VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Two educators in Valley City have designed a face shield in response to the public demand stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.

It’s a collaboration with Annette Beattie, the Tech Ed Teacher with the Valley City Public School District and Tyler Tufte, the Application Developer at Valley City State University.

Tufte said, “I’ve always been a maker at heart and enjoy following other makers online. One of those makers highlighted this project and encouraged others who have the ability to 3D print to help out in their communities. I sent the idea to a friend who works in the medical field and promptly delivered a sample to test out. She liked the concept and asked for many more. Word spread pretty quickly and now I am working with Annette at VCPS to pump out as many as possible.”

Beattie said, “During this unknowing time, I am grateful there’s something I do know and that’s how to use the 3-D printers and laser engraver. I’m grateful for Tyler Tufte who found the design and shared it with me to help our community. Over the three day Easter weekend, several of the staff of Valley City Public Schools volunteered to come into the Tech Ed room to keep the 3-D printers going. We have to pull the finished ones off and start up the new ones every hour and a half. We ran about 15 hour shifts keeping that going. During the week the VCPS custodial staff has graciously been keeping the machines going. Now that the process is in motion, I only have to come in to load new filament and laser cut the clear shields. It’s a group effort – community helping community.”

VCSU President Dr. Alan LaFave talked about how the plan unfolded.

LaFave described the design of the face shield.

The collaborative project is trying to meet the needs of healthcare and emergency workers according to City County Health Director Theresa Will.

Feature photo: Back row L to R; Josh Johnson and Alan LaFave. Front row L to R; Theresa Will, Tyler Tufte and Annette Beattie.