CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - With the support of Sylvan Middle School, seventh-grade student Hyrum McFadyn took a unit on 3D printing, taught in his STEM Engineering class, to the next level. It was 3D printing that originally drew McFadyn to the school and his exposure to it in class made him want to experience more. After showing his interest and potential to his teachers, McFadyn was allowed access to the school’s clean room full of two 3D printers, computers and other high-tech learning tools.  

Generally, in the STEM Engineering elective class, taught by engineering elective teacher Ed Farris, a unit is presented about 3D printing where students learn to download premade objects and figure out how to send them to the 3D printer.

“Hyrum is at the next level, where he’s actually going into a system that allows him to, from scratch, design what he wants, how big, how small, what shape and then print it,” said Jeff Jungk, Sylvan Middle School vice principal. “Hyrum took to this and loves it and he has turned it into an additional project of his own idea and he’s running with it with our support.” 

McFadyn’s excitement about 3D printing has caught the attention of a few of the school’s clubs, such as Beyblade Club and RC Club. As a result, he has a long to-do list of items to three-dimensionally print. He charges $5 an hour for the work he does and has taken on two other students as assistants. Money earned goes back into maintaining the 3D printers and purchasing printing materials. Currently, one of the 3D printers is broken, because the model is not meant for mass production.

“I’ve printed a gear for RC Club and I’m working on printing a bulkhead for their cars and a wheelie bar wheel,” said McFadyn.

The seventh-grader devotes a large part of his time in the clean room working on these projects, spending hours after school, as well as club meeting times and during his first-period class. 

McFadyn has many hopes for growing and generating interest for this program.

“Other kids are starting to want to do this and they’re joining him and he’s helping other teachers incorporate this into their classes,” said Jungk. “The biggest benefit is the interest he is generating.”

“I’m hoping to teach it to classes,” said McFadyn.

“Who knows where this will go,” said Jungk. “It’s still pretty new. We haven’t had anybody yet that really wanted to take it this far, but we’re ecstatic that he’s doing it.”

McFadyn hopes his younger brother will be able to continue his endeavors when he attends Sylvan Middle School next year.