They're using Pitt Power, an online crowdfunding platform through the Office of Development, which can be found at giveto.pittstate.edu/pitt-power
Seniors in Manufacturing Engineering Technology chose a design project for an annual national competition that also will benefit the Pittsburg Fire Department here at home.
For this year’s annual Cast in Steel competition in Wisconsin, held by the Steel Founders’ Society of America with judges from the TV series “Forged in Fire,” students are designing a Halligan bar. They must comply with strict parameters while also figuring out a way to customize it.
“It’s a tool used by every fire department in the nation to help firefighters with forced entry in emergency situations,” said Seth Phillips, a member of the team.
One side features a fork used to get past door frames and break deadbolt locks, while the other side features an adze, similar to a wedge. An additional feature is the pike, used to puncture.
Team members will work with Monett Metals in Monett, Missouri, to manufacture the Halligan bar for competition and for use in Pittsburg fire stations.
To complete the project by the March 29 deadline, they need to raise $8,650; to date, they’ve raised $590.
Team members include Morgan Volkmann, Colton Hutchcroft, Evan Taylor, Rhys Stroker, and Seth Phillips. Their advisor is Professor Jacob Lehman.
Students with a connection to Nature Reach, an environmental outreach program in the Biology Department since 1985, have started a crowdfunding campaign to update accommodations for animals used in programming.
Nature Reach is the only entity in the region that goes directly into classrooms with live animals, offers summer programming to local youth, and helps teachers become better educators, explained Kate Tyree (xxx). At the same time, it helps Pitt State students pursuing careers in veterinary medicine, wildlife management, environmental education, and other related fields.
"I have learned so much from this program,” said Elementary Education major Kaylee Denton, who incorporates it into lessons with children with whom she is student teaching.
Biology major Konya Halle said it’s improved her understanding of nature and wildlife, especially helping her to more confidently identify species.
To purchase new animal enclosures, bedding supplies, lighting, and heat sources, they seek to raise $3,000; the campaign kicked off Dec. 1 and has raised $25.
Team members include Leann Trout, Renee Trout, Meg Norman, Kaylee Denton, Konya Halle, Sharon Caballero, and Kate Tyree. Their advisor is Instructor Delia Lister.
More than 500,000 American children under the age of five, as well as millions of school-aged children, have mobility problems. Abilities range from children not being able to use their legs or arms, causing a regular power wheels car to be inoperable. They often can’t run and play with other children, limiting their development.
A group of seniors in Manufacturing and Engineering Technology has partnered with the non-profit organization Geeks For Kids, a non-profit organization, to make a difference.
This year, the Pitt State project team was asked to design a transfer device to allow a child to be transferred from his or her wheelchair into the power wheels car. Lucy, a 4-year-old, will be the first recipient of this product.
Lucy can walk short distances with the assistance of a walker but uses a Zippie manual wheelchair for more significant daily movements. She has trouble transferring herself in and out of the wheelchair and into other chairs, such as her toy car.
The team is crowdfunding $1,775 to pay for materials that will allow them to prototype, test, and build a final product to be given to Lucy, and to be used as a model for other children. To date, they have raised $1,170.
Team members include Jonathan Coltrane, Brennan Mendez, Armon Bean, Chet Albin, and Caden Thul. They are advised by Professor David Miller.
As a consistently top-10 nationally ranked UDA dance team, the Crimson & Gold will represent Pitt State on the grand stage of the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in Florida. The group actively raises funds throughout the year and is crowdfunding on Pitt Power to help narrow the gap. The team includes Kassandra Lewis, Katie Nelson, Madilynn Sanderholm, Carissa Marrone, Kenzie Coester, Lindsay Pruett, Emma Daly, Treva Neathery, Mattie Vacca, Ellie Carpenter, Megan Guthrie, Jentry Heath, Haylee Caskey, Ava Arehart, Hannah Bogina, Kylie Wimberly, Madi Gill, and Aubrey Peters. Head coach is Associate Professor Rocky Restivo and assistant coaches are Morgan Kinsey and Elizabeth Hayes.
They are seeking $1,000 and to date have raised $450.
Established in 2018 as a way to offer an intermediate between intramural sports and intercollegiate athletics, the club competes in the Midwest Plains Volleyball Conference, which includes a variety of tournaments throughout the year. The group actively raises funds throughout the year and is crowdfunding on Pitt Power to help narrow the gap. The team includes Ashlynn Landon, Hannah Brisbin, Jessica Myers, Maddie Kramer, Kallie Shannon, Madison Kreis, Emma Maxwell, Taryn Rich, Emma Catterson, Gracie Bott, Sidney Swingle, Giovanna Pastore, and Gracie Hilderbrand. They are advised by Associate Professor of Recreation Steven Lilly.
They are seeking $1,410 and have raised $50.