Maker Spotlight: Mike Hinkle – A Lifetime of Creativity and Curiosity

Posted on November 3, 2025November 3, 2025 by admin

Maker Spotlight: Mike Hinkle – A Lifetime of Creativity and Curiosity

Our community shines because of makers like Mike Hinkle — a mentor and lifelong learner whose creativity and curiosity continue to spark innovation at Monumental Impact.

Mike recently wrapped up an incredibly busy build cycle, preparing robots across three combat robotics weight classes — Beetleweight, Plastic Antweight, and Fairyweight — along with a robot for the RIVAL Robotics League. His workshop has been alive with the hum of tools, the buzz of testing, and the spark of innovation as he balances design, fabrication, and mentorship.

Since August, Mike has been guiding four new combat roboticists through our Combat Robotics Starter Program, helping them bring their custom robot designs to life. Under his mentorship, these students have learned how to design, build, and test their creations — skills they’ll put to the test when they compete at our 5th Annual MITEE Gobble Squabble on Saturday, November 22nd at UCCS.

Mike also mentors our FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 19541 – the Bionic Sharks, teaching mechanical fundamentals, game strategy, and build planning. He brings a thoughtful balance of experience and encouragement, helping students grow their technical skills while fostering teamwork and creativity.

Beyond the makerspace, Mike extends his love for discovery to the broader community through Maker Moments: Creativity & Curiosity, a hands-on session he leads at Silver Key’s Tri-Lakes Activity Center. Through these sessions, he helps people of all ages reconnect with the joy of making — reminding us that creativity is one of life’s most joyful experiences. It’s something we can discover, rediscover, and celebrate throughout our lives.

Mike’s story as a maker stretches back many years, including his early work with Techno Chaos, where he helped families and students explore technology and creativity together. You can learn more about his journey at techno-chaos.com/about-us/mike-hinkle.

Mike embodies the spirit of Monumental Impact: lifelong learning, mentorship, and the power of creativity to connect people. Whether guiding a student team, mentoring new roboticists, or leading community workshops, he reminds us that making isn’t just about the final product — it’s about the curiosity, collaboration, and confidence we gain along the way.

Final touches! Mike prepares his RIVAL Robotics League bot at the Colorado School of Mines scrimmage.

Volunteer for the 5th Annual Gobble Squabble!

Posted on October 27, 2025November 5, 2025 by Jeanette Breton

🦃 Volunteer for the 5th Annual Gobble Squabble!

What: The MITEE Gobble Squabble
When: Saturday, November 22nd, 2025
Where: Berger Hall, UCCS
Hosted by: Monumental Impact & University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)

Ready to Volunteer? Scan or Click

The Gobble Squabble returns for its 5th year — a day that celebrates innovation, competition, and community collaboration! This event brings together makers, students, and enthusiasts for three exciting experiences under one roof:

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Scrimmage – Student robotics teams test and refine their designs before the competition season.
Combat Robotics: “Robot Chaos” – Builders battle it out with custom combat robots.
Robotics & Technology EXPO (*NEW)– Exhibits from UCCS clubs and area organizations showcasing technology, engineering and robotics projects.

Everything is powered by volunteers, and we’d love to have you on the team! No worries if this is your first time at such an event. Let us know and we will help you get up to speed!

🤖 FTC Scrimmage Volunteer Opportunities

Support high school / middle school student robotics teams as they prepare for competition season!
Roles include:

Volunteer Check-In – Greet and register volunteers.
Pit Administration / Team Check-In – Welcome teams and get them settled.
Mock Judging Coordinator & Judges – Conduct practice interviews to prepare students for judging on their presentation and portfolio.
Inspectors – Verify robot safety and compliance for teams to participate in the scrimmage matches.
Referees & Scorekeepers – Learn the FTC DECODE game and play a crucial role in the match play action for the scrimmage.
Control System Advisor / FIRST Technical Advisor – help teams with their robot communications on and off the field.
Lead Queuer / Queuers – Keep scrimmage matches on schedule and teams moving smoothly.
Field Resetter / Field Supervisor – Reset and maintain match fields.
Game Announcer – Keep the crowd engaged and informed.
Event Photographer – Capture memorable moments throughout the day.
Field Setup / Takedown Crew – Assemble and / or disassemble the FTC field.
Load-In / Load-Out Crew – Transport and get field / team components into and out of Berger Hall.

🎓 Training is provided — no experience needed! Some roles are half-day.
Sign up through the QR code on this page or click the QR code. For question reach out to enable@monumentalimpact.org.

