4-H technology experience plants seed for career path

Briella Henderson had her first technology experience when the Extension office serving the farthest southern Illinois counties brought a mobile fabrication laboratory to the teen’s county. Grant funding from the university provost’s office and Extension allowed staff from the Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab to train dozens of teens to use laser cutters, 3D printers, small electronics, and both 2D and 3D design software.

Briella continued exploring her interest as a member of the maker squad of the Illinois Math and Science Academy. “Growing up on a farm, I learned to be handy building on any scale,” Briella says. “After my 4-H Teen Teacher technology experience, I realized that systems engineering and design fit my interests perfectly.”

The teen says she enjoys all types of designing and building, as well as coordinating a team of people with different skills to make a project work. As a maker squad board member, she reviews new applications for the squad, provides training, plans and advertises events, assists with summer programs, and maintains and fixes equipment.

“I’m fascinated with up-and coming technologies and their application in engineering,” Briella says. “My engineering classes helped me focus on prototyping skills, with an emphasis on teamwork and design iteration.”

The 17-year-old member of the Massac County Happy Hillbillies 4-H Club will continue her education in the fall of 2019 on her way to a career as a systems engineer.