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Forest Lake Academy Student's Innovative Idea Helps Essential Workers Protect Against COVID-19

Forest Lake Academy students devise masks to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forest Lake Academy students devise masks to use during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Can our Adventist students make a difference in the global fight against COVID-19?

Brendon, a student at Forest Lake Academy, gives a resounding “Yes!”

When asked about his innovation with the face masks, Brendon explains, “God has put me in this position knowing the skills I have to help put an end to this crisis.” Brendon and the team at Forest Lake Academy are designing innovations and printing N95 masks and face shields to help the thousands of medical teams across the North American Division (NAD) who need these basic essentials to survive.

The team at Forest Lake Academyis working with Mass General Brigham Center for COVID Innovation to 3D print N95 masks and face shields. The Florida Conference Innovation Lab has six 3D printers that will be used to print the shields and masks.

The lab is also looking to 3D print an N95 mask that was designed by a team of biomedical engineers at the Medical University of South Carolina. They have requested emergency approval of the device from U.S. Food and Drug Administration before large scale printing can begin.

Forest Lake Academy close up of mask

Close up of a mask created by student "Brendon" and his team at Forest Lake Academy

We have all read about the shortages of protection for our doctors and nurses. Most likely we all know someone who is putting their life on the line every day they go to work as essential personnel.

Arne Nielsen, NAD vice president of Adventist Education, congratulates the students at Forest Lake Academy. “Adventist Education is proud to see our students at the forefront of technology and becoming key players in the COVID19 battle,” he says.

Yet another example of "Adventist Education Transforming Lives!"

To support the lab’s effort contact Robert Henley, at robert.henley@flcoe.org.

— Leisa Morton-Standish, Ph.D., is the director of Elementary Education for the North American Division.