Boise State seniors help nonprofit attain help from the public

The brainchild of 10 Boise State University students has gone public.

In their final semesters at the university, the interdisciplinary team with members graduating from material science, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering programs have honed in on a project to assist Glassworks, a local nonprofit agency.

To fund their research and the cost of materials, they have reached out through PonyUp with a campaign asking for public contributions.

Glassworks has spent the last six years shaping lives while shaping glass. The environmentally friendly company recycles glass, taking used glass and shaping them into usable items like wind chimes, cups and even art. In the process, it offers training and employment to veterans, at-risk youths, the disabled, the homeless, and other members of the community with boundaries that hinder employment.

The Boise State University seniors on this project are in the process of building and testing a prototype that will optimize use of a flame polisher. Achieving their research goals requires the purchase and use of various consumables, which becomes costly.

Because the project benefits the nonprofit organization and, by extension, the entire community, the students have created their PonyUp campaign, hoping for donations that will assist in the purchase of the consumables and any other materials required to complete their task.