Five students from Dyersburg High School’s Engineering Design IV class visited the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 10 with their teacher, Seth Coleman, seeking help in troubleshooting an accessibility project for a middle school student.
Dr. Ashley Owens, UT Martin assistant professor of engineering, helped the DHS students troubleshoot a dodgeball launcher that they designed and built for Kellan Julal, a middle-school student who uses a wheelchair. The students said he has always wanted to throw a dodgeball, and they are helping make that dream come true.
The device works much like a baseball pitching machine. Two wheels set parallel to the ground turn in opposite directions, and the ball is placed between them, shooting it forward.
“This idea started at the middle school as a way to help Kellan, a student who primarily uses a wheelchair, actively participates in behavior rewards and gym activities,” said Trina Roy, the Dyersburg Middle School STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Plus-1 teacher. “To get things moving, I brought together 12 sixth-grade classmates of Kellan’s to begin working on the project.
“They spent hours researching, planning, sketching and creating 3D designs. We also discussed mobility and safety needs with our school’s occupational and physical therapists as well as his teachers and parents.”
Roy said they then invited Coleman and his high school students to collaborate with the middle-schoolers and help refine a more finalized design.
“Once we had a clearer understanding of the launcher’s requirements and features, Mr. Coleman’s group developed a materials list and began the building process,” she said. “It’s truly been a collaborative effort, not just between our schools, but also with support from community partners and UT Martin.”
During the high-school students’ visit to UT Martin, they came up with a list of changes they could make to improve the launcher. After that, they were given a tour of the Latimer-Smith Engineering and Science Building and met with Owens’ engineering students to discuss college life and how to prepare for it. Three of the DHS students – Erick Arevalo, Noah Autry and James Carson – plan to attend UT Martin.
For more information about engineering at UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu/cens.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Shown in the Latimer-Smith Engineering and Science Building on the campus of UT Martin on April 10 with the dodgeball launcher are (l-r) Dyersburg High School students James Carson, Rocco Ciccone, Noah Autry and Edilberto Ramirez, Coleman, DHS student Erick Arevalo and Owens.
