BVA engineering student’s idea saves district more than $7K

For the Mon Valley Independent
Until the COVID-19 virus closed schools, Belle Vernon Area students were making substantial progress on building a high-tech device that will be of special value to engineering classes.
Called a computerized numeric control router, or CNC, once completed, it will enable students to manufacture and fabricate items needed for engineering projects as well as BotsIQ and other robotic instead of sending their designs to an outside firm to produce at a cost.
Riley Ott, a student in Mike Pappas’ PLTW engineering program, came up with the idea to build the CNC router.
Pappas said the equipment, related software and tutorials would have cost almost twice as much if they had been purchased outright instead of being built in-house, which, in turn provides students with new experiences.
The BVA Charitable Fund contributed $6,500 toward the project, supplemented by $2,000 from Charleroi-based DMI Companies Inc. and $1,000 raised by a BVA Engineering GoFundMe campaign.
DMI has partnered with Pappas and the school district for five years as industry adviser for the BotsIQ team and engineering program. The firm has provided goods and services as well sending employees for regular classroom visits and technical support.

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