High School Senior Gathers Information and Ideas at Student Summit

DARIUS CARSON

Darius Carson, an 18-year-old senior at Center Line High School in Michigan, was able to explore the world of manufacturing at the 2022 Bright Minds Student Summit, held during RAPID + TCT — North America’s largest additive manufacturing event — at Huntington Place in Detroit. Not only did he pick up invaluable information and ideas about new technology and career opportunities, he was one of two students who won a MakerBot SKETCH 3D printer — provided by the SME Education Foundation — by engaging in a game app at the event.

Attending the summit on a class field trip, Carson was fascinated by the additive manufacturing products on display. He says his favorite part was walking around and talking to exhibitors. “I loved it,” he says. “I got information about 3D printers and resin printers and all those types of things that I don’t normally see or use on a daily basis. Once I started talking to people, it really opened me up.”

An integral part of his experience was viewing hightech manufacturing demonstrations. “Building things is something I’ve been involved with since I was a child,” Carson says. “My dad worked for Comcast and he showed me how to build computers at a young age. I built my first computer when I was 11, full hands-on, no help. That was initially the start of it, and then I got into programming.”

Until then, he’s focusing on his high school studies, working part-time to save money for college, and enjoying his new printer. “I’ve been making so many things,” he says.

With the ultimate goal of becoming a data scientist or cybersecurity expert, Carson plans to attend Macomb Community College for two years. After that, he’d like to transfer to Maryland’s Morgan State University due to its strong robotics training programs, proximity to family members, and status as a historically black university.