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December 22, 2022Students at Paramus Catholic High School have been raising money for charity by selling 3D-printed Christmas toys, ornaments and puzzle pieces that they designed themselves using computer-aided design (CAD).
It all began when some students in the Paramus Catholic Robotics Club began showing an interest in learning about CAD. Mr. Sonny Capizzi, a member of the math department, took the initiative to revamp an old 3D printer and learn CAD himself.
With the support of the Paramus Catholic administration and Dr. Stephanie Macaluso, Capizzi ordered parts and all the necessary items needed to get the 3D printer working, and thus, the Paramus Catholic CAD Club was born.
“Our Paladins saw the entire assignment through from the initial planning and idea stage to the finished product,” said Dr. Stephanie Macaluso, Paramus Catholic Principal. “This is the ultimate gift of Catholic education. They broadened their faith by service, their intellect by learning, and their wellness as young people in the joy and emotional uplift gained by helping others.”
The hands-on component of teaching CAD is thrilling for both the teacher and the students. For Capizzi, the biggest joy is to “see the students’ ability to plan something from scratch and to follow that item until it is successfully printed.”
The club created a working robot whose function was to solve a Rubik's Cube. As more students began to show interest in learning CAD, Capizzi began writing a curriculum for an elective CAD class. Capizzi’s elective quickly grew to be one of the more popular ones among junior and senior students in the Paramus Catholic’s STEAM curriculum.
Paramus Catholic now offers the CAD elective in two levels: CAD Level I and CAD Level II. In the CAD Level I course, students cover the basics of 3D design and printing, which enables them to develop complex objects along with future studies. Students are also exposed to the manufacturing and engineering aspects of 3D design in the business and manufacturing world. In CAD Level II, students continue to build on their knowledge of CAD software; use advanced functions of Tinkercad, a free web app for 3D design, electronics, and coding; and learn to code in Auto-Desk’s Fusion 360, an industry-standard CAD software.
In the spirit of Christian giving, CAD elective students and CAD club members have begun to put their design skills to work to create items to sell for charity. Combining elements of computer design and community service, Paramus Catholic CAD students run two annual charity projects."I'm just using a small part of my day to do something for someone else, someone in need,” said Jayden Santiago, a member of Mr. Capizzi’s CAD class. “It's something that allows me to feel as if I'm making a difference.”
At Christmastime, it has become a tradition over the last several years for students to design, print, and sell Christmas ornaments in the shape of the school’s mascot, the Paladin. Each year, students raise several hundred dollars through this initiative to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, according to Jean Cousins, Director of Marketing at Paramus Catholic.
Students also began designing personalized puzzle pieces two years ago to sell as part of an autism awareness fundraiser in April. In the past, funds raised through this initiative have been donated to Autism Speaks.
3D-printed puzzle pieces designed by Paramus Catholic High School students are sold to raise money for the Autism Speaks foundation.This year, students are taking on a new project to design 3D-printed toys. These toys will be donated to Paramus Catholic’s all-school “Adopt A Family” Christmas Drive. The “Adopt A Family” Christmas Drive is an annual tradition at Paramus Catholic High School hosted by Campus Ministry. Paramus Catholic High School partners with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark to match impoverished families with individual or group sponsors within the school community to provide for their needs at Christmas.
Toys, Christmas ornaments, and puzzle pieces designed by CAD students on display in the hallways of PCHS.
Featured image: Mr. Capizzi’s CAD students use wire-cutters to make final adjustments on 3D-printed Christmas toys that will be donated to the PCHS all-school “Adopt-a-family” Christmas Drive (courtesy of Paramus Catholic).
