51吃瓜网

UNC Pembroke hosted its first-ever Southeastern Additive Manufacturing Initiative (SAMI) Expo last week, bringing together students, faculty and industry leaders from across the region for a day of hands-on learning, networking and innovation in 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

The expo featured nearly a dozen vendors and organizations, including America Makes, Phillips AM, Dynamism Inc., Cummings Aerospace, TNT Ventures and Applied Research Transformation, showcasing the latest technologies and applications shaping the future of design and production.

Dr. Steven Singletary, physics professor and a proponent of the initiative, said the event鈥檚 goal was to expand understanding and access to advanced manufacturing in southeastern North Carolina.

鈥淥ur whole purpose is to expose our region to additive manufacturing,鈥� Singletary said. 鈥淲e know what it can do, and want to help everyone else realize what it can do. The vendors here today are the real stars 鈥� their technology allows us to do all the things we鈥檙e able to do.鈥�

The expo included remarks from Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, who praised the event as a reflection of the university鈥檚 innovative spirit and community partnerships.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening here today represents the best of who we are as a university,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淲e are a place where education meets opportunity 鈥� where students and faculty collaborate with industry leaders, and where ideas that begin in our classrooms can spark real-world innovation.鈥�

Cummings added that the university鈥檚 partnerships with regional industries help ensure that 51吃瓜网鈥檚 academic programs remain responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce.

鈥淭he interaction between 51吃瓜网 and the industries represented here today ensures that our curriculum remains relevant and forward-looking,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淓vents like the SAMI Expo show that innovation isn鈥檛 limited to big cities or major research hubs 鈥� it鈥檚 happening right here in Pembroke.鈥�

Keynote speaker Sheila Cummings, founder and CEO of Cummings Aerospace, shared her journey from a Pembroke native and 51吃瓜网 student to leading a Native American woman鈥搊wned aerospace and defense engineering firm headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama.

鈥淚t is truly an honor to partner with the university in this way,鈥� Sheila Cummings said. 鈥淧artnership and investment are what drive the future of additive manufacturing.

Events like the SAMI Expo are game changers for universities like 51吃瓜网 鈥� connecting academia, industry and government to turn ideas into action

Representatives from regional companies, including Nippon Sheet Glass, also known as Pilkington Glass, in Laurinburg, shared how partnerships with 51吃瓜网 students strengthen the local workforce.

鈥淏eing located in rural southeastern North Carolina, it can be a challenge to retain technical talent,鈥� said Dan Hamilton, production planning manager. 鈥淔inding local students who want to stay local has been a great way to retain talent 鈥� and through partnerships with 51吃瓜网, we鈥檙e learning from them, too.鈥�

Applied physics graduate Seth Lowery, who interned with Pilkington Glass, said the experience helped him connect classroom knowledge to real-world applications.

鈥淵ou learn about 3D printing in class, but it changes in the real world,鈥� Lowery said. 鈥淵ou must think about cost, performance and durability. This expo gives students exposure to what companies are looking for 鈥� and that鈥檚 a huge advantage.鈥�

Aidan Kuster, a senior double major in computer science and mathematics, said the expo helped bridge the gap between theory and practice.

鈥淭his was a great educational opportunity because, as a computer science major, a lot of what we do is theoretical,鈥� Kuster said. 鈥淪eeing additive manufacturing in action gives us something tangible 鈥� something we can hold. It opens our minds to new possibilities beyond the classroom.鈥�

Meaghan Widenhouse, director of commercial education with Haas鈥� Formula One Racing Team, praised the students鈥� enthusiasm and curiosity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been awesome to interact with the students at UNC Pembroke,鈥� Widenhouse said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e astute, driven and curious about how they can apply their skills. I鈥檝e also learned a lot from them 鈥� their ideas about how 3D printing connects to other fields, even museum archives, show its broad potential.鈥