1. CONTACT: Debbie Muniak
330-684-8729
dmuniak@uakron.edu
AT&T Awards Grant to Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club
Funds will be used to purchase 3D lab equipment
ORRVILLE, Ohio –Oct. 30, 2014 — Students from the Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club
made themselves at home as they entered the UAWC3 Lab at The University of Akron Wayne
College for a special presentation on Oct. 24. In fact, they were more familiar with the equipment
and technology than some of the adults who were there because every two weeks the students attend
3D printing workshops in the lab made possible by generous donations, like the one that was taking
place that afternoon.
Among those in attendance was Stephen Kristan, director of external affairs, AT&T Ohio,
who was there to present a check for $2,500 to Kevin Platz, director of the Orrville Area Boys &
Girls Club. The grant will be used to purchase a piece of 3D printing equipment which will be
housed in the College’s 3D lab facility and used by students during the workshops. They were
joined by Ohio Representative Ron Amstutz, Orrville Mayor Dave Handwerk, UA Wayne College
Interim Dean Dr. Dan Deckler, and Tom Hammond, UAWC3 Lab, support specialist. Together they
discussed the impact 3D printing technology has had on the manufacturing sector and the career
opportunities available to the next generation of learners.
“This is project-based learning at its best,” said Rep. Amstutz. “These students are gaining
valuable hands on experience that could influence their future career decisions.” Stephen Kristan
stated that research shows if students are encouraged to go to college as young as the eighth grade,
they have a much higher success rate in life. “Preparing children for success after high school
benefits them, their families, and our communities,” he added. “The Orrville Area Boys and Girls
Club and Wayne College are helping these young people become excited about new technologies.
We are proud to support this program.”
-more-
Wayne College
1901 Smucker Road
Orrville, OH 44667
800-221-8308

2. UA Wayne College is a regional branch of The University of Akron, offering associate and
bachelor’s degree programs in addition to an AACSB-accredited Saturday MBA program through
the UA College of Business Administration.
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Photo caption: AT&T Ohio awarded a grant to the Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club to
purchase 3D printing equipment that will provide real world application experiences for students
who attend 3D printing workshops at Wayne College. (L-R) Tom Hammond, UAWC3 Lab, support
specialist, Kevin Platz, director of the Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club, Stephen Kristan, director of
external affairs, AT&T Ohio, Ohio Representative Ron Amstutz, Orrville Mayor Dave Handwerk,
Dr. Dan Deckler, interim dean, Wayne College, and Morgan Silvey, engineering student, Wayne
College.