Students use cutting edge technology to help them land jobs in the future

New technology that once seemed to be straight out of a science fiction book is now a reality for some Desert Hot Springs High School students.

Competitive Power Ventures donated two, 3-D printers to students, worth more than $10,000.

Eric Gamboa is one of a select group of students in the Renewable Energy Academy of Learning or REAL.

“Every time I would drive by a wind turbine I would just stand there and think ‘It’s cool, that’s fun, that’s something I can do,'” Gamboa said.

He knows he wants to be an engineer when he grows up, now his dreams are becoming a reality.

After hearing REAL academy students needed a leg up at a renewable energy competition, CPV donated two 3-D printers.

“Now with the 3-D printer, instead of by hand forming these out of wood and other products, they can use exact engineering dimensions for their competition,” said Mark McDaniels, Vice President of Competitive Power Ventures.

These printers can virtually make anything, from nuts and bolts to a tiny coffee table.

While building miniature figures is fun, these printers have practical applications as well.

“Just about all forms of engineering uses this type of printer to make the products, to make mock ups of the product before they design them. And make them out of metal they’ll make them out of polymer and then see how they work and then go on to test the design,” McDaniels said.

As far as teaching is concerned, this hands on learning is extremely valuable.

“And now we’re actually putting it in motion and for me as a teacher the light bulbs are going off, their eyes are getting wide and they’re going home and doing their homework,” REAL Academy coordinator Mike Phelan said.

The cost of these printers would normally be more than $10,000, a cost most school districts couldn’t justify.

“This type of technology, while it’s really important, unfortunately our school budgets don’t stretch to include these type of things. So having that relationship with CPV who will donate it is so important,” PSUSD board of trustees member James Williamson said.

Gamboa said he couldn’t be more grateful.

“You have to use your brains more than we use our hands,” Gamboa said.