Does your school need a 3D printer?

From time to time, MakerBot and Thingiverse have the opportunity to give 3D printers away to schools. If you are interested in suggesting your school as a possible donation site, then this post will tell you how to do that.

Thingiversity Fall STEAM Challenges

Thingiverse is running two simultaneous Challenges this fall. In addition to that, over the fall we will select ten featured schools from this group. At the end of the fall, the two first-place winners of the Thingiversity Fall STEAM Challenges (ThinkFun Expansion Set and Make It Loud!) will each select one of the ten featured schools to be the recipient of a MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer and supplies.

Each school entry must be submitted by a faculty member or administrator of the school in question. Schools must post a topic to this group before 11:59:59 EST on Dec 6, 2015 in order to be considered for the fall round of Thingiversity STEAM Challenge donations.

Of course, we also encourage you to find ways that your school, students, and community can participate in the Fall STEAM Challenges! The ThinkFun Expansion Set and Make It Loud! Challenges are open to the entire Thingiverse community. You can also get ideas for classroom 3D printing projects from our previous Summer STEAM Challenges.

To enter your school, please complete the following steps

Step 1: Make a Thingiverse account for your school. As administrator of this account you should be an official school representative.

Step 2: While logged into the school account, make a post in the “Our School Needs a 3D Printer!” group, as follows: Click the “Topics” tab under the banner header, and then click the “Start a Topic” button. Give your topic a title that includes the name and location of your school. (Note that you should make a top-level post to the group, not a response to this particular instructions post. Please click the "Topics" tab before starting your Topic.)

Step 3: Tell us what your school would do with a 3D printer: Describe why you think your school should be one of the ten featured schools that will have a chance to be selected by the Challenge winners. We know that 3D printing is cool and fun and opens doors to students, but we want to know the details of how your school would specifically plan to use the 3D printer. Would it be in a classroom, on a cart, shared by many, available to students, part of a larger lab, used for a particular workshop, or used in particular subject areas? Would it be your school’s first 3D printer or would it be expanding an existing 3D printing setup? There are no right or wrong answers here; just tell us your story.

Step 4: Convince us that your printer will be used and that you’re ready to roll: Do your students already work with CAD software or other 3D design tools like Tinkercad? Can you point to Things or Collections on Thingiverse that your students or faculty have been working on? Do you have someone at the school who would be a champion for your printer and make sure that it was maintained and used? What kinds of projects would you anticipate doing with 3D printing? Again, there are no right or wrong answers.

Step 5: Although not required, we encourage you to include images and links within your group post as appropriate. You might also work on your school Thingiverse profile, create 3D designs as Things or make Collections of what your students and faculty have done, and so on.

The schools listed at the bottom of this post were chosen as finalists this summer and have rolled into our pool of finalists for the December STEAM Giveaway that will follow the Thingiversity Fall STEAM Challenges (ThinkFun Expansion Set and Make It Loud!). We will add schools to this finalist list later this fall to increase to a total of ten featured schools.

Want someone to Donate a Printer to Your School?

For information on how to enter your school for finalist consideration, please read the Welcome Post. In fairness to those schools that have already been selected as finalists, any entries posted as comments to this topic will be deleted.

Looking to Donate a Printer to a School?

If you're looking for a school that would appreciate a donated 3D printer, this list is a great place to start; make sure to post here if you donate a printer to one of these schools, so that we can roll another deserving school into this finalist list.

Finalist Schools that Still Need a 3D Printer

Paine Primary School in Trussville, Alabama
A primary school with broad faculty support for adding a 3D printer to their Media Center in order to support a new Engineering Club for very young students in Kindergarden through second grade.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2676

Walnut Grove Elementary School in New Market, Alabama
An elementary school library with a proven 3D-modeling track record in a rural community, looking to expand their bursting MakerSpace to help all their students prepare for future tech jobs in nearby Huntsville.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2599

Synergy Alternative High School in East Hartford, Connecticut
A high school that has been using a loaned 3D printer to successfully challenge their students to think about how education, technology, and design can change themselves and enrich their community.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2648

Manning Elementary School in Manning, South Carolina
A rural elementary school that is on a mission to use 3D-printed models to help convince their local government to convert the town’s now-vacant WalMart into a fun park for the community.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2547

Waterloo STEAM Elementary in Monroe, Michigan
A new STEAM-based elementary school with a budding robotics program in Monroe, Michigan is looking to inspire a new generation of young engineers and designers to restore innovation and investment in their small town.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2532

Schools that have already won a 3D printer (wooo!)

Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, Illinois
A high school that piloted a 3D printing and physical computing program in which students were trained to become design facilitators, working to roll out their curriculum to 1500 students in the upcoming school year.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2668

Almaden Country School in San Jose, California
A middle school that has been running successful 3D printing electives with a printer borrowed from a parent; they are hoping to expand that program to full courses with their own 3D printer.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2644

Georgia Connections Academy in Duluth, Georgia
A virtual charter school based in Georgia that wants to build a mobile 3D-printing lab that travel can travel around the state to bring hands-on STEM experiences to their community of 4,000 students.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2642

Citrus Hills Intermediate School
A intermediate school that is welcoming a seasoned 3D modeler and teacher to their ranks, but needs a 3D printer of their own to support this new teacher's already established curriculum in design, science, math, and history using SketchUp Pro.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2618

Illinois School for the Deaf
A residential school for the deaf whose students want to 3D print customized, fun cochlear implants and hearing aids; they have an audiologist, design and CAD educators, and IT support, and are ready to go.
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/needaprinter/topic:2667

OFFICIAL RULES as defined by MakerBot Industries, LLC (“Sponsor”).

“THINGIVERSE SCHOOL GIVEAWAY”: This Thingiverse School 3D Printer Package Giveaway start date & time and end date & time as outlined on website is Friday, 06/12/2015 at 12:00AM EST to Sunday, 7/19/2015 at 11:59PM EST. All entries must be received no later than 7/19/2015 at 11:59PM EST (“End Date”).

WHO MAY ENTER: The Thingiverse School 3D Printer Package Giveaway (the “Thingiverse School Giveaway”) is only open to United States K-12 schools (“School”) whose faculty member or administrator representative for this Thingiverse School Giveaway is age 18 and over at the time of entry (“Entrant”). Employees of Sponsor and their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or those living in the same household (whether or not related), and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, prize suppliers, distributors and advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, “Thingiverse School Giveaway Parties”) are not eligible to enter or win.

Entrants acknowledge eligibility is conditioned on Sponsor verifying that Entrant is entering this Thingiverse School Giveaway on behalf of a valid education institution. This Thingiverse School Giveaway is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Residents of Canada, Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, Myanmar (Burma), or other individuals restricted by U.S. export controls and sanctions are ineligible to participate. This Thingiverse School Giveaway is void in these countries and where prohibited or restricted by U.S. or local law.

THINGIVERSE GIVEAWAY ENTRY: To enter during the Thingiverse School Giveaway, Entrant must create a topic in the “Our School Needs a 3D Printer!” Group on Thingiverse before the End Date (“Thingiverse School Giveaway Entry”). Limit one entry per School.

Thingiverse School Giveaway Entry must be made by the Entrant only. Tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Thingiverse School Giveaway is prohibited and any entries deemed by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to have been submitted in this manner will be void. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion.

WINNER SELECTION: Ten (10) Schools will be selected by Sponsor from all eligible entries received during the Thingiverse School Giveaway Period to be a featured School (“Featured Schools”). Five (5) of the Featured Schools will then be individually selected by each winner of the Thingiverse Summer STEAM Challenges on or about July 20, 2015 and each selected School will win the Prize defined below (“Winners”). Sponsor’s decision in all matters relating to this Thingiverse School Giveaway are final and binding in all respects. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Thingiverse School Giveaway Period.

WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winners will be determined after the End Date and announced on the Sponsor’s blog on no later than Monday, August 21, 2015. The phone number and/or email address indicated on the Entrant’s Thingiverse account will be used to contact the Winners. In the event the phone number or email address provided on the Thingiverse School Giveaway Entry is invalid, illegible, or is not that of the Winner, an alternate winner will be drawn at random from among all remaining eligible entries.

PRIZES: Winners will receive: (a) one (1) MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer (Fifth Generation Model) valued at $2,899.00 + tax USD, (b) two (2) MakerBot Smart Extruders valued at 350.00 USD + tax, (c) two (2) spools of MakerBot PLA filament, with a retail value of up to $100.00 + tax USD, and (d) one (1) year of MakerBot MakerCare valued at $350.00 USD (all four components collectively the “Prize”). Winners are solely responsible for all expenses, costs or fees associated with acceptance and/or use of the Prize, including without limitation, any taxes. A Winner is not a recipient of a Prize until Sponsor has verified him or her as an eligible winner. Sponsor will be deemed to have awarded the prize to a winner after it has been formally transferred and such winner will then assume full responsibility for the Prize(s). When shipping overseas, winners are responsible for any fees associated with taxes or customs. All Prize selections are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

PRIZES DELIVERY: The Prize will be delivered to Winners at the address designated in the Entrant’s Thingiverse account and only if that shipping address is compliant with the shipping restrictions contained on http://store.makerbot.com/terms. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, delayed, or mishandled shipments. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect addresses listed in the Winner's Thingiverse account or failure of delivery for any reason.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: By entering in this Thingiverse School Giveaway:

• Entrants agree and accept these Official Rules.

