University Archives

The College of Engineering & Science expanded their partnership with The School at Marygrove to mentor 12th grade students through their Senior Capstone Engineering project during the winter semester. Thaddeus Lindsay, McShane Makerspace lab director and Chris Nichols, STEM pathways program manager worked with five students over the course of a semester to teach basic woodworking skills through building three little free libraries, then to identify an issue in their community and plan, build, and implement a project that would address their chosen problem of students at their school not having access to outdoor time during the school day.

The students found in their research that student mental health has become a growing concern due to academic pressure and everyday stress. This project aims to address this issue by adding outdoor seating for students during lunch. Surveys show many students feel stressed and would welcome the option to eat outside, which also offers health benefits. By creating a more relaxed environment, this project seeks to reduce stress, promote healthier habits, and demonstrate how small changes can improve the overall school experience.