Wayne Central School District

Four seniors in Wayne Central School District's Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering Design and Development (EDD) class have combined creativity, technical skill, and collaboration to leave a lasting mark on their school community.

Students Jacob Albright, Bridger Dunstan, Logan Leszyk, and Grant Wildey, under the guidance of instructor Mr. David Copp, were asked by Food Service Supervisor Mrs. Anna Flynn with a unique challenge: design and construct a custom donut and bagel serving board for Senior Project Day. What began as a simple request quickly evolved into a meaningful engineering project with long-term impact.

The team approached the assignment with a focus on durability, safety, and craftsmanship. A key requirement was ensuring the board was food-safe, leading students to carefully select appropriate materials and finishes suitable for repeated use. The students applied engineering principles to solve real-world problems while creating something that has value beyond the classroom.

Designed with longevity in mind, the board was built to remain in use through 2043, symbolizing the students’ desire to leave a lasting legacy at Wayne Central. Their work will continue to serve future students for years to come, making it both a functional piece and a meaningful artifact of student innovation.

The PLTW Engineering Design and Development (EDD) course is a year-long capstone class offered exclusively to seniors who have successfully completed at least three of the district’s pre-engineering courses. As part of Wayne Central’s PLTW program, students engage in hands-on, project-based learning that emphasizes design, manufacturing, and problem-solving skills.

PLTW courses offered at Wayne Central include: Design and Drawing for Production (DDP), Principles of Engineering (POE), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Civil Engineering & Architecture (CEA), and Engineering Design and Development (EDD)

These courses, when combined with traditional math and science curricula, prepare students for the rigor of college-level engineering programs. Students who earn an 85% or higher in PLTW courses and score a 6 or above (out of 9) on the college credit exam may qualify for Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) credit, while additional courses offer opportunities for Monroe Community College (MCC) credit.

The four students behind the project are already planning to continue their engineering journeys beyond graduation: Grant Wildey, Electrical Engineering; Logan Leszyk, Aerospace Engineering; Bridger  Dunstan, Construction Management; and Jacob Albright, Mechanical Engineering

Their donut-and-bagel board stands as a testament to the power of applied learning, teamwork, and innovation, hallmarks of the PLTW program. As it continues to be used in school events for years to come, the project will serve as a reminder of what students can achieve when given the opportunity to design with purpose.