#STEMbassador Senior Spotlight: Abbe Stiglich

What made you want to become a STEM Ambassador in the first place?

I was asked early on, when the fab lab was just being imagined, to be a student representative to help students be immersed into this innovative room. Because I was involved in the design process, I wanted to be an ambassador to continue my connection to the lab. I was excited to learn how to use these new machines to stretch my knowledge of engineering and problem solving.

What has been your biggest learning curve in the lab?

My biggest learning curve was understanding the proper way to print to these machines. It takes several steps to properly print your design and it took me a few days in the lab to fully understand.

What tool do you like best and why?

I like the vinyl cutter the best because it makes my life easier. As a Senior, we need many personalized shirts for different events and I created most of mine in the lab. Also, the vinyl cutter has the ability to cut stickers and I enjoy designing stickers and seeing them come to life!

How is the lab helping you see potential in your future plans for college or career?

Although this digital fabrication laboratory involved new technology and science, I took moments from the original meetings about the creation of the lab that more involved the business side of this project. These meetings helped me decide where I wanted to be when I finished college: in a room were decisions are made. While this lab was built for people to learn about new technology, I found my passion in the process of creating this lab. I found it in the room where it started.

What has been your biggest success in the lab so far?

My biggest success was creating Christmas tree ornaments for my whole family! It was an easy present that was personal to each person because it had their name.

What are you most proud of from your experiences as a STEM Ambassador?

I am most proud of interacting with the people I have met in this lab. I had the opportunity to talk to very important people in the STEM community thanks to the events at this lab. Through discussion with many of these people, I have figured out what career I want work in, in the future.

What are your plans for next year?

I will be attending a 4 year university where I will study Business Management with a minor in Spanish!

Delran STEM Ambassadors are Delran High School students selected from applicants because they demonstrated a passion for STEM, and possessed outstanding communication skills. Much like an internship, STEM Ambassadors have participated in rigorous training within the Delran Innovation & Fabrication Lab space. These learning opportunities are not available to most high school students in our country, since the idea of digital fabrication has only begun to grow in the K-12 sector, to meet the needs of Workforce Development. Delran's STEM Ambassadors have experienced and now taught others in computer-aided design software in 2D and 3D, including Corel Draw, FabMakerStudio, Tinkercad, etc. STEM Ambassadors have utilized these digital design skills to fabricate on vinyl cutters, 3D printers, laser cutters and die cut machines. While teaching others, including younger students in community outreach programs, and adults in staff professional development programs, STEM Ambassadors share their expertise with others. We are certain that this platform for intelligent, relevant communication and positive interaction, will encourage our STEM Ambassadors to be at the forefront of the next generation of STEM innovators.