Mount Edgecumbe Students Use Technology to Support Their School and Community
The 2025–2026 T3 Alaska program at Mount Edgecumbe High School demonstrated the power of connecting technology skills with real-world needs. With support from T3 Coach Jessie Smyke, students explored engineering, programming, energy, and design while building partnerships that allowed them to apply their skills beyond the classroom.
A highlight of the year was the way students used 3D printing to support their school and community. Students identified opportunities to help others, creating more than 20 fidget toys and stress relievers that were shared with peers around campus. They also designed and printed practical solutions for teachers, including replacement parts for a tape dispenser, calculator covers, and a modification for the podium used during graduation.
Students partnered with the Sitka Sound Science Center to apply their design skills to a real scientific project. Students prototyped 3D-printed tags for settling plates used by researchers studying invasive marine invertebrates. This collaboration gave students the opportunity to contribute to ongoing scientific work while learning how technology can support research and environmental stewardship. The partnership has created interest in continuing the project in the future.
Another example of student innovation came from a student who combined 3D printing with his personal interest in metalworking and history. He designed and printed molds for his own metalworking projects, including historical replicas that he shared with the history department for future classroom use.
Students continued developing technical skills through Raspberry Pi projects, learning how to run programs and connect sensors. One student even explored using Raspberry Pis to create a student Minecraft group, finding a creative way to bring technology and community together.
Energy was another area where students connected classroom learning to real-world challenges. Students explored energy efficiency around campus, designed miniature energy-efficient homes, and competed in the Alaska Clean Energy Olympics. Two T3 Alaska students designed and tested wind turbine blades, completed an Alaska energy knowledge test, and presented their design process. Their team placed in the top three in Southeast Alaska, and their turbine blades produced the highest energy output of any team in the Southeast competition.
Through these projects, T3 students demonstrated the value of learning by doing. They used technology to solve problems, support others, and contribute to partnerships with organizations like the Sitka Sound Science Center and the MEHS community.
A special thank you goes to T3 Coach Jessie Smyke for helping students build connections, pursue meaningful projects, and see how their skills can make an impact beyond the classroom.