Shenandoah University’s Advanced Technology Programs Benefit From Ferrari Family’s Support
Gift from Andy and Barbara Ferrari helped Shenandoah purchase high-tech tools for Emerging Media Lab and Makerspace
Shenandoah University recently hosted a longtime supporter whose contributions helped equip a high-tech laboratory space for students and faculty in the university’s advanced technology programs.
Andy Ferrari, along with his wife, Barbara, made a generous gift that allowed Shenandoah University to purchase equipment for the Emerging Media Lab and Makerspace, a workspace fitted with tools and equipment needed for 3D printing, digital design and electronics prototyping that is located in Hazel-Pruitt Armory, home of the Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs.
Ferrari’s visit to Shenandoah in February included a hands-on tour of the lab, during which he saw some of the space’s technology in action, met students, faculty and staff in the university’s Division of Advanced Technology and the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCiL), and glimpsed at projects produced in the space.
“We are so appreciative of this generous gift, which has vastly expanded our capabilities in SCiL and created many opportunities for our students to explore rapid prototyping using a fantastic array of high-end, professional equipment,” said Nathan Prestopnik, Ph.D., co-director of SCiL and director of the Bachelor of Arts in Virtual Reality Design program. “We’re also finding new ways to bring these capabilities to the wider SU community through workshops, 3D printing and laser-cutting services, access to high-end computing, and more.”
The Ferraris’ gift helped purchase a variety of equipment for the Makerspace, including high-performance PCs to create workstations built for augmented/virtual reality projects; two 3D printers, including a large-volume 8K resin printer and a desktop model that specializes in multi-material printing; a laser cutter; and an electronic precision-cutting machine.
“The Emerging Media Lab and Makerspace is a vibrant resource for many of our classes in engineering, AR/VR, and others, and is where we’re able to prototype and fabricate ideas for internal and external purposes,” said Mohammad Obeid, Ph.D., co-director of SCiL and director of the Bachelor of Science in Virtual Reality Design program. “This generous contribution enhances what we can offer our students and external partners with state-of-the-art equipment, and provides opportunities for scale. On behalf of our many stakeholders, I extend our sincerest gratitude to the Ferrari family.”
The addition of new 3D printers to the Makerspace enables faculty and staff in Hazel-Pruitt Armory to begin planning a series of future workshops for Shenandoah students and community members designed to provide hands-on experience with design and fabrication tools while fostering creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. By providing access to this technology, Shenandoah University hopes to inspire learners of all ages to explore new ideas and bring their projects to life.
More information about these introductory workshops will be shared at a later date. In the meantime, individual requests can be emailed to hive@su.edu.
