AniMakerspace

Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement

Inspirational Learning Experience, Limited Budget

A team of educators and themed entertainment professionals came together to create an innovative and highly engaging program called AniMakerspace for teaching STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) at the K-12 levels. AniMakerspace is a permanent, educational, handson laboratory module available to schools. It enables students to create, build (from raw materials) and program theme park animatronics. It feels like play. Yet in the process they are learning and practicing physics, engineering, mechanics, electronics, robotics, math, art, costuming, biology, history, teamwork, critical thinking, storytelling and more. AniMakerspace operates on the idea that knowledge/skill sets become more meaningful as part of an activity the student finds personally engaging, and that the learning has more impact when the subjects come tangled together, just as in real life. Results have shown a spiral of indirect benefits from AniMakerspace. After enrollment, students previously at risk usually see their performance in other subjects go up, making them more likely to finish high school and subsequently more likely to go on to college. Moreover, anything that sparks students’ interest in the imaginative use of STEAM subjects helps steer them toward future career success.

By using the arts and sciences of themed entertainment to rouse and arm the next generation of dreamers and doers in all fields, AniMakerspace exemplifies the highest standards of excellence, achievement and community service that we want the public to associate with all of us who create compelling places and experiences.

GARNER HOLT EDUCATION THROUGH IMAGINATION, LLC Ryan Rainbolt, President Sarah Emerson, Director of Creative Learning Bill Tynan, Director of Secondary Instruction & Workforce Development Jordan Greenstein, Creative Technologies Specialist Stevan Briceno, Creative Technologies Specialist GARNER HOLT PRODUCTIONS, INC. Garner Holt, Founder and President Michelle Berg, Executive Vice President James Brown, Vice President – Creative Production Bill Butler, Vice President – Creative Development Harry Whitten, Machine Shop Manager Ben Schwenk, Figure Finishing Supervisor Tayler Brown, Dimensional Design Director Miguel Martinez, Plastics Supervisor Robert Norris, Animation Manager Kaithy Silva, Accounting Director REDLANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Mauricio Arellano, Redlands Unified School District Superintendent

GLENDORA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Tracey Vackar, Assistant Superintendent, Glendora Unified School District

Weigl Controls, LLC

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