CSM Inspires Next Generation of Creative Problem Solvers During Manufacturing Day

Laser cutters, vinyl printers, and 3D pens whirred at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Velocity Center sparking new career curiosity in the Margaret Brent Middle School students participating in Manufacturing Day.

On October 3, 2025, 25 students from the St. Mary’s County middle school toured the Velocity Center Makerspace and took part in hands-on STEM activities as part of Manufacturing Day, a nationwide effort to inspire the next generation of skilled workers and introduce students to modern manufacturing jobs.

The students shuffled through bins filled with 3D printed small plastic arms and legs of different shapes and sizes. Students put their creativity to the test as they were instructed to build their own “buddy,” or character, from the printed parts and decorating them using a 3D printing pen.

One student shared what it was like watching demonstrations of laser cutters, and using the 3D pen to give his character hair following directions from Velocity Center staff, saying, “It’s been a fun experience learning about engineering. I learned about building shapes on computers, using lasers to cut precisely, and how using heat is a big factor in engineering.”

According to the Maryland Department of Commerce, there are more than 5,000 manufacturing businesses in Maryland, employing more than 100,000 people. As the state continues to be a national leader in innovation and advanced technology, the need for a strong generation of STEM workers will continue growing.

“It’s so important to spark curiosity in young students and show them the possibilities that exist in STEM and manufacturing,” said Lesley Quattlebaum, Velocity Center Executive Director. “Experiences like Manufacturing Day open their eyes to career paths they may not have known about and helps them see what opportunities exist for them.”

In addition to the 3D printed characters, an example of additive manufacturing, which is building objects by adding layers of material, students were led through an activity demonstrating subtractive manufacturing, or creating objects by removing material. Students were given rectangular puzzle pieces pre-cut from a laser-cutter. Using their own imagination, students used the pieces to build different structures, like dog houses, castles, or jewelry boxes.

“I learned you have to be creative and strategic trying to put pieces together. It did spark an interest in engineering,” one student said. “I learned there’s a lot more to manufacturing, and different kinds. I thought there was just one main production line. It made me think more about a career in engineering.”

Quattlebaum says these activities can inspire students in a fun and creative way. “Engineering is all around us, from the clothes we wear to the technology in our hands. Manufacturing is where those ideas come to life,” she said. “When students see how problem solving in manufacturing creates the products and solutions we use every day, they realize they can play a role in making a real, tangible difference in the world.”

This is the first year CSM has hosted Manufacturing Day, but school leaders hope to expand these opportunities to more area school districts.

To learn more about the CSM Velocity Center and Makerspace, visit the Center webpage.