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Prince George's County High Schoolers Use 3D Printer to Build Prosthetic Arm for Classmate

Carla Rivera Interiano was interested in her technology class at Parkdale High School in Riverdale Park, Maryland, but she found it tough to do some of the assignments. She was born without a left hand.

To help accommodate Rivera Interiano, instructor Karen Bogoski changed this year's curriculum so the class could make a prosthetic arm for the student.

“Outside of the military, children are the biggest demographic in need of prosthetics, but they can’t afford it because it’s so expensive,” Bogoski said.

The class used a 3D printer to build Rivera Interiano a pink prosthetic arm. Constructing the arm took several attempts, as one variation only had three functioning fingers, and another had excess wax and plastic.

The project carried extra meaning for senior Timonique Crighton, an aspiring military robotics engineer.

“When she told me Carla’s reaction, it was super great because she was crying and everything,” Crighton said, “and I was like ‘Oh gosh, it’s so sweet.’”

A $100,000 grant was used to purchase the equipment inside Bogoski’s classroom. There are only two such classrooms in Prince George’s County, though the county aims to have at least one classroom in every high school with comparable equipment.

For Rivera Interiano, the technology proved to be life-changing.

“Never give up, regardless of any challenge you have in your life,” Rivera Interiano said through an interpreter. “Never give up. Your dreams could come true.”

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