To find a solution, the president’s staff approached the about 3D printing a less weighty reproduction of the necklace.

Luis Gustavo Rodriguez, a student ambassador for admissions and outreach with the , took on the challenge, creating a visually nearly indistinguishable reproduction of the iconic piece. The 80-hour project involved multiple steps, from modeling to 3D printing, sanding, painting and assembling the necklace.

“I had to use different techniques and approaches to ensure that the project was successful,” Rodriguez said. “All of it had its different challenges. Every part had different skills added into it.”

First, Rodriguez created 3D models of each piece of the necklace: the Minerva medallion, the plates for each of the 12 schools and colleges and the chain links. Using the 3D printers in the STEM+Hub, he printed each piece of the necklace in resin, layer by layer. He then sanded, painted and coated them in polyurethane for durability.

“The real trick was getting the artistic skills down in painting the pieces to recreate the medallion coloring,” Rodriguez said. “I applied primer, leaf gold, shading and airbrush shadowing. It’s been quite a while since I’ve used an airbrush.”

The fleur-de-lis pieces posed particular modeling challenges due to their dimensional detail, so for these, Sophie Wegenast, an intern in the added her expertise.

The assembled reproduction medallion necklace weighs 12 ounces, less than 40% of the two-pound original.

“I found the project to be a great learning experience that heightened my engineering skills. It was a fascinating experience that required a lot of patience and attention to detail,” Rodriguez said.

The highlight for Rodriguez was seeing President Schatzel’s smile when he presented the necklace to her.

“This is an amazing reproduction! I am truly grateful to Luis and the creative, innovative student engineers for their incredible work on this project,” Schatzel said. “It will be worn for years to come.”

Rodriguez received his bachelor’s degree on May 11, with a major in bioengineering. Next, he plans to earn an MBA. After that, he hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

The skills needed by nearly all manufacturers soon will be shaped to some degree by the rapidly accelerating robotics and machine learning revolution, including automation, robotics, additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence. RAMPS will allow UofL’s Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) and other centers to purchase additional advanced equipment, such as a robotic quadruped, and introduce future workers to these devices.

“We want to make this technology accessible for people or students who don’t necessarily have the advanced technical skills, but they are enthusiastic,” said Dan Popa, director of LARRI and lead for the RAMPS project. “They want to learn about robotics, AI and additive manufacturing, how they are used in industry and what kind of skills you need to operate this type of equipment.”

Made possible by funding secured by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth from the U.S. Department of ����ֱ��, RAMPS aims to address workforce needs in the advanced manufacturing industry sector and enhance employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. It will allow LARRI, the Additive Manufacturing Institute of Science and Technology (AMIST) and Micro/Nano Technology Center (MNTC), all based in the at UofL, to obtain additional equipment and pilot programs to increase awareness and access to training in robotic and additive manufacturing technology over the next year.

“I’m so proud to have secured $750,000 in federal funding for UofL’s RAMPS program, which will help students excel in the industries of tomorrow,” Yarmuth said. “Manufacturing is a key sector of our local and state economy, and robotics and automation will have a tremendous impact on how businesses and industries operate moving forward. UofL is a national leader in innovative training programs, and through its RAMPS program, students will have access to the state-of-the-art equipment and training that will best position them to succeed in our rapidly changing workforce.”

“The RAMPS program not only will help fulfill today’s workforce needs of our commonwealth, it also will enhance the University of Louisville’s work in advanced research and education in robotics and additive manufacturing,” said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “We are extremely grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for his support in helping us obtain this funding.”

Using existing and new equipment and leveraging the knowledge and skills present in the UofL facilities, RAMPS leaders will introduce K-12 students, high school graduates and university students to robotics and additive manufacturing and help train them to use these advanced technologies in the workplace.

“The goal of this program is to help future technicians and engineers prepare for employment in additive manufacturing fields that are both high-paying and growing in need. Whether it is a mid-career person looking to transition professions, a currently enrolled college student or someone with no post-high school education, we will be delivering workforce training tailored to an individual’s starting education and skills level,” said Thomas Berfield, co-director of AMIST.

Berfield anticipates that AMIST will add equipment used in the aerospace, automotive, dental and biomedical industries, among others.

Workers at Kentucky’s multiple manufacturing facilities are expected to be disproportionately affected by the shift toward automation, making programs like RAMPS essential to advance employment opportunities in the commonwealth.

