Luis Gonzalez, an international student from Mexico studying Mechanical Systems Engineering at Conestoga College, has brought innovation, insight, and heart to Strong Start’s materials production. His journey began in the summer of 2025 through a connection at college, where he was offered the chance to support Strong Start’s 3D printing efforts. That volunteer opportunity, he says, “aligned with my values and what I was discovering about myself at the time.”
The partnership was facilitated by Dan Strype, an Engineering Technologist at Conestoga College, who recalls, “we were at a corporate function, and a Strong Start employee and friend pulled me aside and said we need some help with 3D printing. She reached out to me with a lovely email and basically the rest is history. We found some good people. I myself helped out a little bit.”
Dan describes Luis’ enthusiasm for the role: “Luis very much wants to be here in Ontario, not just working and living but integrating deeply into the fabric of our community. Coming to him with an opportunity such as this, especially having an engineering flavour to it, was something that he was just absolutely pumped about from the get-go. It was a very quick yes.”
Luis has helped optimise Strong Start’s existing 3D printing department, managing ongoing projects and equipment. With the introduction of the Bambu Lab X1-Carbon 3D printer, recommended by Luis, projects can be completed even faster. The printer is easy to use, and produces high-quality, colourful objects with up to four different colours. Luis is helping source 3D print designs for Strong Start’s hard-to-find program items, such as small animals for the Letters, Sounds and Words program like zebra and moose.
Dan observed Luis’s growth first-hand: “Having him work with [Strong Start] and him spending a fair amount of time on those machines and really trying to figure out a process to make this as efficient as possible and to produce high quality parts… really dialled in his capabilities. I think he got a lot out of it in terms of not just working with the new style of 3D printer and the software, but really nailing down how to come up with an efficient process in order to produce a lot and have it streamlined for [Strong Start].”
But Luis’s impact goes far beyond engineering. He sees literacy as a privilege and believes in using his skills to serve others. “I like to think that my intelligence and what I can do should be helpful for the community I live in,” he shares. “Kids are a great way to preserve the future… learning to read changes the outcome—it changes the future.”
Luis’ sees the value of his 3D printing volunteering because it helps children learn through tactile, engaging experiences—making abstract concepts concrete and supporting cognitive development. “You don’t only learn with your brain but with your full body,” he says. “Touching, counting… it enhances the brain to work differently.”
Dan highlights the broader benefits: “Anytime we can do these types of things really benefits the community as a whole. It enriches the students’ lives… especially with young people making contacts, getting vital experience that they need to go out into the workplace. Strong Start is great because you are making these things in order to promote young kids learning to read, to get them to that point where they can read to learn and the better we can do that, the sooner we can get them to that stage.”
Volunteering has also reshaped Luis’ personal outlook, “Volunteering showed me the value of giving my work for free because I truly believe it helps. It’s part of my legacy.”
Luis’s story is a powerful reminder that small actions—like printing a game piece—can have a big impact. “Sometimes I feel I don’t have the power to change the world,” he says, “but I forget that the world changes with these little actions.” His dedication and insight have not only enhanced our programs but inspired everyone around him.
Dan sums up the partnership’s value: “Getting our youngsters that strong start, no pun intended, is just so vital. The more that we can partner like this and help each other out, I think it’s great stuff for all of us.”
We appreciate Luis’ contributions and look forward to his ongoing support and innovations, as well as Dan’s efforts to recruit student volunteers. Thanks also to Shop3D.ca for supporting our 3D printing equipment and supplies.