RUMFORD — The request for donations on DonorsChoose.org began, “In my classroom, students learn by creating. Students leave my room with houses, Frisbees, and Rubik’s Cubes. The only limit is that they are just computer models. With your help, we can make those models into real objects.”

Mountain Valley High School technology teacher Jeff Bailey saw a need and realized the school’s budget would not cover it. So this 2013 Oxford County Teacher of the Year got creative. He applied for donations and received them.

His application continued, “My students find engineering a fun and challenging field. I have had to create new, higher-level courses because of student demand. I am amazed, on a regular basis, with their creativity, critical thinking and imagination. They are only limited by our meager resources and their own imaginations. Our school has a 71 percent free/reduced lunch rate and cannot afford to support many high-tech programs. The district budget can only maintain the computers we design on, but cannot fund the next step: 3D printing the ideas students create.”

“Many of my students realize that a career in this field will be their road out of poverty and work hard toward that end,” Bailey added. “Some students even continue their learning in this and related fields by enrolling in our vocational school’s metal trades program and go on to obtain scholarships and paid internships in precision machining (a great paying and in-demand career in our area).”

His appeal was heard. In just six days, 51 donors contributed more than $2,500. The 3D printer became a reality.

Kelli Trenoweth, an engineering student in Bailey’s class, wrote a thank-you to one of the donors and expressed her excitement during the waiting period. “I was watching the website every day when Mr. Bailey told me he was trying to raise money to get a 3D printer. When I looked on and saw the fundraiser was closed, I got worried that we didn’t make enough money. Mr. Bailey told me the following Monday that he ordered the 3D printer. A few weeks later, it was in our engineering room and I couldn’t wait to try it!”

Freshman Travis Moore said, “It was the happiest moment in my freshman year.”

Junior Brad Marshall added, “The 3D printer is a great experience and I am thankful for all the donors that donated so I could get the opportunity to try out such an unbelievable piece of technology.”

As thankful as the students were for the technology, some of the donors also expressed their thanks for the opportunity to give back.

MVHS alum Zachary Martin, now from Lusby, Md., wrote on the website, “Part of being successful means giving back in hopes others can be inspired. I’m very grateful for my MVHS education and the tools I learned in my drafting classes. I still use these skills on a weekly basis in my professional engineering career. Love the idea of a 3D printer and bringing parts to life. Keep up the good work Mr. Bailey!”

Megan Arsenault, another MVHS alum, wrote, “Everyone should get a fair shot for the greatest education possible.”

Another MVHS alum, Craig Allen wrote, “Engineering a great and successful field, budget cuts have already taking away a lot of areas for kids to find their true direction. I hope this will motivate students to explore options after high school simply by seeing what their hard work can create. I hope you push them to their limits and teach them how much they themselves can accomplish!”

But the donations didn’t come from just MVHS alums. An anonymous donor in Guam helped the cause.

Jeff Charboneau, the 2013 National Teacher of the Year, from Zillah, Wash., added his contribution and wrote, “Mr. Bailey and Class, I know first hand the value of having a 3D printer in my classroom. I wish you nothing but the best! Perhaps we can swap photos in the future of some student-created projects!”

The result of the generosity of local people and strangers was amazing. Bailey’s classroom became a buzz of excitement with many students and staff stopping by to observe the technology.

Bailey observed, “Engineering students have created their own designs, teaching themselves more about the CAD (computer-aided design) program as needed to complete it. We have made bookmarks, pencil holders, chess pieces, dragons and even a TARDIS —  all created from student original problem-solving and design work. Some students have surpassed even my knowledge of the technology and have become mentors to others. I have even had past students stay after school to work numerous hours on their own on projects with no grade attached. That’s truly learning for learning’s sake!”

Students in the engineering course included Andrew Arsenault, Jacob Beauchesne, Ryan Bennett, Isaac Brennick, Kevin Cogley, Eric Deanis, Abby Elliot-Provencher, Nathan Fitzpatrick, Dylan Freeman, Jonathan Gallant, Griffin Hamel, Kayla Lauzier, Michael Lloyd, Brad Marshall, Tom Marshall, Codi Martson, Katherine Mills, Jesse Moniz, Travis Moore, Jacob O’Leary, Kelli Trenoweth and Trenton Virgin.