AmE NEWS

By Brook Morrison

AME student turns skills, hobby into business

Move over Frank Epperson, the ice pop inventor at age 11, there’s a new young entrepreneur at work.

Meet Alex Serra, an Anna Maria Elementary fifthgrader who has turned his love for 3D printing into an Anna Maria Island business.

Alex received his first 3D printer for Christmas in 2021.

He spent several months figuring out how to design for 3D by making small animals and cups before he asked for a second printer for his birthday in April 2022, mostly because he wanted to print more than one item at a time.

Alex and his mother Jen worked together to design AMI ornaments, which he hand-painted and began selling in AMI Facebook groups.

“His business was so good he even took one of the printers on family vacation so he could keep churning them out,” Jen Serra wrote to The Islander in an email.

To date, Alex has sold about 200 ornaments, which are carried by Beach Blossom Studio on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria and Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach and at the Beach Shop on Cortez Road in Cortez.

After Christmas, Alex got to work designing and printing AMI keychains.

“I love living on Anna Maria Island since it allows me to freely ride my bike around and it feels like paradise and I have awesome teachers who support me,” Alex said in an April 11 interview with The Islander. After creating a few keychains for himself and his family, Alex decided to start selling them. He set up shop on his mother’s website, 52ndstreet-

Anna Maria Elementary fifth-grader Alex Serra poses with work product April 5 at his home in Holmes Beach. “i want to be an engineer, architect or STEM teacher when i grow up,” said Alex, a member of AME’s robotics team, Garden Club and Battle of the Books team. He also is a first-place finisher for his division in the School District of Manatee County Science Fair. islander Photo: Courtesy ryan Serra designs.com, and started taking orders.

It wasn’t long before the orders started coming in and now the keychains are sold at Beach Bums on Pine Avenue Anna Maria.

Alex sometimes can be spotted delivering the keychains by bicycle.

“He purchases all his own materials from his profits and saves most of the rest and he says by age 16 maybe he’ll have made enough to buy a car,” said Jen Serra.

Alex’s keychains have become so popular that he’s purchased a third printer with his earnings to give him more print space.

Alex also can be found hosting a lemonade stand once a month.

He rides his bike to Publix in Holmes Beach for supplies, then bakes cookies and makes lemonade for his weekend sales.

So what’s next for the young entrepreneur?

“He now tinkers with small electronics and is working on building a solar-powered iPhone charger,” said his mom.

Homeschool advantage

lEFT: Down by the Bay Homeschoolers of Anna Maria island compete April 14 on the field at the Center of Anna Maria island. The event included 58 kids competing in eight events, including tug of war, sack races, limbo and more. The co-op organization provides support and group events to homeschool students and their parents/guardians. it is operated by Brooke Svoboda and Katy roadman. BElOW: issaac roadman goes low for the limbo. islander Photos: Mike Svoboda

AME speechmakers

Garden springs to life

AME Garden Club volunteers take a break from improving school grounds for a photo April 1. The club meets once a month. Check amepto.org for May’s meetup.

Earth Day 2023

AME fifth-grader Holton Sebastian pays homage to the rod & reel Pier in Anna Maria in an entry for a poster contest for Earth Day 2023.

AME Calendar

• Thursday, April 20, SAC meeting, 3:45 p.m., media center.

• April 24-28, PTO board nominations, amepto.org.

• Tuesday, April 25, first-grade play, 6:30 p.m., auditorium; PTO dinner, TBD, 5 p.m., cafeteria.

• May 1-5, staff appreciation week.

• May 2-3, English language arts state assessments.

• May 9, PTO board meeting, 3:30 p.m., conference room.

• May 9-10, fifth-grade science assessments.

• Saturday, May 13, spring gala.

• May 16-17, state math assessments.

• Friday, May 19, field day.

• Friday, May 26, last day of school for students.

Anna Maria Elementary is at 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

For more information, call the school at 941-708-5525.

Song and dance class

AME second-graders perform Broadway tunes April 11 during a musical in the auditorium. The next class performance and PTO-sponsored dinner will be Tuesday, April 25. islander