by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — Ryan Elder passed a three-round process to make sure that his vocational students at Wellington High School received a 3D carver, called and X-Carve, of their choice for the classroom.

Inventables, Inc., who customizes 3D carving machines, has made it their goal to put a 3D carver in every school. The project kick started when they developed a grant to award one school per state a 3D carver of their choice.

The X-Carve is a multi-axis milling carving machine which is capable of creating precision parts from plastic, wood, metal and other materials. It is created for a workshop setting, and is both customizable and expandable.

Participants had to pass a three-round process in order to receive the grant. The first round included an application process that involved surveys, an essay, and questionnaire. Contestants who made it to the second round had to submit a lesson plan/unit on how the 3D carver would be used in their classroom.

After reviewing this round, the contestants who made it to the final round had to submit a demonstration by using media on how the carver would be used. Elder and some of his high school students prepared a video clip to explain how the 3D carver would help in their construction class.

Elder was successful in all three rounds and was determined the winner of the Inventables grant. This award will allow him to choose a 3D carver that will be used in the Industrial Arts and construction classes.

Since educational funding is always limited, especially in those areas, Elder submitted this grant request to enhance his program at Wellington High School.

Follow us on Twitter.