ROCHELLE — Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and state director of agriculture Raymond Poe have invited members of Rochelle’s Hubbard Prosthetic Project team to the Illinois State Fair where they will be acknowledged in a proclamation ceremony as “Illinoisans of the Day”.
Last August, a team of technology students from Rochelle Middle School (RMS) was presented with this challenge by their teacher, Vic Worthington: build a functional, affordable, human-looking prosthetic arm for a local farmer Jake Hubbard using the school’s 3-D printers.
Realizing that they weren’t qualified to do it alone, the team enlisted the help of a group of expert volunteers to lend their skills and knowledge to the project. They included Nick Norris, an Ohio-based mechanical engineer experienced in prosthetic design, Kurt Wolter, RTHS technology teacher, Don Wallin, general manager of Rochelle’s Fastenal store, members of the Hillcrest fire department, and several local entrepreneurs who frequently use 3D printers.

Supplied with a heavyduty 3D printer that RMS purchased with funds from the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant, and assisted by RTHS student Zephan Drew using Mr. Wolter’s 3D printer at RTHS, the team produced a prosthetic arm with a human-like hand and fingers that can grip objects when Hubbard bends his elbow. “Jake’s traditional prosthetic cost around $10,000 to replace. The one our kids put together used about $100 in materials, so it was a pretty nice bargain for him,” Worthington said.
Plastic filament, fasteners, and cabling used in the project were donated by community volunteers. The team estimates that all of the people involved invested about 200 hours in the project.
While in Springfield on Aug. 15, the Hubbard Prosthetic Team will lead off the Illinois State Fair Ag Day Parade. The group has also been invited to Director Poe’s Ag Day brunch where they will be recognized as the Illinoisans of the Day and to be Gov. Rauner’s special guests at the Sale of Champions following the parade. The governor’s office will also present the team with a proclamation recognizing their success.
Check out photographer Tim Parker’s Hubbard Project gallery before it expires on Oct. 3. Password is ‘Jake’ at: https://goo.gl/FmvbUo
RMS students featured in photographer Tim Parker’s gallery include members of the incoming RTHS Class of 2021: Megan Thiravong, Austen Farrell, Ryleigh Blaha, Rylan Scott, Keanon Voss, as well as RTHS senior Zephan Drew and junior Skylar Hubbard, RMS Teacher Vic Worthington, RTHS teacher Kurt Wolter, RTHS alumnus and volunteer intern Chris Builta, and Rochelle Elementary District 231 Superintendent Todd Prusator, volunteer Steve Builta, and Rochelle Fastenal general manager Don Wallin.