The age of 3D printing is here, and students from Carbon and Schuylkill counties are at the forefront of this up-and-coming technology.

On Saturday, a number of area students and professionals highlighted this new field during the SHINE on 21st Century Afterschool 3D STEM Academy, held at Carbon Career and Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe.Teachers from 10 school districts in northeast Pennsylvania, as well as 10 businesses and industries and three technical intermediate schools attended the daylong conference, hosted by Lehigh Carbon Community College, CCTI, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.The unique thing about this conference was not just the topic it was also who was teaching some of the courses.Jeanne Miller, director of the SHINE Afterschool program, explained that elementary, middle school and high school students were the day's teachers, walking the adults through the process of using computer-aided design to create a concept, design a product and then use a 3D printer to make the product.It was a way to showcase what they were learning in SHINE and using hands-on techniques to teach. Schools represented by the students included Shenandoah Valley Elementary, as well as all five Carbon County school districts.In addition, three area businesses and a biochemist who utilize 3D printing were also on hand to discuss what they are doing in the world of manufacturing, health care and industry.They included Douglas Brand, manager of mechanical product engineering at Crayola LLC; John Grencer, administrative manager of the technology program at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network; Chuck Hawley, technology manager at ProtoCAM; and Dr. Mrunaline Pattarkine, who is currently working with 3D printing for nanobiotechnology education through DCED."We're trying to show how the whole STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) system, from early childhood to the business world, works and how this is the technology of the future," Miller said."STEM is so important and we want to show how we are integrating it into our afterschool program."Rachel Strucko, coordinator for the Carbon County SHINE Career Academy, added on to Miller's thoughts."We are super excited," she said, adding that this wouldn't be possible without the great partnership between the schools, state and area officials."People are excited about 3D printing and how we are implementing it into the SHINE curriculum. We are creating a K through eight curriculum that is probably one of the first in the state and even the country right now with regards to 3D printing so we're on the forefront of something big. It's exciting and it shows the innovation of SHINE."She noted that Carbon County is unique because of the SHINE "pipeline," which works with children from birth all the way through college and into the workforce.During the conference, it was evident the students knew and understood how to use the programs and build the parts they wanted to build.You could see the Shenandoah Valley students helping the adults design their personalized key-chain, which they would then be able to print; the middle school and high school students showing computer-aided design on larger scale projects; and listening to business models on ways to help people walk again with the use of customized 3D printed parts; or design new toys.David Reinbold, administrative director of CCTI, was happy to be able to host the conference at the school."This is an excellent opportunity for Carbon County," he said, noting that CCTI has been striving to provide students with learning opportunities for careers of the future.Most recently, the school purchased a 3D printer and started a drafting course. Today the drafting program has doubled in size because of the 3D printing technology and was a driving force between the partnership between CCTI and the Carbon County SHINE Career Academy.Carol Adukaitis, Ed.D., pathways for career success director at Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, explained that the opportunity to bring 3D printers into the SHINE program was because of an idea between PASSHE; DCED and America Makes, a leader in the 3D printing industry.That idea was to fund projects in schools from elementary to college, that were interested in growing out a workforce in 3D printing.Money became available through the Department of Education for the project and, with the help of other funding secured by SHINE, which included help from the Luzerne/Schuylkill WIB, the rest is history."It was a partnership that made this possible," Adukaitis said, noting that the funding also allowed the conference to be held free of charge to the attendees."It's a great partnership and to see business come into this as well, it's really unique," said Marla Doddo, youth service manager of the Luzerne/Schuylkill WIB."It's a wonderful program and the great thing is that it could be replicated and should be made available to every child in the commonwealth."Chuck Hawley of ProtoCAM noted that he was thrilled to see students learning about careers of the future."I love seeing STEM programs develop engineers that can supply the demand of the future," he said. "It's exciting to see what the students are doing. It's also great to see that it is sparking the interest of the upcoming generation of engineers earlier than it was ever available before."Teachers agreed that this was something big.Christine Trovato, a teacher at Penn-Kidder Elementary in Jim Thorpe, said the classes were very interesting, especially since it was being taught by children.State Rep. Doyle Heffley also commended the students and the SHINE program for being a shining example in Carbon County."It's great because it is beneficial to the county, targets the at-risk time of day and thinks outside the box," he said."It connects all the groups as well. It's wonderful to be part of this. You see the teachers' and students' energy and it just carries over and makes you realize that the SHINE program works."