LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some Louisville high school students are empowering the next generation of thinkers, builders and problem solvers by showing middle schoolers the capabilities of 3D printing.
Jilly Choi used 3D printing to create his humanoid robot.
“I remember when I was starting out in 3D printing. It was a very old version of it and I was making small spheres, and I expanded on it, like making humanoid robots,” Choi said.
Choi and his friends are a part of a nonprofit group Louisville Mission Math. Their goal is to inspire students to create their own path in the future of STEM.
“All our programs are super hands on. For example, we actually 3D printed, large-scale basketball sized, animal cell models for kids to look at and see it in 3D,” Choi said.
The nonprofit started in 2019 by a group of students from duPont Manual High School. It began as an after-school program, teaching math in engaging ways. It expanded to include other programs.
High school students in the Louisville Mission Math group showed the capabilities of 3D printing to students at Knight Middle School. The group said 3D printing isn’t as accessible to middle schoolers.
“We want to bring it down to middle schools to get those kids earlier access to this technology. And we want to teach them how to utilize it for creative purposes,” said Mark Willis, Louisville Mission Math’s 3D program leader.
“They wanted to create a bunch of crazy things, like, they want to create case holders for the Pokemon cards. One person wanted a print monkey,” said Tejaswin Gontla, co-president of Louisville Mission Math.
Knight Middle School Teacher Tom Wolken said the school has invested in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programming.
“We’re offering them how to create their own virtual worlds, put on goggles and go into those worlds they’ve made, augmented reality, which is where they create a, a reality on top of some other object. We’re doing robotics,” Wolken said.
Wolken said he believes having the older students come in helps spark curiosity in these young minds.
“It shows that they are passionate not just about their own academic work or their future careers, but they’re passionate about providing those opportunities for our other students,” Wolken said.
Choi said they can see the students becoming more interested in the possibilities of 3D printing.
“As we show these 3D printed projects to them, we want them to be more inspired to take on those STEM fields,” Choi said.
Louisville Mission Math has worked with nearly 10 middle schools. They hope to continue to spark a lifelong passion for innovation and creation through STEM. The group is seeking other high school students to volunteer.
