanium fishing rod and “catch so many fish I would be able to share with the people in my community so we would all be able to enjoy a good fish fry.”

The $500 scholarship will help Trevon achieve his post-ChalleNGe goal of attending a technical college to earn a welding certificate. His fellow winner Alycia plans to study surgical technology at Savannah Technical College.

South Carolina Youth ChalleNGE Academy 3D ThinkLink students Hailey Key, Asia Grant and Alycia Freeman examine 3D printed objects during Vocational Orientation at 3D Systems in Rock Hill, South Carolina on April 21, 2016
Hailey Key, Asia Grant and Alycia Freeman examine 3D printed objects during Vocational Orientation

“Alycia’s story was quite touching,” John Gilstrap said.

Her dad was doing drugs and her parents divorced when she was 13. She moved five times and skipped school often, spending most days caring for her ailing grandmother instead of going to class.

“I then started to follow in my father’s footsteps,” Alycia wrote. “About a year later, I knew I had to be successful. I didn’t want to be a product of my environment.”

That’s when she decided to enroll in SCYCA. Being in the 3D ThinkLink class helped Alycia get re-engaged in education.

Like Trevon, Alycia said the visit to 3D Systems showed her how she can use the technology she learned about in class for the benefit of others. She was inspired to see the many ways 3D printing is used in health care.

“Being that I took care of my grandmother, I want to help others live a better life in every way possible,” she explained. “3D printing encouraged me to become a surgical nurse. … I’m now motivated and determined to go to school and get into the medical field and actually complete it!”

CLICK HERE to read the complete essays

Fun, Fundraising at YouthQuest Golf Tournament

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Golfers at YouthQuest's 10th Annual Challenge at Trump National Golf Club August 10, 2015

“One day of golf will make a difference for America’s at-risk youth all year long.” YouthQuest supporters just proved that’s more than a slogan for us.

Players, sponsors and volunteers turned out in force in August 10 for the 10th Annual Challenge at Trump National Golf Club.

YouthQuest Co-Founder & President Lynda Mann with Tournament Chairman Bill Hall
YouthQuest Co-Founder & President Lynda Mann with Tournament Chairman Bill Hall

“We couldn’t have had a better event to celebrate our 10th tournament,” said Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann. “The venue, the service, the food, the support of all our participants … We couldn’t have asked for more.”

“During these 10 years, we’ve built a base of sponsors and supporters that understand the importance of our mission to help high school dropouts turn their lives around,” she added.

This year’s tournament will help power the growth of our signature STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education project, the 3D ThinkLink Initiative. Our lessons in 3D design and printing help at-risk kids develop sorely needed critical thinking and problem solving skills. Some of the proceeds from the event will go toward improving our 3D lab. We’re also upgrading our website to make the 3D ThinkLink curriculum available for purchase online.

In addition to the funds raised through tournament sponsorships, our silent auction and raffle were the most successful ever, bringing in more than twice as much as last year.

Twenty-five teams of golfers got the rare opportunity to experience the newly remodeled Championship Course at Trump National Golf Club, Washington, DC, where the Senior PGA Championship will be held in 2017.

The CrossFit PR Star team on the final hole at Trump National
The CrossFit PR Star team on the 18th hole

Many of the faces were familiar, but we were pleased to welcome plenty of new players. This year’s field included more women than ever before. And, as always, we had the help of our generous volunteers, many of them from AOC Solutions.

“People tell us they keep coming back because this is the best charity golf tournament they attend all year,” explained Lynda, citing the high quality of the venue and the services provided.

Tournament Committee Chairman Bill Hall praised Trump National Director of Golf Kevin Morris, event planner Mary Hudgins and event coordinator Vicky Kurasz, along with the caddies and the rest of the staff. Last-minute changes are inevitable for an event as large as this one. The Trump National team took it all in stride and delivered an outstanding experience for everyone.

Former MLB pitcher Pete Schourek is pretty handy with a golf club, too.
Former MLB pitcher Pete Schourek knows his way around the links, too.

The early morning drizzle ended just in time for Golf Entertainer Brad Denton get things started with an amazing trick shot demonstration. The weather remained mild – mercifully unlike a typical mid-August Monday in Washington – allowing the players to enjoy a pleasant day on the course.

Most foursomes were matched with a celebrity player. Our VIP guests included speaker and Emmy-winning broadcaster Jan Fox, Major League Baseball alumni Shawn Camp and Pete Schourek, Washington Redskins alumni coordinator Jerry Olsen and former players Mike Bragg, Brian Carpenter, Ricky Ervins, Pat Fischer, Ken Jenkins, Carl Kammerer, Ron McDole, Kirk Mee and Ted Vactor.

