Eleven members of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College spent their Thanksgiving vacation, November 24-28, pursuing academic enrichment and completing a major service project in Denver.  The first stop on the field trip for the Coffeyville students was the Creighton University Laboratory of instructor Jorge Zuniga, inventor of the Cyborg Beast Hand, a low-cost 3d printed prosthetic hand for children with upper-limb differences.  In visiting the Creighton Laboratory, the Phi Theta Kappa members were exploring their Honors in Action Project, “How Has the 3d Printer Used Innovation and Creativity in the Prosthetic Revolution?”  As Professor Zuniga was in Chile at the time of the students’ visit, Adam Carson from the Exercise Science Department and Zuniga’s research lab assistant, shared a PowerPoint presentation on new innovation with the Cyborg Hand and conducted a laboratory tour including a demonstration of the 3d printer.  Also working with the Coffeyville students were Ryan Smith, Maggie Griffin, and Maggie Fleita from the exercise science department and Alexandra Maliha from the environmental science department.  These students composed the research team that has been working on the refinements of the prosthetic hand.  It is estimated that in the U.S. more than 32,500 children suffer from major pediatric amputation and that approximately 1,500 children are born with upper limb reduction yearly.  The Phi Theta Kappa members learned that children’s prosthetic needs are especially complex, due in part to their rapid growth.  Using the 3d printer, it takes only 12-15 hours to produce a prosthetic hand. The cost estimate is $50.00.  Additional advantages of the hand include:  easy to use, easy fitting procedures, easy assembly, visually appealing to children, functional, and safe.  The Cyborg Beast Hand was designated as one of the top inventions of 2013.

From Creighton University the Coffeyville students traveled to Denver and their service project, processing Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes for their journey to children worldwide.  In route to Denver, the students were the North Platte, Nebraska, dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Vieyra, grandparents of trip participant Tanner Vieyra.  The students worked both November 25 and 27 processing shoe boxes that were designated for delivery to children in Mexico.  It was estimated that 800,000 shoe boxes would be processed at the Denver site while more than 10.5 million shoe boxes would be processed worldwide.  While in the Denver area, students also enjoyed skiing at Silver Thorne, a visit to the Cherry Creek Mall and the historic town in Georgetown.

Students participating in the field trip were:  Casey Shepard, Reina Garcia, Karen McKenzie, Victoria Smith, Elizabeth Villanueva, Morgan Porter, Tanner Vieyra, Jesus Medina and Igor Luczensky.