Student Engineers Reaching Out: Eating Assist Device

Role: Mechanical Engineering Student and Project Contributor

During my time as a mechanical engineering student at Notre Dame, I participated in a community-focused course called Student Engineers Reaching Out (S.E.R.O.), where we applied our engineering skills to solve real problems for individuals with unique needs. Our team was introduced to Katelyn, a young woman who had been struck by lightning as a child and had since lived with significant physical disabilities. She expressed a simple but powerful goal: to feed herself again.

I led the development of an all-mechanical assistive device designed to help her achieve this. Using basic materials from a local hardware store, including PVC pipe and off-the-shelf fasteners, I built a functional prototype that allowed Katelyn to guide a utensil and take her first unassisted bites of food in years. The design emphasized simplicity, affordability, and reliability, proving that even the most modest materials can be transformative when thoughtfully applied.

Seeing the joy and independence this device brought Katelyn was a defining moment for me. Her message to our team, “I am so happy right now”, served as a lasting reminder of the real-world impact great design can have. This project sparked my passion for creating products that improve lives, a value that continues to guide my work to this day.