Author John Gilstrap at YouthQuest's 2015 Challenge at Trump National tournament reception
Author John Gilstrap signed his new book at the tournament reception

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap was with us again this year, signing copies of his new thriller Against All Enemies during the post-tournament reception. Our summer intern, Bria Toussaint, spoke at the reception about her own nonprofit, GRL-PWR, and Loudoun Youth, two organizations with close ties to YouthQuest.

The 10th Annual Challenge at Trump National was a success because of the generosity of our sponsors, silent auction donors, players and volunteers. Special thanks go out to tournament photographer Jeff Mauritzen, Copy General for printing the programs and Staybridge Suites in Chantilly for providing Brad Denton’s lodging.

We also are grateful to Michael Garcia and his staff at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in McLean, Va., for hosting our VIP Reception on August 6, at which we recognized Founders Award winner Scott MacDonald, Volunteer of the Year Edna Davis, Community Partner Derrick Campana of Animal Orthocare and 3D ThinkLink Strategic Partner Joe Travez of Prototype Productions, Inc. Learn more about our award winners here.

Make a note now to join us at the 11th Annual Challenge at Trump National on Monday, August 8, 2016.

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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.

YouthQuest Golf Tournament Raises Funds to Help At-Risk Youth

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Waterfall and clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club, Washington, DC

It was a day of fun and fundraising as about 150 golfers, sponsors and volunteers took part in the Challenge at Trump National Aug. 11.

Tournament Committee Chairman Bill Hall hailed the ninth annual event as “another resounding success.”

Golf Entertainer Brad Denton demonstrates putting techniques at the 2014 Challenge at Trump National
Golf Entertainer Brad Denton shows players how to improve their short game

The tournament generated enough money to ensure that we will achieve our goal of opening a 3D printing lab at our headquarters in Chantilly, Va., by the end of this year, according to YouthQuest Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann. This is an important step in the growth of our 3D ThinkLink Initiative, which helps at-risk teens strengthen their creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

After Golf Entertainer Brad Denton’s demonstration of putting techniques the pros use, the players headed out onto the Championship Course at Trump National Golf Club, Washington, DC. Thanks to General Manager Det Williams, Director of Golf Kevin Morris, event planner Vicky Kurasz and the rest of the excellent Trump National staff, everything ran smoothly on and off the course.

The VIP guests assigned to each team included retired Major League Soccer goalkeeper Mike Ammann, pitchers Pete Schourek and Shawn Camp from Major League Baseball, active and retired members of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brett Kayes and the always-supportive Washington Redskins alumni.

YouthQuest Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann presents Chris Eaton's Volunteer of the Year Award to his mother, Betty Eaton
Betty Eaton with Lynda Mann

The day wrapped up with an award ceremony and reception, where Chris Eaton was remembered with a posthumous Volunteer of the Year Award. Chris, who had served as a volunteer at the tournament every year since 2008, suffered a fatal heart attack while competing in a triathlon a week after last year’s Challenge at Trump National. His mother, Betty Eaton, accepted a plaque honoring him during our VIP Reception on Aug. 7.

Joey Darley of Joey’s Smiles Photography and Scene2bSeen received the 2014 Community Partner Award in recognition of his longstanding support for YouthQuest’s mission.

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap joined us at both receptions to sign copies of his new thriller, End Game. As part of the live auction at our 2012 wine event, John offered to put the highest bidder in the book.  Ryan and Tre Cage won the bidding and asked John to give the character their mother’s name. So while we know Jolaine Cage as a key YouthQuest volunteer, she’s a highly trained security specialist on the run in End Game.

3D ThinkLink Lab student Daikwon Jones explains his solar robot to Joy Gilstrap at YouthQuest's VIP Reception Aug. 7, 2014
Daikwon Jones explains his solar-powered robot to Joy Gilstrap at the VIP Reception

We’re grateful to Michael Garcia and his staff at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in McLean, Va., for hosting the VIP Reception again this year. It was a great opportunity for our supporters to meet some of the young people they’re helping through their contributions to YouthQuest.

Five students who were participating in a week of 3D ThinkLink Lab immersion training showed off their creations and told our guests about how they’ve benefited from being involved in our project.

Several new sponsors joined us this year, including Wells Fargo Private Bank, which sponsored Brad Denton’s appearance.

This tournament wouldn’t be possible without the work of our volunteers, led this year by John Bloom. We deeply appreciate the time and effort everyone devoted to making the event a success.

Because of the generosity of our supporters, YouthQuest is doing more than ever to provide academic and vocational development, infrastructure and life-enriching experiences for America’s at-risk youth.

Our next tournament will take place on Monday, August 10, 2015. Sponsors are already signing up and we’re working on plans to make the 10th annual Challenge at Trump National the best one yet.

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