Northern College Celebrates Innovation at 3D Printing Competition
TIMMINS, ON: Northern College’s Department of Applied Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation recently completed its first annual 3D Printing Competition at the Timmins Campus showcasing the exceptional creativity and technical skills of regional high school students.
The two-month long competition launched March 7, with participation from 10 high schools: Timiskaming District Secondary School, Englehart High School, Kirkland Lake District Composite School, Roland Michener Secondary School, Timmins High & Vocational School, Hearst High School, Kapuskasing District High School, Cochrane High School, and Iroquois Falls Secondary School.
Contest entrants submitted project concept descriptions with sketches, and by April, CAD designs were drafted and sent to Northern College for evaluation by Keith Deslaurier, Applied Research, Entrepreneur and Innovation Research Officer, and Christian Smith, Mechanical Research Technologist. Prototypes were then printed at each high school using Bambu Labs P1S 3D printers donated by Northern College. In May, final prototypes were produced at the College’s 3D Printing Lab and evaluated based on originality, complexity and functionality or artistic expression.
The competition culminated with an event on June 3 at the Northern College Timmins Campus. Awards were presented in two categories – Creative and Functional. Guest speaker Alireza Pasha, Public and Education Sector Manager at CAD MicroSolutions Inc., addressed students about current 3D printing technologies and future trends in various Ontario industries.
In the creative category, the grand prize went to Andrew Cull from Timiskaming District Secondary School, who said, “For this project, I am creating an articulated Hydra dragon model with moveable knees, legs and heads that will allow this model to dynamically move and be posed as desired.”
In the functional category, the grand prize went to James Buller of Englehart High School, who designed a clamp. Stated James, “This is a clamp to hide your garbage can under your desk. It can swivel to bring the garbage can out to throw out trash on your desk easily. I made this clamp because my desk is dirty, and this would make it super easy to keep it clean.”
“We are incredibly proud of all the participants,” said Deslaurier. “Their innovative designs and technical abilities demonstrate the tremendous potential of these young minds. Events like these are vital for fostering creativity and problem-solving skills among students.”
“Northern College looks forward to continuing to support educational initiatives like this one that inspire innovation and excellence,” stated Dean Lessard, Senior Vice President, Academic at Northern College, of the event. “This competition is the first of its kind in the region and our partnership with local high schools will help advance innovation across the region and encourage our youth to explore additional learning opportunities with Northern College. Congratulations to the participants and winners for their outstanding achievements,” he added.
The runners-up in the creative category are as follows:
- Nicholas Sikkema – Englehart High School – 80s Style Beach
- Hailey Field – Englehart High School – Ocean Scene
- Devon Hayes – Englehart High School – Camper
- Emily Mauro – Iroquois Falls Secondary School – Clown
Runners-up in the Functional Category included:
- Nicolas-Xavier Racicot – Kapuskasing District High School – Airless Football
- Aaron Mowbray – Englehart High School – Drawers
- Ross Levesque – Roland Michener Secondary School – Lock Box
- Madison Heavens – Englehart High School – Black Projector
The grand prize winners received Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printers, while the runners-up were presented with custom engraved Yeti mugs.
For more information about Northern College, its research and applied learning, and its programs, please visit Northern College.
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About Northern College of Applied Arts & Technology
Northern College, established in 1967, leads the province in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It holds the top ranking in the province of Ontario in the graduate employment rate category as well as the highest employer satisfaction score for Northern College alumni compared to all English-speaking colleges in Ontario (2023). The College has four main campuses located in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins, as well as many Access Centres, which provide post-secondary education and academic upgrading to Indigenous learners in remote communities along the James Bay coast. Northern College, known as Canada’s Kindest College, is recognized for its warm, welcoming and culturally inclusive environment. A highly respected community and regional partner with close to 50,000 graduates, including the Haileybury School of Mines (est. 1912), the College plays a critical role in the region’s economic development as well as strong global mining influence. Northern College serves the educational needs of post-secondary, apprenticeship, and contract training, both on-site and through remote learning, as well as delivering academic upgrading and employment services. Its catchment area covers 160,000 square kilometres, which is roughly the size of France, and includes over 65 communities – 18 of which are First Nations.
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