⚙️ Combat Robotics: “Robot Chaos” Volunteer Opportunities

Help run the thrilling Robot Chaos combat robotics competition — where custom-built bots face off in the arena!

Field / Match Supervisor – Manage match flow and arena safety.
Judges – Score matches and ensure fair play.
Scorekeeper – Track match results using Challonge software.
Game Announcer – Provide live commentary during matches.
Field Setup / Takedown Crew – Assemble and disassemble the combat arena.
Load-In / Load-Out Crew – Transport and position arena components.
Safety Attendant – Oversee pit and competition safety.

This year’s focus will feature Plastic Antweight and Fairyweight divisions — perfect for new and experienced builders alike of all ages.

🎨 Robotics & Technology EXPO – Exhibitor & Volunteer Opportunities

In addition to the robotics action, Gobble Squabble will feature an EXPO highlighting other robotics & technology projects from UCCS clubs and community organizations. We’re looking for volunteers to help with:

Expo Setup & Logistics – Assist exhibitors with setup and table placement.
Expo Coordination – Welcome exhibitors and help manage attendee flow.
Photography & Media – Capture highlights from the Expo floor.

If your organization or club would like to host an exhibit, please contact enable@monumentalimpact.org for participation details.

🛠️ Event-Wide Volunteer Roles

A few key positions help keep everything running across all Gobble Squabble programs:

Emcee – Keep the crowd engaged and informed.
Safety Attendant – Oversee pit and competition safety.
Accommodations Coordinator – help with food area, accessibility and quiet spaces.
Assign Me As Needed – Flexible volunteers ready to help wherever needed most!

💡 Be Part of the Action

The Gobble Squabble is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community innovation — and it couldn’t happen without volunteers like you!

📩 Interested in volunteering or exhibiting?
Email enable@monumentalimpact.org or sign up online through
FIRSTinspires.org → Event Volunteering → Gobble Squabble FTC Scrimmage

OR Scan the QR Code:

Your time, skills, and enthusiasm make this annual event possible. Join us to inspire the next generation of makers and innovators!

If you know others that would like to connect with the robotics & technology community at the MITEE Gobble Squabble, please feel free to share our flyer or our website.

🛠️ Maker Spotlight: Lukas – Designing, Prototyping, and Bringing Products to Life

Posted on October 25, 2025November 3, 2025 by Jeanette Breton

🛠️ Maker Spotlight: Lukas – Designing, Prototyping, and Bringing Products to Life

This fall, Lukas joined Monumental Impact as an intern on our Product Development & Delivery (PDD) Team, diving deep into the process of taking a design from concept to creation.

A senior in high school, Lukas is using this internship to explore his next steps — discovering how his interests in technology, design, and creativity might shape his future path.

He first connected with Monumental Impact through a Fusion 360 design class we offered in collaboration with the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) at their Library 21C makerspace. His curiosity, creative mindset, and growing passion for digital design stood out immediately — and he’s continued to build on that momentum ever since.

As part of his internship, Lukas is developing and refining product prototypes that will be featured in Monumental Impact’s new Etsy store this holiday season. His work includes designing with various CAD tools such as Fusion 360, TinkerCAD, and Blender, testing prototypes with mentors and community members, and preparing final samples for production using tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser engravers.

This Saturday, October 25th, Lukas had the opportunity to gather community feedback on his product design during a Product Feedback Session held at Silver Key’s Thrift Store located in Palmer Lake. Thank you to their patrons for taking the time to share thoughtful insights and ideas with Lukas — helping him refine his design before moving forward with final production.

He’s also contributing to the marketing and fulfillment side, learning how to turn creative designs into real-world products that reach customers. Through this process, Lukas is gaining valuable experience in design thinking, iterative development, and entrepreneurship.

Lukas brings a strong “no job too small” attitude and a thoughtful approach to problem-solving. He’s learning not just how to make — but how to deliver: how to take an idea, design it, produce it, and connect it with people.

We’re proud to see Lukas growing his skills and contributing to our community of makers, mentors, and innovators. His work represents the creative energy that fuels Monumental Impact’s mission: connecting students, entrepreneurs, and professionals through hands-on experience and real-world projects.

Interested in Interning with Monumental Impact?

We’re always looking for high school and college students who want to explore digital design to fabrication, product development, or delivering services and products to real customers.

With the making and gift giving season in full swing, now’s a great time to get involved — whether you’re interested in design, marketing, engineering, or entrepreneurship.

👉 Learn more or apply to join our internship program.

