STEMbassador Senior Spotlight: Maddy Simpliciano

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

I wanted to immerse myself in STEM activities while also helping to expand knowledge of STEM to our community, including younger students.

What tool do you like best and why?

My favorite machine is the vinyl cutter and the heat press because I think making shirts is very cool!

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

I am pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical field, so this was a great opportunity to learn how to adapt to new challenges and obtain new skills while doing so!

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

I am most proud of making a difference with younger kids and helping them grow their minds in the STEM field. It's really exciting to see kids so enthusiastic about STEM!

What are your plans for next year?

Next year, I plan on attending Northeastern University and majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences! I am super excited to live in Boston and take advantage of all the career opportunities in and surrounding the city.

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.