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Student 3D‑printed device and Kind Company showcase highlight Jennings County classrooms
Summary
Students and staff demonstrated the Kind Company program and a 3D‑printed pencil/writing‑utensil holder that helps a student named Seth participate in class; presenters credited school staff and student technicians for designing the device after commercial options proved costly.
At a regular meeting of the Jennings County School Corporation board, student presenters and staff showcased classroom projects that the district said promote inclusion and hands‑on learning.
Annie, a student presenter with the Kind Company program, described how the group maintains a Kindness Closet and a pop‑up shop and raised funds through craft sales at community events such as the St. Mary’s Christmas Bazaar. The presentation highlighted teamwork, creativity and employability skills the program aims to develop.
“We are building a stronger, kinder community of lifelong learners working together,” Annie said, describing the students’ role in creating and selling ornaments, shirts and other crafts.
Board members also heard from an occupational therapist who detailed a low‑cost, in‑house solution to a classroom accessibility need. The therapist said commercial adaptive pencil grips and holders had been tried without success, and she pursued a do‑it‑yourself prototype and then enlisted a student technician to refine the design using 3D printing.
“I saw something online that I wanted to try but it was kind of expensive. I can make that,” the occupational therapist said, explaining how a marker lid and old computer mouse inspired a prototype that the school’s tech lead then recreated and 3D‑printed so the student—identified in the presentation as Seth—could hold writing utensils and take part in classwork.
Presenters described the device as multipurpose, with separate sized holes to accommodate pencils, crayons and markers, and invited board members to view the model after the meeting. A staff presenter said the project demonstrates how school staff, students and limited grant funding can combine to meet student needs when commercial options are prohibitively expensive; earlier in the meeting the board heard the district received a $10,000 award from the WHAS Crusade for Children to support programs.
The board did not take formal action on the presentations, which were presented as information items. The device demonstration and Kind Company showcase were followed by applause and an invitation for trustees to view materials and pamphlets outside the meeting room.
