A student-led project is opening new doors for career exploration while giving the Gering community a closer look at the proposed Gering Middle School.
What begins as a set of architectural plans can become something you can see, explore, and hold in your hands. Thanks to Gering High School student Hayden Hauser, that vision is now taking shape in a detailed 3D-printed model of the proposed Gering Middle School.
Hayden, a Work-Based Learning student working with JEO Consulting Group, collaborated with GHS STEM instructor Aaron Pierce to transform JEO’s architectural plans into files that could be used to 3D print the model. The project brings together Gering Public Schools’ Work-Based Learning and STEM programs with JEO, connecting classroom learning with real-world applications.
The project is also helping lay the groundwork for a growing partnership. While 3D printing is not currently a capability available in JEO’s office, the collaboration has created an opportunity to explore new ways to connect architectural design, emerging technology, and student learning. For Hayden, the experience is one of several projects she will take on during her Work-Based Learning placement, providing insight into the consulting industry, project management, and the collaboration behind community projects.
“It's been really fun just exploring this project and trying out something new. We have learned a lot the little attention to details in plans that really impact how things are printed and how they show up from the design files." Hayden Hauser, Gering High School Work-Based Learning student
The project also gives Hayden a unique connection to the future of her own community. If voters approve the proposed middle school project, she could one day return to the building and see how the plans she helped bring to life on a 3D printer became a physical space for future generations of Bulldogs.
That connection is especially meaningful as Hayden pursues her own future in STEM. She is currently applying for a Women in STEM scholarship, continuing to explore the possibilities available through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
And the community will have an opportunity to see Hayden’s work up close, too. The 3D model will be displayed in the Gering Public Schools District Office display window just in time for Halloween, giving local families and trick-or-treaters a chance to catch a glimpse of the proposed middle school while out enjoying the festivities.
From architectural plans to a 3D-printed model, Hayden’s work is a reminder of what can happen when schools and community partners create meaningful opportunities for students to learn by doing. It’s a project that celebrates student initiative, strengthens local partnerships, and connects today’s learning with tomorrow’s possibilities.