By Colleen Cochran
Contributing Writer

A makerspace is in the works at Avon Grove High School. Four students involved in its creation gave a presentation about their plans at the Avon Grove School Board meeting held Thursday, Jan. 23.

A makerspace is an area where people gather to turn items they imagine into reality. Makerspaces often utilize 3D printers, paper cutters, laser cutters, and other high-tech devices, and the gamut of things that can be made in them span to include virtually any items minds can devise, from boats, to robots, to textiles, to books, to electronic devices. 

A makerspace at the high school will offer vast creation potential for students, so that it will support many disciplines, especially science, computer, art, and craft classes. 

The four students, Dylan Adams, Aarnav Behari, Mia Fish, and Samantha Lin, involved in the makerspace planning are officers in the school’s Chief Science Officers program, a nationwide club whose mission is to enrich students’ STEM opportunities and to help them share those opportunities with their communities. The students were appointed due to their apparent passion for STEM education.

Avon Grove High School Principal Christie Snead, Ed.D., introduced the students who were given free rein to design the space and said, “As adults, I think sometimes we look at the planning of spaces, and we take our perspectives and think we can make sure it’s what we need for our students — but it’s best to hear from the students.”

Student Dylan Adams explained that the freedom to design the makerspace, at first, was a little daunting for the officers. They did not know what machinery to include in the space. 

The officers were, however, quick to brainstorm a plan to involve people who possessed knowledge and enthusiasm concerning makerspaces. The four students decided to organize a design contest for the makerspace, and they offered prize money to winning designs that was donated by the Avon Grove Education Foundation. 

The contest was wide open for participation by alumni, faculty, students, and virtually anyone in the community with some affiliation to Avon Grove School District. It was advertised on the district’s website, in emails that went out to alumni, and in the morning school announcements heard by middle and high school students. The officers received 57 design ideas from that pool of people. Only students, however, could receive prize money, and seven students received awards ranging from $50 to $250. 

To gain more ideas for the makerspace, the officers attended Chief Science Officers conferences, which included students who were in the club at other schools throughout the country. They also visited the Kennett Library Makerspace which has an array of 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics kits, and audio/visual tools, and they investigated private makerspaces around the region, including some at private schools.

Because these four high students knew how to collaborate with others, they are well on their way to creating a gem of a makerspace. They have a large open area with high sealings and plenty of natural light, and it is filled with modern flexible seating and tables. The word INNOVATE is boldly printed on the wall. The room will soon be filled with 3D scanners and printers, virtual reality computers, a vinyl printer, a water jet, and a laser engraver.

Dr. Dorothy Linn, president of the Avon Grove School Board, was impressed with the students’ presentation and accomplishments. She said, “You give us hope for the future.”