Fannin County High School (FCHS) freshman and active Technology Student Association member, Bryce Ware, used a Makerbot 3D printer to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Fannin Regional Hospital employees to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ware was asked by Georgia Department of Education Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Director Dr. Barbara Wall to represent CTAE students at the CTAE Career and Industry Advisory Council meeting Wednesday, May 6.
He was given five minutes to present his project to business, industry, and educational leaders from around the State of Georgia.
“Bryce did an outstanding job explaining his project to the audience in the virtual meeting,” Bubba Gibbs, TSA Advisor and Engineering Teacher at FCHS said.
Originally, Ware produced several masks and worked with Dr. Mark Causey in Blairsville to create the masks and deliver them where needed.
“On his most recent production, Bryce completed 100% of the process himself,” Gibbs said. “Bryce provided reusable respirators in sizes small, medium, and large for the staff at Fannin Regional. Bryce also produced protective face shields.”
Fannin Regional Chief Executive Officer Jason Jones expressed his appreciation of Bryce’s contribution and stated, “These face shields are difficult to purchase at this time, and we are going to need these shields as we begin to resume our normal hospital operations.”
Jones was also impressed with the design of the masks because they are reusable.
According to Gibbs, the hospital staff were all surprised when Bryce informed them that he is a freshman at FCHS.
“I am very proud of Bryce and his efforts to support our local healthcare professionals during this difficult time,” Gibbs said. “Bryce is an outstanding student, and I am looking forward to working with him during his high school engineering courses.”