Thirteen-year-old Lois Agnello, a middle schooler, has taken a classroom assignment and turned it into a rallying cry. Her inspiring journey is a story of creativity and true friendship. Born with only part of her left hand, Lois approached her science and technology teacher, Lloyd Godson, with a unique request: she wanted to utilize the school’s 3D printer to create a prosthetic hand. This program sparked creativity in Lois and her peers. It did a terrific job in showing how technology can truly change lives.
Lois’s journey began when she first expressed her desire to build a functional prosthetic hand. She envisioned it as an assistant to help her with day-to-day tasks. At Godson’s prompting, she recruited students from her class to help design and build a prototype. Following a quarter’s worth of lunchtime design sessions, the team honed in on a few materials and ideas. Together, they have envisioned, created and activated the world’s first working 3D-printed hand. The first prototype featured a plastic wrist that fired when the upper arm began moving. This design allowed Lois to grasp tactile things and participate in day-to-day activities with ease.
A Collaborative Effort
The project turned into an inspirational group effort that led Lois and her peers to form a stronger community. Every member brought something to the table in terms of ideas and skills, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie.
“It makes me feel pretty good because we are designing loads of different styles,” said Wren McDowell, one of Lois’s classmates involved in the project. As I mentioned, the collaboration went well past the four walls of the classroom. They reached out to Mat Bowtell, founder of Free 3D Hands, who helped direct and shape the design and production of assistive devices.
As Lloyd Godson told us, the real success of the project is the way it has transformed the students. “It really struck a chord with a bunch of her peers,” he remarked, noting the enthusiasm that surrounded Lois’s inventive spirit.
Overcoming Challenges
The process was not without challenges. Lois and her classmates had to work hard to iterate on their design and make sure it actually worked. The developmental process from idea to implementation took time and tenacity.
Lois expressed her excitement about the project: “I was like, ‘Oh my god this is crazy,’” she stated, reflecting on the moment they completed the first prototype. Even all the way through the trials, she never took her eyes off the prize. Her mission was not only to create a hand that would suit her needs, but to empower others.
Being born without a hand doesn’t prevent me,” Lois declared. She will not take no for an answer and pursue her professional passions with fierce intent. Her experience has inspired her classmates to dream big and imagine how technology can change lives for the better.
A Growing Passion
Building on the success of their first prototype, Lois and her classmates have gone on to make even more advanced 3D-printed hands. Every new design strives to maximize utility and beauty. Joel Banwell, another student involved in the project, shared his motivation: “I felt fairly good that Lois was able to get a hand that worked and it made me want to make one that was even better.”
What began as an art project for Lois has grown into a newfound love for her—and the whole school community. The camaraderie and encouragement from everyone around them helps deliver the powerful message that with collaboration and striving to make a difference, anything is possible.
