#STEMbassador Senior Spotlight: Adriana Puleo

Adriana Puleo (left), DHS Senior & STEM Ambassador, shows off her light-up, pop-up winter solstice card with fellow STEM Ambassador Brooke Hennegan in the Delran Innovation & Fabrication Lab.

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

Ever since the 8th grade, I’ve been fascinated with the idea that I could create anything I put my mind to. When the fab lab was first introduced, I was in disbelief that I would be able to make my ideas come to life, and I knew I had to be on board as an Ambassador.

What has been your biggest learning curve in the lab?

So far the most difficult thing to grasp in the lab has been retaining the knowledge. When we came to train before school started in September, I remember taking a little while to fully understand the processes needed to properly execute the machines.

What tool do you like best and why?

I love the vinyl cutter so much because it allows my creativity to be brought to life in my projects, like phone case stickers, Senior Disney shirts, and Christmas gifts for my family.

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

The lab has helped me figure out exactly what I wanted to do in my future. I used to think I saw myself becoming an engineer, but the lab has helped me discover STEM in a different light and realize that I want to go to school to pursue marketing and the business-sides of what STEM is capable of.

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

My biggest success has to be when I made personalized wine glasses for my mom for Christmas. I wanted to put her monogram on some wine glasses I bought so I used our laser cutter machine in the lab and was able to engrave her initials onto it. She was so proud that I was able to do it in the lab at school and it made me so happy that I could do something like that.

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

I am so proud of the fact that from being an Ambassador, I’m one of the few people in our school, and even our township, that knows how to operate the machinery in our space. It makes me feel so proud when we host events and I am able to give my knowledge to citizens and other visitors and how they are so impressed that I know how to work everything.

What are your plans for next year?

Next year, I will be attending La Salle University to pursue a degree in Marketing! I am so excited to take my STEM knowledge with me in my future endeavors!

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.