“While it is true that automation is expected to displace workers in manufacturing, the adoption of robot technology actually predicts wage growth as those positions are replaced with higher skilled workers in high-tech positions needed to interface with the robots,” Popa said.

RAMPS leaders expect around 200 students will be exposed to these technologies in the first year as part of pilot projects, followed by more robust and formalized workforce training programs and curricula to be developed in future years.

In addition to training workers, RAMPS will elevate UofL’s programs at LARRI, AMIST and MNTC by further improving the high-quality learning environment within these centers, attracting highly qualified faculty and talented students and increasing opportunities for additional funding.

Since the opening of LARRI’s dedicated robotics lab on the UofL campus in October, it has hosted more than 400 K-12 and college students, industry professionals and researchers to learn about existing and potential uses of robots, drones and other technology.

“The research we do here at UofL has real impact in engineering a future technology-driven economy in Kentucky and beyond,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “We are grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for securing this funding to expand that impact and support our work to build the next generation of robotics technologies and professionals.”

Six-year old Harleigh was 1.4 pounds when born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and has faced multiple obstacles, including numerous brain surgeries. Her family, from Carter County, Kentucky, stays at RMHCK when Harleigh has doctor and physical therapist appointments or surgeries.

Harleigh’s grandmother, Jatonda Ousley, mentioned to He that she had outgrown the leg braces she needed to continue making development progress in movement and motor skills. With current supply chain issues, the braces were on a waitlist status and not expected until September, as well as being prohibitively expensive for the family. He said that after meeting the family, he realized “little Harleigh deserved everything in the world.”

He researched if he could custom-fit and use 3D printing to manufacture the braces Harleigh needed, but soon realized it might be beyond his expertise. He turned to engineering friends at Speed School of Engineering, who recommended emailing Ed Tackett, director of Advanced Manufacturing Institute of Science and Technology () for assistance. “He’s been very enthusiastic about this project,” said He. “It could not have been done without his support and guidance.”

Monday, April 25, 2022, was the special “fitting day” for Harleigh and her family who drove three hours to RMHCK for the occasion. The boot-style brace is appropriately adorned with cartoon characters from the movie “Trolls,” Harleigh’s favorite. Ousley, Harleigh’s primary caretaker, was grateful for the thoughtfulness exhibited by the students. “I greatly appreciate UofL and Caleb for doing it, and Peyton for making the braces,” she said. “We love it and can’t thank you enough.”

Tackett then assigned the project to Chemical Engineering Junior Peyton Deaton, who is currently doing his first co-op rotation at AMIST, and asked if he would figure out how to make it work. Deaton relished the challenge, and used a 3D scan of Harleigh’s leg that He sent to work on a prototype, and after trying three different prototypes, Deaton fashioned the shape that worked.

Ousley explained what the braces will allow for Harleigh, who suffered some setbacks after her latest brain surgery.

“These help her get stronger in the legs, and with the right equipment it will help her to start standing up again, and get back to where she was,” said Ousley. “When Harleigh was being fitted for braces before, she had to be sedated. This is going to help tremendously. You’ve really made a difference.”

Having the shareable and inexpensive technology to make these braces could potentially help thousands of kids with similar issues.

Six-year old Harleigh is shown wearing with her 3D printed leg brace.

“For families with really good medical insurance, this might not be an issue, but what do we do to help disadvantaged families?” said AMIST Director Ed Tackett. “We can use this technology to provide positive patient outcomes and train students to do this,” he said.

“This was an opportunity where I saw something, connected with people with great expertise and talent and we got something done, and I’m so proud of that,” added He.

As for Harleigh, she’s just happy to have new “Troll shoes.”

The grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), will launch the Kentucky MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center, one of only four such programs nationwide.

“There’s huge economic potential in additive manufacturing,” said Sundar Atre, endowed chair of manufacturing and materials at UofL and a lead on the new grant. “I see the pathway to a multibillion-dollar economy built around this in Louisville — it’s not unrealistic. With this new program, we will work to make that ecosystem open to everyone.”

The new center will build on the work of Atre and his team at UofL’s , housed in the . AMIST will use its faculty, staff and 10,000 square feet of dedicated facilities to provide minority-owned manufacturing businesses with product design, technology support, talent pipeline and business development assistance in additive manufacturing.

