When Jeanie DeSantis ’26 first started using CAD software at Wellington, she never imagined it would lead to designing a critical component for a robotic arm. But through an independent study with Dr. Chris Fischer P ’24 ’26, Wellington’s engineering consultant, she collaborated with a team of Ohio State University electrical engineering senior capstone students —Marit Tainer, Marcus Macesich, Brett Hinkle, and Keegan Freyhof — to create a custom attachment that allows a robot to grip and move chess pieces—turning mechanical precision into a strategic game.
At Wellington, students don’t just learn about innovation — they practice it. With opportunities to take on real-world challenges, they apply advanced skills in ways that make a tangible impact. Jeanie’s project is just one example of how Wellington fosters hands-on learning and meaningful collaboration with industry experts.
L to R: Jeanie DeSantis '26, Marit Tainer, Marcus Macesich, and Dr. Chris Fischer P '24 '26
Turning an Idea Into Reality with CAD
Computer-aided design (CAD) software allows engineers and designers to create precise 2D and 3D models of objects before they are built. It is widely used in industries like architecture, engineering, and aerospace to develop prototypes and refine designs before production.
“For my part of the project, I used CAD software to design and 3D print an attachment that would enable the robotic arm to pick up chess pieces,” said Jeanie. “It was challenging because I didn’t always have access to the arm for testing.”
Jeanie’s work was essential to the project. While the OSU electrical engineering student capstone team focused on the robot’s electrical and control systems, they needed a solution for gripping chess pieces — something outside their typical scope, as electrical engineers don’t typically learn CAD software. That’s where Fischer stepped in. As both Wellington’s engineering consultant and a mentor for the OSU robotic arm capstone team, Fischer served as a bridge between the students, helping to shape the project and representing a potential user of the final product — a low-cost robotic arm suitable for use in an advanced high school environment.
Fischer, who teaches Wellington’s Tech Studio and engineering courses, had previously seen Jeanie’s CAD skills in action. Through both Tech Studio and the YouTube Scholar Project, she refined her ability to create and modify digital designs, preparing her for this real-world challenge.
Mentorship, Innovation, and the Wellington Advantage
“The most rewarding part was seeing the project come to life and knowing my work contributed to the final product,” said Jeanie. “It was really cool to see the arm successfully hold a chess piece.”
Fischer has seen firsthand how Jeanie’s skills have grown throughout the project. “Jeanie is doing a great job on this project. It was a unique opportunity to work with a real world ‘customer’ on an engineering design project,” said Fischer. “Jeanie first met with the OSU capstone students on campus to understand their needs. Then she worked through several iterations of designing, 3D printing, and testing the manipulators. The students were excited with the result and are currently using the grippers to test their program. Clearly, Jeanie’s work has been valuable.”
Through Wellington’s commitment to innovative learning, students like Jeanie don’t just study engineering — they practice it, refine it, and apply it in ways that matter. With aspirations to pursue aerospace engineering, Jeanie hopes to carry her passion for CAD into her future career. Whether she’s designing for space or Earth, she’s already proving she can bring innovative ideas to life — one move at a time.