In high school, I worked together with one other student in my engineering class to design, build, and install 28 little libraries in neighborhoods across Ann Arbor. The idea came from a parent in one of the elementary schools’ PTO who wanted to make reading materials more accessible to kids in the community. In order to fund the project, I wrote a grant to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation and obtained $2,000.

To make each library we used a number of tools including a table saw, a CNC router, and an aluminum break. Installing the libraries was done over the course of a month after identifying suitable locations. The project was entered into the annual Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society competition, where we were awarded second place in the manufacturing category.