AMIST has put a strong focus on helping manufacturers adopt these disruptive technologies. The institute already supports training for minority-owned businesses in West Louisville and recently launched a new program to provide small- and medium-sized manufacturers with training, mentorship and UofL-backed research, development and consulting.

“We know Kentucky’s manufacturing industry has a rich and proud history,” said Will Metcalf, associate vice president for research development and strategic partnerships in UofL’s Office of Research and Innovation, who leads the grant with Atre. “This is a chance to leverage UofL’s research strengths to empower manufacturers within our community to use this technology and engineer a future economy that’s built around disruptive, inclusive innovation.”��

The will provide technical and business development assistance to build capacity of minority-owned companies, expand manufacturing ecosystems and facilitate contracts and financing. Miguel��Estién, acting national director��of the MBDA, said efforts to improve equity for minority-owned businesses could add close to $5 trillion per year to U.S. economic output.

“Supporting and promoting this community is a good investment,” he said. “Money spent in the minority business community stays in the community. It is good for the U.S. economy, and it enhances our credibility as a nation because it should be our aspiration to make the economy work for everybody.”��

UofL also recently received a $50,000 pilot grant to fund work to expand access to additive manufacturing technology for minority-owned, innovation-focused startups in Louisville. That grant, from the U.S. Small Business Development Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to support STEM entrepreneurs, is led by UofL Assistant Professor Kunal Kate, who also will help lead the Kentucky MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman said the new center builds on the state’s demonstrated success in manufacturing.

“Through this effort, UofL’s AMIST is opening doors to manufacturing to all our citizens by being��one of only four such programs nationwide recognized by the Minority Business Development Agency for its innovative work,” Coleman said. “We need to be more inclusive in manufacturing and expand opportunities for women and minorities. I applaud AMIST’s efforts in creating an inclusive, innovation ecosystem around new economic opportunities for all Kentuckians.”

Companies can learn more and get involved by visiting the Kentucky MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center .

The program, called Accelerated Innovative Manufacturing with 3D Printing, or AIM-3DP, will provide small and medium manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace sectors with training, mentorship and UofL-backed research, development and consulting. The work is backed by a new $90,000 grant, one of only three of its kind in the country, from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

“The goal is to help these companies take advantage of cutting-edge, future-focused technologies,” said principal investigator Kunal Kate, assistant professor in UofL’s . “My hope is that we can build on the research and innovation we’re doing in advanced manufacturing at UofL and use it to help companies throughout Kentucky.”

AIM-3DP will partner manufacturers with UofL researchers and students, who will work side-by-side to identify better, more efficient ways to manufacture, develop new product lines and grow. The projects can be any size, though AIM-3DP will select two larger projects for more in-depth work and will split costs with the company.

AKA will provide AIM-3DP companies with coaching and training on business development, continuous improvement and leadership. Companies also will receive grant writing training in hopes that projects may lead to Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer applications to fund technology development and innovation.

Companies can apply to be part of the program .

“Our mission at AKA is to assist Kentucky manufacturers and distributors by boosting productivity and growth opportunities so they can retain and create additional jobs, be more globally competitive and produce new revenue streams,” said Scott Broughton, AKA’s center director. “AIM-3DP can help us fulfill that mission, and I’m excited to work with UofL to make that happen.”

The grant to AIM-3DP is funded by a research grant APLU received from the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, a physical sciences laboratory and non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The initiative explores how public universities can develop and scale partnerships with Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers to increase the capacity of small and medium-sized manufacturers to adopt technologies key for their success.

“We know technology adoption is critical for the success and long-term sustainability of small and medium-sized manufacturers,” said Sheila Martin, vice president for economic and community engagement at APLU. “Yet barriers to uptake of new technologies still force too many manufacturers out of business. We’re excited these public universities, MEP Centers, and private sector partners are stepping up to find new models for increased success.”

The AIM-3DP program builds on both partners’ strengths. At UofL, companies will have access to a robust infrastructure for additive manufacturing and materials innovation, including the UofL , known as AMIST, and its well-equipped center for rapid manufacturing.

“Kentucky has a rich manufacturing history to be proud of,” said Will Metcalf, associate vice president for research development and partnerships in UofL’s Office of Research and Innovation. “Through this work with AKA, we will help Kentucky manufactures innovate, adopt cutting edge technologies, and stay competitive.”

Other partnerships receiving AIM-3DP grants are Northern Illinois University/Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center and Ohio University/Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership Southeast.

