Neligh-Oakdale Students Use Library Technology To Make Projects

What do you get when seven students are introduced to the same technology?

Seven very different projects.

Embracing their creativity, Neligh-Oakdale High School students took advantage of the Library Innovation Studios technology that was available at the Neligh Public Library for a limited time.

Freshmen through senior students in Mrs. Scarborough’s 5th period Intro to Design class were introduced to a variety of technology, including a 3D printer, vinyl cutter, CNC router, laser cutter, heat press, embroidery/sewing machine, laminator and button maker kit, which were on loan as part of a $530,000 grant from the Nebraska Library Commission. The machines were available for public use until August 29.

Mrs. Scarborough said she stopped in the Neligh library to check out a book and asked the library staff if she could bring one of her classes in to work with the Innovation Studios.

“I wanted to expose the kids to different technologies and design,” she said. “The more exposure the kids can have, the better off they are.”  

Freshman Evelyn Vasquez said she used the laser cutter to make a wooden sign.

“It had a quote about family and then I put the names of all my family on the back,” she said.

Vasquez made it as a gift for her family and her mom already put it in her room.

“The best part was watching the laser do its thing,” she said. “It was so satisfying to watch it.”

The laser cutter was also used to create sophomore April Williams’ project. She made the wooden decor for her boyfriend.

“I wrote out me and my boyfriend’s name and put our anniversary on it because it’s coming up. And then I put his favorite animals and flowers and stuff,” she said. “I decided to do something for him because he’s been going through a lot. My favorite part is probably the rose because I think that turned out the best.”

Sophomore Jasmine Maughan used the vinyl cutter for her project, cutting out one of her favorite quotes, which she later pressed onto a piece of wood. It now hangs on the wall in her room.

Maughan said it was a fun project and she liked seeing everyone’s projects too.
The laser cutter was used for junior Lesly Luna’s project, which she made for her family.

“Basically, I wanted to do something, not just for myself, but for the whole family,” Luna said. “So I put our last name and all of our names on it and the year my parents got married. I gave it to my mom so she could keep it.”

Junior Hannah Schrader used the vinyl cutter for a quote she liked. She added the letters to a piece of laminate flooring and then attached it to wood so it can be hung on a wall.

“I’m giving it to my dad for Christmas,” she said. “I think the best part hasn’t even come yet, just whenever I give it to my dad, that’s going to be the best part.”

To make a special gift for her mom, junior Adysen Boggs cut out the vinyl letters to say, “Everything happens for a reason,” along with some decorative swirls.

Boggs said her mom put it up on the wall the same night she gave it to her.

“And that was probably the best part,” she said. “To see how she reacted. She started crying. It kind of meant more because we are really close. I made it for her because next year I’m going to be a senior, and you know, everyone has rough patches.”

Senior Ayspen Tarker said her dad, Jason, was really excited about her project too, which was a wooden piece with a lasered welcome message.

“It’s just me and my dad so I put ‘Welcome to the Tarkers’ and I put two aspen leaves because that’s what I was named after,” she said. “And then I put our names underneath. My dad hung it up right when you come in so you can see it. He like made the biggest deal about it. He posted it on Facebook and was like, ‘I’m so proud of my daughter.’ His profile picture is me and him holding (my project) up.”

Tarker said she really liked learning about all of the new technology.

“The best part was being able to learn about all the things there because they didn’t just have the laser, they had a 3-D printer, a vinyl cutter,” she said.I” thought it was cool that we had the opportunity to go there and see what it was all about, and not just see it, but we got to do it.”