Simon-Peter Frimpong, a 13-year-old Ghanaian-American future scientist,will meet President Barack Obama on Wednesday when he joins several others to exhibit their fascinating and innovative projects at the 2016 White House Science Fair.
On April 13th, President Obama will host his sixth and final White House Science Fair, welcoming more than 100 top science, technology, engineering and math students from across the country to show how they are going to change the future of America. Simon-Peter, an 8th-grader from Aurora, Colorado, is one of over 100 top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students taking part in the fair.
Simon-Peter and two of his schoolmates from Horizon Middle School, Maya Max-Villard, 13, and Grayson Fast, 14, will be showcasing a new artificial leg they designed and built using computer design and 3-D printing of prototypes.
The innovation is said to have been inspired by a US Army veteran they met who needed a more comfortable and functional prosthetic limb.The three teenagers set to work and came up with the artificial leg that now allows the amputee to hike, manage uneven terrain and even skateboard.
According to reports, the part designed by Simon-Peter is said to be what makes the prosthesis unique.
His STEM teacher, Mel Possehl said that with Simon Frimpong’s design, the bottom comes off. “So you have a walking part, then you have a part that hooks onto a longboard or a snowboard, then you have a part that hooks onto skis, and then a part that can do multiple things. It’s a multiple-use prototype.”
The innovation is said to be so compelling that Simon-Peter and his partners were also selected as finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national competition.