From Classrooms to Communities: Celebrating the 2024–25 InfyMakers

The Infosys Foundation USA InfyMakers Awards Program continues to support maker educators across K–12 schools, libraries, museums, makerspaces, and community-based organizations who are expanding access to meaningful computer science learning. Digital Promise was excited to wrap up another impactful year with the 2024–25 InfyMakers cohort—a diverse and passionate community of practice that met monthly to learn, share, and grow together through a playful, peer-to-peer professional learning experience.

 

This year’s cohort reflected the wide range of spaces where maker learning thrives. From middle school classrooms and school libraries to museums, teen centers, and fabrication labs, InfyMakers brought projects rooted in local needs and student interests while remaining connected by a shared commitment to making computer science more inclusive, relevant, and engaging.

We kicked off the year by getting to know each educator and their project goals through 1:1 conversations and collaborative online meetings. Using a shared digital whiteboard, cohort members exchanged photos, videos, ideas, and questions as they began forming relationships with one another. These early sessions laid the groundwork for trust, collaboration, and a willingness to share both successes and challenges as projects unfolded throughout the year.

Across the cohort, students explored interdisciplinary maker experiences that blended computer science with sustainability, history, art, engineering, and community problem solving. In California, Jose Gonzalez’s students investigated climate change, microplastics, and sustainable ocean systems through aquaponics, ROV design, and regenerative farming concepts. One especially powerful moment came when Jose’s students presented their work directly to the InfyMakers cohort, sharing not only their technical designs but also their thinking, collaboration, and pride in what they had created. Their presentations served as a reminder that student voice and authentic audiences are central to meaningful maker learning.

At Fab Lab El Paso, Michael Nelson led extensive work expanding access to fabrication tools and workforce-aligned maker experiences for both youth and adult learners. His efforts emphasized community-centered making, skill development, and pathways into advanced manufacturing and design. Through workshops, open lab access, and partnerships, Michael’s work demonstrated how makerspaces can serve as hubs for lifelong learning while strengthening local ecosystems around computer science and technical creativity.

Several educators focused on integrating computer science into core academic subjects in creative ways. Victoria Savo’s work connecting state history, symbols, and social studies content with hands-on making allowed students to design automatons, mission patches, and constellation-based projects that bridged historical understanding with modern technology. These experiences gave students opportunities to engage deeply with content while building computational thinking and design skills.

Justin Ausburn’s project centered on hands-on computer science through arcade-style builds and interactive digital-physical experiences. His students explored circuitry, coding, and design by creating projects that felt playful, tangible, and deeply engaging—reinforcing the idea that computer science learning can be both rigorous and joyful.

Mya Stark brought a strong focus on accessibility, creativity, and community-based making through her work with Two Bit Circus Foundation. Her contributions emphasized inclusive design, upcycled materials, and learner-centered makerspace practices, offering the cohort valuable perspectives on how playful making can support diverse learners and foster belonging.

Other projects highlighted the power of making to connect technical skills with real-world meaning. Yeidy Levels’ work, featured in the “Making Meaningful Machines” projects, encouraged students to design machines with purpose—blending engineering, creativity, and reflection on how technology can serve people and communities. Across projects, educators emphasized student agency, collaboration, and problem solving as core outcomes of their work.

The year culminated in a virtual InfyMakers Award Winners Celebration, where educators shared project updates, student outcomes, and reflections on their learning journeys. From expanded access to fabrication tools, to increased teacher confidence, to students presenting at expos, competitions, and community showcases, the impact of the InfyMakers grants extended far beyond equipment purchases. Many educators noted that the professional learning community itself — the relationships, encouragement, and shared problem solving—was just as valuable as the funding.

As the 2024–25 cohort wraps up, InfyMakers leave with stronger networks, clearer visions for their programs, and renewed energy to continue this work. The creativity, persistence, and generosity of this year’s educators demonstrate what’s possible when teachers are trusted as designers and supported through community. We’re grateful to Infosys Foundation USA for making this work possible and look forward to seeing how these projects continue to grow in the years ahead.

Want to know more about maker education? Find more resources here:

• Learn more about Infosys Foundation USA
• Check out the 2024-25 Infymakers Award Winners
• Review other Infymakers’ blog posts: “Celebrating Maker Education with the 2022-2023 Infy Maker Award Winners” and “Celebrating Impactful Maker Education with the Latest Infymakers”