This Giving Tuesday, the SPE Foundation raised funds for its 3D Printer Grant program. In 2024, twenty-one 3D printers were awarded to middle and high schools across the U.S. and Canada, benefiting over 3,100 students, three times more than 2023. Grant applications are piling up – schools are excited about this technology – and the budget cannot meet the demand.
The SPE Foundation’s mission is to support workforce development in the plastics industry by funding quality educational programs, grants, and scholarships emphasizing science, engineering, and sustainability while working to create inclusive opportunities for students around the world.
On December 3rd, the Foundation launched its “Print the Future” campaign to capitalize on Giving Tuesday, a National Day of Philanthropy. The campaign raised nearly $19,000, with a goal of $30,000 to fund 3D printers and PlastiVan® visits for twelve schools. The PlastiVan® Program introduces students to the topics of chemistry, history, processing, sustainability, and the real-world applications of plastics.
3D printing is an easy-to-enter plastics technology offering flexibility to support diverse learning opportunities, including computer aided design. Past grant recipients have created everything from chess sets and ornaments to school mascots and adaptive bottle openers. At its core, plastics manufacturing involves melting, moving, and shaping plastic, which 3D printing accomplishes at a relatively low cost.
The 5M Adventurer 3D printer. Courtesy of Flashforge
The SPE Foundation utilizes the FLASHFORGE 5M series of printers for its 3D Printer Grant Program. These printers are fast, reliable, and well-constructed, offering excellent performance at a reasonable cost. Their fully enclosed design allows for a wide range of materials to be printed, enabling students to explore various plastic material options for their projects.
The SPE Foundation needs help to equip students with this valuable hands-on experience in engineering and design, empowering our future plastics workforce to tackle real-world problems. You can still contribute to the Giving Tuesday “Print the Future” campaign at give.4spe.org.
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