-Entrant waives any right to inspect or approve finished photographs, audio, video, multimedia, or advertising recordings and copy or printed matter or computer generated scanned image and other electronic media that may be used in conjunction therewith or to approve the eventual use that it might be applied.

-Winning constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use Winner’s name, images, hometown, likeness, prizes won, stories, audio, video and photograph (all at Sponsor’s discretion) for future advertising, exhibition, publicity in any and all media including, without limitation, cable and broadcast television and the Internet, now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission.

-Prize is non-transferable and must be accepted as awarded. No cash or other substitution may be made. Subject to sufficient eligible entries, no more than the Prize listed above will be awarded. All federal, state and local taxes, where applicable, are the sole responsibility of the winner, who is also responsible for all fees, surcharges, and expenses not mentioned herein and associated with acceptance, award, enjoyment, and/or use of the Prize. Sponsor is not responsible for a winner's limitations that prevent acceptance or use of the Prize.

SUBMISSION PROBLEMS: Sponsor is not responsible for lost, misdirected, damaged, altered, garbled, incorrect, incomplete or delayed entries; all of which will be void. Additionally, Sponsor is not responsible for problems related to technical malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer online systems, computer hardware or software failures, or failure of any entry to be received by Sponsor on account of any technical problems, including miscommunication or connection failure, which may limit a Entrant’s ability to participate in this Thingiverse School Giveaway. Sponsor reserves the right to modify or terminate the Thingiverse School Giveaway in the event it becomes technically impaired, and to cancel or suspend the Thingiverse School Giveaway in its entirety should unauthorized intervention corrupt the administration of the Entrant and, if terminated, at Sponsor’s discretion, determine the Winner using all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to time of cancellation using the judging procedure outlined above. In the event of a dispute regarding entries received from multiple users having the same email account, the authorized subscriber of the email account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the Entrant and must comply with these Official Rules. Authorized subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the email address by the online service provider. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the operation of this Thingiverse School Giveaway.

DATA PRIVACY: Data privacy and protection is very important to Sponsor. The privacy practices of this Thingiverse School Giveaway are governed by the Thingiverse.com Privacy Policy and the privacy provision in the MakerBot.com Terms of Service.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS: Each design shall be ascribed a Secondary License as stipulated in the MakerBot Terms of Use to allow for Sponsor’s use for marketing and promotional purposes. Sponsor shall have the exclusive authority to remove or retain entries and to repost on any of Sponsor’s websites or social media sites. By submitting an entry, Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may obtain many submissions under this Thingiverse School Giveaway and that such entries may be similar or identical in format to others submitted under this Thingiverse School Giveaway and/or other contests staged and/or sponsored by Sponsor, and waive any and all claims Entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, and that any composition or design accepted, reviewed and/or used by Sponsor (or its respective designees) may be similar to his/her entry. Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor does not have now, nor shall have in the future, any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of any copyright in and to Entrant’s entry.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By entering and/or accepting prize, Entrants and Winners agree to hold and assign Sponsor and its promotional partners, directors, officers, and employees harmless for liability, damages, or claims for injury or loss to any person or property, relating to, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, participation in this Thingiverse School Giveaway, the acceptance and/or subsequent use or misuse or condition of any of the prizes awarded, or claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy.
Under no circumstances will Entrants be permitted to obtain awards for, and Entrants hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, and Entrant (or, if an eligible minor, his/her parent or legal guardian) further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

CHOICE OF LAW: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of Entrants and Sponsor in connection with this Thingiverse School Giveaway, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, USA without regard to New York choice of law rules.

SEVERABILITY: If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or appointed arbitrator, such determination shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

WINNERS LIST: Winners will be announced at www.makerbot.com/blog on Saturday,September 12, 2015.

SPONSOR ADDRESS: MakerBot Industries, LLC, One MetroTech Center, 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201