Students in engineering, machining collaborate to create ARC drop box

Now, anyone donating items to the ARC — home to AC’s Food Panty and Clothing Closet — can place them in the new AC-blue receptacle even if the ARC happens to be closed when they arrive.

The students delivered their gift to the ARC today (Dec. 13), and it was not merely an empty box they unveiled on the first floor of the Ware Student Commons.

“We couldn’t just present the ARC with an empty box,” said Vanessa Miles, instructor of engineering. “The students came up with a theme ‘Warmth for Winter’ and filled it full of blankets, caps and gloves.”

Resources available at the ARC are free for students who need help overcoming life issues, so they can get on with the business of education. AC’s Student Life program brought the need for an after-hours drop box to light and the two academic programs picked up on it.

AC’s engineering students developed their vision for the drop box and shared it with the machining team by way of design software SolidWorks. The machining technology students took it from there and fashioned a sturdy repository complete with handles, hinges and wheels they machined themselves.

“It was good getting to mix with the engineering students,” said machining major Austin Gipson. “It’s a joy when you can do something that’s a benefit to others, and it’s rewarding bringing something from concept to construction.”

“It was a fun project and a bit of a challenge,” said Paulina Fernandez, one of many engineering students who teamed up on the design of the drop box. I’m glad we got this chance to contribute something positive to AC.”