You might have seen stories about other ailing animals – dogs, cats, birds, horses, turtles and more – that are living better lives now, thanks to 3D-printed devices. One of our favorites is Derby, a dog born with deformed front legs. We discovered that 3D Systems created Derby’s prosthetics with the help of Derrick Campana of Animal Orthocare, located just a few miles from our Chantilly, Virginia, headquarters.
Derrick Camapana shows students a prosthetic foot for a dog |
Learning about animals like Purps and Derby, and visiting places like Animal Orthocare, is inspirational for the at-risk kids we serve. Many of them tell us they want to use their 3D skills to help others. Some are particularly interested in what they can do for animals.
For example, Kimora Felton was touched by Derby’s story. Kimora completed our 3D ThinkLink course, graduated from South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy last December and came to our 3D ThinkLink Creativity Lab in January for a week of advanced training.
We awarded Kimora a $500 scholarship for an essay she wrote about her 3D ThinkLink experience. In it, she explained how she hopes to become a veterinarian and use 3D printing to help her patients.
Kimora Felton at work in our 3D ThinkLink Creativity Lab |
Kimora is getting a second chance, too, thanks to SCYCA and YouthQuest.
“Before getting involved with 3D printing my mind was scattered. Trying to relieve anger and finding ways to express myself, I’d do things that made me act out of character, which led me to think I wasn’t worth anything at all,” she said. “Finding myself as a student of YouthQuest Foundation Program made me think of myself as someone. I finally found a way to express myself through creating digital objects and turning them all into 3-dimensional physical models.”
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