Two USU Alumni Win American Graduate Champion Award
USU alums Joel Duffin (left) and Kevin Reeve (right) received the American Graduate Champion award for creating the volunteer organization Cache Makers.
Two Utah State University alumni, Kevin Reeve and Joel Duffin, received the American Graduate Champion award for creating the volunteer organization Cache Makers. The award is given by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and recognizes those who dedicate their time, skills and resources to help youth succeed.
“The purpose of our organization is to help kids find their passion in STEM,” said Reeves, USU’s director of teaching and learning technologies housed in the Academic and Instructional Services office. “Most of them have the desire, but lack the mentors and resources necessary to get started. Our organization bridges that gap.”
According to Reeve, STEM-based Cache Makers is an afterschool 4-H program that started with 17 kids in 2013, and grew to 750 in 2016. They now have 85 adults who have volunteered hundreds of hours mentoring kids.
Both Reeve and Duffin, CEO of Atomic Jolt, have committed hundreds of hours to make their program successful. Cache Makers received grant funding in 2014 and opened a 3,100 square foot maker space where the kids are able to get hands-on experience. Some of the projects include programming, robotics, electronics, soldering, 3D design and printing and more.
According to Reeve, Cache Makers generally has eight to 12 groups running at a time and they meet once a week for six weeks for about two hours.
To sign up as a volunteer or register for an event, see the organization’s website.
Contact: Kevin Reeve, (435) 797-0783, kevin.reeve@usu.edu
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