As the Director of STEM Education at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Jenn Makins knows all about hands-on learning.
Parish's 8,500 square foot maker space complete with a small fleet of 3D printers called the Design Den is usually home to Texas' only high school NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) team, but with classes going online, the Design Den was unused until Jenn realized they could fill a very important gap.
With a massive shortage of personal protective equipment around the world, Jenn knew they could use their 3D printers to make face shields for doctors on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.
"Makers from all over the world are partnering with doctors and we found a file that's been approved by the NIH, so we've been printing the top piece of the visor," Jenn said.
So far, they printed about 184 face shields for the resident doctors in the ER at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. They also sent 100 to UT Southwestern and there are no plans to stop printing them.
For Jenn, one thing comes to mind.
"That quote, 'Ask not what your country can do for you,' kind of sticks in my mind," Jenn said. "It's a school philosophy of ours. When you have the means and the ability to help, you jump in and do so."
We're proud to call Jenn Makins this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
"We're helping where we can and I think it just provides hope. Hope for me and hopefully for the doctors to know that they are on the frontlines but they have people in their corner," Jenn said.
If you know someone who is making a difference in the community send Susy an email at susy.solis@entercom.com.
