Gulfport High’s Step Forward Project helping amputees around the world
GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- A project at Gulfport High School will soon make an international impact.
WXXV News 25’s Brynne Baxley shows us how these students are using technology to change lives.
This November, students and teachers with the Step Forward Project are headed to Mexico for the Amputee World Cup, where their work could help athletes from across the globe.
Engineering and robotics teacher Don Keyser says Gulfport High is one of just a dozen high schools in the country producing parts for prosthetic legs. “For the patients, it’s very emotional. Where they can actually be productive in their families again, instead of relying on somebody to get them around. Where two people are more or less unproductive. Now, they say mothers can actually work in the kitchen again, where they are without a leg. They need somebody to get them around. And for the students, it’s very emotional to see them apply what they learn in the classroom and help solve real-world problems. And people actually are applying what they’re learning in the classroom and putting these legs on to people and watching these people walk out the door. So, it’s emotional for the kids and for us teachers that go along as well.”
For sophomore Jake Goldin, the trip is an opportunity to help even more people on a much larger stage. “I’m very excited. I got to do a similar thing back in March, and we helped a bunch of people there in Costa Rica, and so going to something this big a scale and getting to help as many people is a really exciting opportunity.”
The group uses their 3D printer to print the prosthetic parts. Keyser says the quality has proven itself over time. “These are very sturdy legs. Over the five years we’ve been producing legs, we’ve made parts for over 100 legs. We haven’t had one break yet, so there’s been no complaints about the sturdiness or robustness of the quality of the material we use for the printing.”
The students that are heading to Mexico next month look forward to seeing the impact of their work firsthand.
