Submitted Photo From left are NYS Assemblyman David DiPietro, Erie County Legislator The Honorable John Mills, North Collins Superintendent Scott Taylor, North Collins Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Brandon Wojcik, North Collins Town Supervisor John Tobia, and Karen Howard from NYS Senator Patrick Gallivan’s office.

NORTH COLLINS – The North Collins community finally got a chance to see the brand-new makerspace room recently, dubbed the Imaginarium, at a grand opening celebration held at the high school.

The ribbon-cutting included local dignitaries including North Collins Town Supervisor John Tobia, Erie County Legislator The Honorable John Mills, NYS Assemblyman David DiPietro and Karen Howard, a representative from NYS Sen. Patrick Gallivan’s office. DiPietro even hinted at a possible collaboration in the future with Discovery Channel’s Paul Teutul of Orange County Choppers.

Afterward, community members got to see the technology first-hand through student-led demonstrations. The laser engraver cranked out small keychains to commemorate the event, while the 3D printers and Ozobots hummed with activity. In the auditorium, a drone flew about, entertaining the crowd.

In the library, visitors got to experience virtual reality with the Oculus Rift. Elsewhere, students demonstrated the project-based learning they are regularly involved with in the makerspace and made Christmas cards and ornaments they could take home. Throughout the night, exclamations such as “this is so cool” and “I wish all classes were like this” were heard by the excited students experiencing this technology for the first time. Clearly, the Imaginarium is poised for growth and is limited only by the imagination of its users