More students in numerous design programs like graphics, multimedia, and architectural drafting at Allan Hancock College will soon see their creativity come to life thanks to a national grant. New Matter, a technology company, selected 100 schools and school districts in 28 states to benefit from its Educate and Inspire Initiative. Hancock College, the only community college in California awarded the grant, will receive three MOD-t 3-D printers, 15 replacement build plates, and 15 spools of filament, a prize package estimated to be worth more than $2,000. More than 450 schools applied for the grant.
In a press release, Nancy Jo Ward, graphics instructor at Hancock, said that 3-D printing is the latest technology driving design trends. “Students in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from 3-D modeling to 3-D animation to architecture, will benefit from this grant. They will manufacture real, tangible objects,” she said.
According to New Matter, the company designed the 3-D printer with educators and students in mind. The MOD-t printer is intended to be one of the quietest, most affordable, and easiest to use desktop printers on the market.
“We strongly believe that 3-D printing will cultivate a lifelong love of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] subjects in students, and we are incredibly proud to participate in that experience,” New Matter CEO Steve Schell said in a company news release. “3-D design fosters creativity in young learners and the MOD-t is the tool that brings students’ imaginations to life.”
Ward said the printers will help eliminate bottlenecks in the printing process at the college.
“The grant creates more opportunities for more students to gain valuable experience and manufacture tangible objects in a way that promotes innovative thinking,” Ward said. “Whether they are transferring to a four-year university or entering the industry directly out of Hancock, this grant will benefit our students.”
The mechanical engineering department at Cal Poly SLO, and U.C. Irvine also received grants.
The class schedule for summer and fall 2016 terms at Hancock will be available April 4. Registration for both semesters will open April 18. Summer fees are due at the time of registration. Fall fees are due July 8.
This article appears in Apr 7-14, 2016.