The production facility, operated by AdhviQ Technologies LLC, opened in late November on the UofL Belknap campus. It now churns out about 50 of the N95-style masks, plus about 100 three-ply non-surgical masks per minute, as well as filters for cloth masks and has made them commercially available. The company plans to ramp up production amid rising coronavirus case numbers.

Mahendra Sunkara��said he and other UofL researchers invented the masks to address , or PPE.�� While commonly worn disposable masks are meant , the UofL N95-style masks are unique in that their nanowire-woven fabric can be washed and reused multiple times — all while still filtering down to 0.1 microns.

“Being able to reuse masks and filters effectively can help people protect themselves in everyday settings like grocery stores,” said Sunkara, a UofL chemical engineering professor. “But they could especially help health care workers, who may not have access to as many disposable masks as they need to do their jobs safely. With these masks, they could wash and wear the same one over and over again without losing effectiveness.”

The technology was created by researchers at UofL’s , where Sunkara is director, and the UofL . Early in the pandemic, they pivoted from their previous studies in areas such as solar power and robotics to develop tools that could help people stay safe.

The researchers ��Advanced Energy Materials (ADEM), a UofL-offshoot company founded by Sunkara that produces nanowire for catalysts, to develop and patent the technology. A new company,��AdhviQ, licensed that technology and now manufactures and sells the finished products made using materials from ADEM.

Both ADEM and AdhviQ were created at UofL, are based on UofL research and also are physically located on UofL’s Belknap campus.

“This is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when UofL research meets industry capability,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “In this time of crisis, UofL researchers have risen to the challenge of keeping people safe in every aspect. This is yet another example of them doing the hard work to combat this virus and truly advance our health.”

The masks are made using inorganic nanowires woven into special polymer cloth, forming a porous network whose openings are too small for viral particles to pass through. Because the nanowire is made of titania and zinc oxide, the masks also can easily be disinfected using low-energy ultraviolet light as an alternative to disinfecting with soap and water.

The nanowire masks differ from current N95 masks, which rely on an electrostatic charge on polymer fiber cloth to capture and filter out particles like dust, mold and pollen. The electrostatic masks may not work to filter out liquid droplets or viral pathogens, while the UofL masks can.

“In working together, we have been able to create a truly great product, built on UofL research, that’s reusable, cost-effective and filters better than commonly available disposable masks,” said Siva Kakarala, founder and CEO of AdhviQ. “Our overall goal is to give people the tools that can help them stay safe and healthy.”

The masks are available for order on the , and the company expects to receive FDA certification soon.

“This effort adds to the list of our response during the pandemic, including 3-D printed face shields, respirators and ventilators being manufactured through the expertise of our institute.��We hope our work will provide the necessary tools for Kentucky, as well as our local health care facilities,” said Ed Tackett, director of workforce development at AMIST, which is part of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

The School of Dentistry operates a 3-D print lab used in prosthodontic fabrication of dental implants, crowns and even jaw bones.

Gerald “Jerry” T. Grant, DMD, MS, is interim assistant dean of Advanced Technologies and Innovation at the School of Dentistry, and associate director at AMIST. He collaborated with business partners Envisiontech on a resin to meet the material requirements for the swab, and NewPro3D to help develop a faster printing time. Grant’s goal is to print 385 swabs in less than an hour, and then to make the manufacturing processes available to companies within the state for large-scale production.

Grant brings a wealth of knowledge from his military experience where he developed the 3-D Medical Applications Center at Walter Reed National Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, providing support to medical and dental commands in digital design and 3-D printing in patient custom reconstruction and devices.��

He compares the urgent need for items like face shields and swabs to the issues he faced in the military.

“The number of injuries could not be addressed with the conventional methods of fabrication and we had to develop a digital solution to design, and eventually a direct printing solution to fabricate.

“3-D printing can provide an unique opportunity to address urgent needs – this is the reason I came to UofL to work with teams of engineers, physicians, dentists, artists and others to address situations much like we have now,” Grant said.

Grant said students and prosthodontic residents have been significant contributors to the project’s success.

Justin Gillham, J.B. Speed School of Engineering undergraduate mechanical engineering student and member of the AMIST co-op, worked closely with Tackett and Grant on the design.

“Once I had a design complete, I sent it to Ed Tackett and Dr. Grant to print.��With their feedback, I could change my design within minutes and have a new swab ready to be tested.��In just a few days, we went through many designs that we could then test and change almost immediately,” Gillham said.

