SAN ANTONIO – A 12-year-old San Antonio native has won a national 3D printing competition by designing a pin honoring military veterans.
Daniel Grinman Rivera of Nimitz Middle School is the grand prize winner of the We Heart Veterans Pin Design Challenge.
The Army Educational Outreach Program and Future Engineers puts on the competition every year, to encourage kids to continue developing their design skills by creating a military veteran pin.
Students from across the country in grades four through 12 put their creativity and engineering skills to the test, designing a 3D pin that gives thanks to U.S. military veterans. It was the second year of the competition.
Out of 10 finalists, and 10 from grades four through eight, the grand prize winner was awarded to Daniel, a seventh-grade student.
His patriotic pin shows the six military branches, with the Space Force symbol in the middle.
“I took some inspiration from the American flag and I did have to do a little research on the different branches,” Daniel said.
Daniel’s family has watched his skills develop tremendously ever since his teacher gave him a broken 3D printer last year that he successfully repaired.
“I’m really excited for the things he makes in the future. I know he wants to join the robotics club later on that I am in. We’re really excited to have him with the experience he already has,” Alex Grinman, his older brother, said.
Grateful for the recognition, Daniel plans to move forward by expanding his skills in engineering.
“The definition of engineering actually is creating something to help a problem. I really want to be part of that,” Daniel said.
Daniel will attend a special Memorial Day event in Columbus, Ohio at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
The Army Educational Outreach Program and Future Engineers will also donate a new 3D printer to Daniel’s school, library or organization of his choice.