“Engineering for a Cause” – A REAL WORLD experience!
VME partners with a variety of universities, community colleges, and high schools to enhance the learning experience of future engineers. Students team up in small groups to design and manufacture “real world” custom devices that change the lives of individuals with disabilities. VME volunteer engineers and medical professionals’ mentor the student teams.
Through this one- or two- semester experience, students strengthen their critical thinking, improve technical skills, build a strong team environment and (we trust) deepen their appreciation for using their skills for the greater good now and throughout their careers. Students can include this experience on their resumes, too. Upon completion of the project, students serve as “Alumni/Ambassadors” and are invited to help volunteer with VME beyond graduation.
The process
VME custom-engineered projects are incorporated into the coursework of our partner schools – thanks to the support of professors and instructors. Teams navigate through all the steps of an engineering process – research, benchmarking, client interviews, designs (CAD), prototyping, review of industry standards, quality /safety checks and delivery. A volunteer engineer serves as a consultant and a resource to each student team. Throughout this process, students also present their design ideas before a panel of engineers and medical professionals – preparing them for making presentations now and later in their careers. Each semester, VME hosts a Brunch Roundtable for safety and quality checks. It’s also an opportunity for students to interface with industry professionals and meet fellow engineering students from other schools.
- Senior Engineering Capstone Projects (one year or one semester) – mechanical, bio-med, electrical and interdisciplinary
- Community College – Intro to Engineering Design Projects (one semester)
- High School Accelerator Programs / Project Lead The Way – Intro to CAD / Engineering Design (typically one year)
Students share their experiences (a 3-episode docuseries)
Recent Awards for Excellence in Design and Social Impact
May 2025 – George Washington University – (Northeast Bio Medical Engineering Conference) – Gary’s Arm Warmer for a farmer and amputee
University of Maryland (Neilom Foundation) – Dec 2024 – Matthew’s Motorized Hand Cycle Team – a custom design for a bike enthusiast who has muscle weakness
Opportunities for Student Occupational Therapists
VME partners with Towson University’s OT Graduate Program to offer “real world” experiences for occupational therapy students. Through a one-semester internship, students are tasked with a variety of projects to service our clients and the disability community. For example:
- Participating on home or school site visits to measure and evaluate our clients for design projects
- Collaborating with our volunteer OTs to gather input to improve our processes to service the community
- Spearheading our Adaptive Uniform Project (in collaboration with Stevenson University’s Fashion Design Department) to assist elementary/middle school children with receiving custom school uniforms and more.
Join the action!
Our STEM experience strives to provide an enriching experience for all. If you know of a school interested in partnering with us, please let us know. Most new partnerships begin in the Fall.
Contact: vmeprojects@imagemd.org or 443.355.4212.
Donate!
School team projects are funded through private donations and corporate grants. Some alums choose to donate through their company’s matching gift program – For matching gift programs (501c3), VME is listed under The IMAGE Center (Independent Marylanders Achieving Growth and Empowerment). Feel free to designate a school that you would like to sponsor for the next semester.