George Pantalos, PhD, professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, sterilized and tested the swabs at the UofL Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, ensuring they could absorb enough solution material to be viable.

Bioengineering students Sienna Shacklette and Clara Jones are working under the direction of Pantalos to assemble COVID-19 test kits. Just last week they compiled more than 700 kits which included biohazard specimen bags, labels, sample vials filled with viral transport media, and commercially available swabs that are in short supply. The kits were immediately sent throughout Kentucky to test individuals for COVID-19.

Shacklette and Jones also have prepared test kits with 3-D printed swabs that will be used in a validation clinical trial to be conducted in collaboration with Forest Arnold, DO, MSc, associate professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, and UofL Health – UofL Hospital epidemiologist.��

“Although we are limited by the number of swabs available, we are not limited by the enthusiastic effort of our students,” Pantalos said.

Grant said he is amazed at the responsiveness of everyone involved in the project.

“We have been able to move a project in just over a week to possible patient trials, something that would normally have been a much longer process.��The development of this swab will benefit the people of Kentucky as the supply access to commercial swabs remains inadequate, and a solution to allow for more timely testing becomes imperative,” he said.����

Clinical trials of the 3-D printed swabs are expected to begin by the end of this week. With favorable results, it is anticipated they will be ready for use widely as early as the beginning of May.

One week before the JCPS schools shut down due to coronavirus concerns, the teacher had been at AM Watch, a National Science Foundation–supported workshop at UofL’s Additive Manufacturing Institute of Science and Technology (AMIST). There, Travis was learning the latest trends in using 3-D printing for classroom use. As part of the program, 25 teachers were given a 3-D printer for their classrooms.

Now, Travis is filling a small but vital role, along with other teachers, by putting her printer to work, making components for face shields, part of PPE (personal protective equipment) for front line nurses and health professionals.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the demand for PPE for healthcare workers to skyrocket – a demand supply chains cannot keep up with. UofL engineer and Navy vet Ed Tackett coordinated a response at the AMIST facility at UofL Speed School of Engineering to fill this gap. Speed School student volunteers trained on 3-D printing equipment are volunteering their time, with the AMIST facility production team printing face shields as quickly as possible.��

By April 3, Tackett had orders for 27,000 face shields.

Emily Villescas, who has been spearheading the community engagement effort at AMIST, said when they contacted the teachers who attended the recent workshop to help with printing the PPE for local hospitals, the response was immediate.

“Within hours, I was getting emails from teachers all over wanting to help,” said Villescas. “It was pretty amazing. We sent them files on how to print the face shield frames approved by the state and the CDC, and are coordinating with them to deliver the parts to local drop-off sites. It really shows you their dedication to helping people, both in and out of the classroom. We would not have this kind of movement with this project without the teachers, so we are all so grateful for their support.”

With 25-to-30 teachers already on board, and the word spreading every day, Tackett said the efforts are making a significant impact.

“Every shield they make, that means another healthcare worker is protected in state of Kentucky,” said Tackett. “If you do the math, each printer can print two shields every two hours, and with 25 printers, if they run for six hours, that is 300 face shields a day just from JCPS.”

Travis, who teaches computer technology to all 600 K-5^th��grade students at Lowe Elementary, said her principal, Mr. Allain, was immediately on board with Travis taking her printer home to help with the effort. So far, Travis has printed 17 headbands (or face shield frames) and delivered them to a community drop-off site.

The teacher said she feels an obligation to continue printing the shields until there is no more need, even if she has to buy supplies herself.

“It feels good knowing those pieces I dropped off last week went directly to help fill an order for UofL Hospital. I feel like I’m doing my part to be part of the solution not the problem,” she said.

For the students Travis teaches, she said there will be a real lesson when they return to the classroom, and beyond.

“It’s because of my school administrator letting me go to the AMIST workshop that we are helping with a local solution to this massive worldwide problem,” she said. “The kids might not realize the impact today, but when they’re old enough they’ll be like, ‘Wow we were a part of that.’”

Fourth–grade teacher Heather Kemp said that after she attended the workshop, she was printing 3-D crayfish with her students at Middletown Elementary. Kemp, who teaches all subjects but focuses on math and science, wanted to incorporate STEM learning. But that can wait, because now it is all about printing face shields.

Kemp said she is heartened to observe that “as the virus is growing exponentially, so is the growth of helping hands to combat it. If you look at two teachers, then 35 teachers into one small community, then the designs for the shields being shared and spread to other states, it’s growing every day.”

