New Jersey student brings 3D printing to Lahaina elementary school

After witnessing the devastation from the Maui wildfires, New Jersey high school junior Hanvit Lee—who has been visiting the island since she was a toddler—wanted to find a way to support the Lahaina community’s recovery efforts. She decided to contribute by designing and selling Maui-themed stickers and tote bags through her nonprofit Stickers That Heal, directing proceeds toward educational equipment for King Kamehameha III Elementary School.

Working closely with the school’s technology teacher Sandee Rivas and principal Michael McCloskey, Hanvit selected a 3D printer that would enhance the students’ learning experience.

“I believe this will be a fantastic way to provide hands-on coding experiences and bring our STEM curriculum to life,” said Rivas, who has been dedicating her career to inspiring students through technology. Passionate about empowering young students through STEM, Rivas sees 3D printing as a great bridge between art and technology.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, the 3D printer was officially delivered to the school. To mark the occasion, Hanvit visited Rivas’ 3rd and 5th grade technology classes, sharing her personal journey into coding and technology with the young students.

During her presentation, Hanvit showcased games she built, explaining how coding lets you “create anything you want, no matter how unusual or silly it might seem.” In her most recent game, she designed and integrated 3D models to bring her virtual worlds to life. “With coding, you can make your own world, with your own rules,” she told the students. 

“You don’t need to know everything, you just need to start small,” Hanvit told the students, emphasizing that making mistakes or “bugs” in coding is actually how you learn. She also shared how flexible coding can be as a skill, mentioning that “you can even code from the beach” – highlighting how programming opens up possibilities for working from anywhere.

The presentation concluded with Hanvit reading from her children’s book, Vectoria Emmel Codes Her Dreams, which she wrote and illustrated. The story follows a girl who discovers how coding can serve as a creative outlet, mirroring Hanvit’s own journey.

Looking ahead, Hanvit will continue to collaborate remotely with Rivas to help get the 3D printing class off the ground.