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BETHANY COLLEGE ART & DIGITAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT CREATES MASK WITH 3D PRINTER AND TEMPLATE SHARED BY MONTANA DOCTORS
Apr 29, 2020
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LINDSBORG, KAN. April 29, 2020. The Bethany College Department of Art and Digital Media is using their 3D printer to create face masks in response to recommended COVID-19 precautions. The masks are called “Montana Masks” because the template and design was created through teamwork of Dr. Richardson, and dentist Spencer Zaugg, and his son Colton, all of Billings, Montana who shared open source files.
Ed Pogue, Academic Dean and Director of Art and Digital Media at Bethany College, adapted the mask design a bit using easily accessible materials to make a seal at the top of the mask using rubber window stripping from Lowe’s and a filter other than that used surgical masks, such as white coffee filters and vacuum cleaner allergenic filters that are cheap, effective, and changed out more frequently. According to Pogue, “these will allow one surgical mask to become four to six – and also the plastic can be sanitized for reuse.”
“I wanted to showcase versatility as a small college with a unique program. We have an advantage in the ability to adapt faster to problems, than most. A need presented itself, a supply shortage of COVID-19 applicable masks for our maintenance workers, especially those who clean in the residence halls. A creative solution and opportunity also presented itself through some research by myself and one of our digital arts instructors, Sarah Mathia. I first 3D printed the masks here at Bethany from open-source files, then adapted them to work with other types of more accessible household products,” said Pogue.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.