When the day comes that students return to the classroom, Kemp said there will many lessons to learn.

“When you think about Muhammad Ali’s maxims about giving back, or the Mayor’s Give Back Day, next year, my kiddos will have a great example of how the community gives back. This coronavirus is affecting some of them personally, who have moms and dads who are doctors and nurses. They will have lived through this and it will make that day even more meaningful,” she said.

Local drop-off sites include:

• Norton Commons at 9418 Norton Commons Blvd. Prospect, KY 40059
• CORE Combat Sports at 13124 Eastpoint Park Blvd, Louisville, KY 40223.

Both of these have labelled boxes in the front dedicated to drop offs, which will be picked up on Friday nights. No face-to-face contact.

• The AMIST Facility on Belknap campus is taking local drop offs at one of the loading docks that will be labelled
• ALL deliveries can be sent to this address as well: 1940 Arthur Street Louisville, KY 40208.

Holly Hinson of the Speed School marketing team contributed to this report.

COVID-19 has caused a sea change in day-to-day life. Work, school, recreation, retail, medical care, everything has been altered.

Many have expressed a sense of frustration or helplessness because they feel there is nothing they can actively do to help – this virus is unprecedented. But for Speed School engineers at the University of Louisville, creating innovative solutions for the most complex problems – and taking action – is what they do best.

The����(AMIST) facility at Speed School of Engineering has risen to this challenge by contributing something vital to the pandemic: protective face shields for healthcare workers, an item currently in a critical shortage due to tightening of hospital supply chain lines. The original impetus for the project was a request for 100 of the shields from the Internal Medicine Department at UofL Health.

Created with state of the art 3-D printing technology, the team has been printing face shields at their core facility, increasing their production output to 55 shields per day by running continuous shifts from 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

Ed Tackett, director of Workforce Development at AMIST, is coordinating the COVID-19 Speed School Response Team.

“We asked ourselves, ‘what can we do right now?’ How do we protect our most vulnerable citizens and how can the University play a positive role in making that happen?” said Tackett. “We have medical professionals literally on the front lines, and if we can help them be safer or keep them from getting sick, we’re going to do whatever we need to do to make that happen,” said Tackett.

What he needed was a dedicated and talented production team. He got that team with graduate assistant Kate Schneidau and four other Speed School students who wanted to help however they could with this health crisis. Schneidau is the production manager who helps manage the scheduling of shifts totaling 16 hours a day, and ensures that builds are continuously running so they can output as many face shields as possible in a day.

Schneidau said she feels a sense of pride knowing that she is contributing skills she learned at Speed School in such a direct way to benefit the community.

“It’s more than just helping produce a product that can be sold commercially. It’s a sense of camaraderie with the community knowing in tough times I can still help. I was taught all my life if somebody needs help, you step up and help as much as you can without expecting anything, because it’s the right thing to do.”

The first batch of 100 face shields have been picked up, and while the face shield production is filling the gap until the medical supply chain catches up, the Additive Manufacturing center is nimble and can adapt quickly to new 3-D printing needs that may arise due to COVID-19.

“We’re producing face shields now but that could change at any moment,” said Schneidau. “We are here as a tool to help in whatever way the medical community may need. We could shift production to ventilators if that is what is needed next.”

The community is doing their part to help, too. After a post on social media about the project, citizens with 3-D printers have stepped up, wanting to be part of the solution. Schneidau has helped to coordinate drop-off locations for the components being printed by people with their home printers, and these parts are picked up and put in the production stream at Speed School.

Schneidau said this experience is one she won’t forget and, in fact, it has solidified her interest in a career in building medical devices.

“I want to make an impact to help people better their lives – to make sure they live their best life possible,” she said.

Tackett said with all the bad news every day about COVID-19, it is great having the team of students and other people involved in this.

“They feel like they’re making a difference, and they actually are making a difference. Students involved in this will be better equipped to provide significant engineering changes in the world. It’s what we should be doing as an engineering school. We’re all going to come out of this, and we’re all going to be stronger when we come out of this,” he said.

As for Schneidau, she is a millennial leader ready to keep making a difference in her world.

“The fact that these students have these skills and are willing to step up to the plate to help – this has just reaffirmed my belief that the next generation – we got it covered,” she said. “The future is in good hands.”

Check out the team’s work:��