About Monumental Impact

Monumental Impact is a registered 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit serving high school students through adults as a community makerspace. Monumental Impact is also referred to as MITEE, (Monumental Impact for Technology, Engineering and Entrepreneurship) connecting youth and community members with career pathways in technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship. We provide programs, equipment, mentorship, workspace, and real-world opportunities that empower people to explore, create, and compete.

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a part of and engaging in Monumental Impact’s community can visit a recent article, Engaging in the Monumental Impact Community.

Intro to FreeCAD

Discover the world of parametric 3D design with FreeCAD, a free and open-source modeling tool for engineers, designers, and makers.

In this one-hour introductory session, you’ll learn the basics of navigating FreeCAD’s interface, creating and modifying 3D parts, and understanding how parametric design enables easy revisions and precision modeling.

Whether you’re preparing a part for 3D printing, designing mechanical components, or exploring digital design tools, this session will give you a solid starting point for your next project.

No prior experience required — just bring your curiosity and laptop (optional).

About Monumental Impact
Monumental Impact is a registered 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit serving high school students through adults as a community makerspace. Monumental Impact is also referred to as MITEE, (Monumental Impact for Technology, Engineering and Entrepreneurship) connecting youth and community members with career pathways in technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship. We provide programs, equipment, mentorship, workspace, and real-world opportunities that empower people to explore, create, and compete.

Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive updates and information on happenings in our community.

MONUMENTAL IMPACT RECEIVES GRANT FROM BLACK HILLS ENERGY

Posted on October 17, 2025October 25, 2025 by Jeanette Breton

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONUMENTAL IMPACT RECEIVES GRANT FROM BLACK HILLS ENERGY

Money to fund a variety of ongoing programs.

Monument, CO — October 8, 2025 —
Monumental Impact has announced the awarding of a $1,750.00 USD grant from Black Hills Energy. The funds will be used for a variety of popular programs that members take part in as they build teams to tackle various challenges in the areas of science, technology and engineering. These programs include competition teams, work-based learning, entrepreneurship, makerspace and community services.

Monumental Impact is a nonprofit that connects youth and community members with career pathways in technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship. We provide programs, equipment, mentorship, workspace, and real-world opportunities that empower people to explore, create, and compete.

“What sets us apart is that we don’t simulate the workplace—we are the workplace.” said Jeanette Breton, Executive Director of Monumental Impact.

Membership in Monumental Impact includes more than students and mentors. Adult professional makers, current entrepreneurs and retired industry experts are also active MITEE members. They engage shoulder-to-shoulder with learners, sharing real-world insights, sparking creativity, and inspiring next-gen innovators.

“Being involved in community programs like Monumental Impact and helping the next generation of innovators and leaders emerge is part of Black Hills Energy’s mission,” said, Tom Henley, Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Black Hills Energy.

About Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Energy, a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp, has a long history supplying gas and electric utilities to 1.35 million customers in eight states including Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Visit www.blackhillsenergy.com for more information.

About Monumental Impact

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a part of Monumental Impact can visit www.monumentalimpact.org

Media Contacts

Monumental Impact Black Hills Energy

Name: Jeanette Breton                                               Name: Tom Henley
Title: Executive Director                                           Title: Senior Manager of Public Affairs
Email: Jeanette@monumentalimpact.org                 Email: Tom.Henley@blackhillsenergy.com
Phone: 719-387-7414                                                Phone: 720-333-1844
Website: www.monumentalimpact.org                    Website: www.blackhillsenergy.com

Engaging in the Monumental Impact Community

Posted on October 13, 2025October 25, 2025 by Jeanette Breton

Engaging in the Monumental Impact Community

At Monumental Impact, we believe in empowering individuals to make, create, and connect through hands-on experiences that build confidence, careers, and community.
Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, mentor, or lifelong maker, there’s a place for you in our growing ecosystem of creators, innovators, and collaborators.

🔹 Join a Member Program

Our Member Programs are the heart of how people engage at Monumental Impact. Each program connects learning, creativity, and community impact in a different way:

Entrepreneurship — Turn your ideas into real products or ventures. Use our makerspace to prototype, batch-produce, and test your creations, with access to community feedback and guidance from mentors and interns.
Competition Programs — Participate in team-based and/or individual robotics, engineering, or innovation challenges. Our mentors and volunteers support you with equipment, build techniques, teamwork, and safety.
Personal Projects — Use our workspace, tools, and training to explore your interests, build new skills, and bring your ideas to life.

🔹 Support as a Mentor, Volunteer, or Intern

You don’t have to be building something to make an impact — you can help others build their confidence and skills.

Mentors share their professional experience to guide teams, students, and entrepreneurs.
Volunteers lend their time during workshops, competitions, or community events.
Interns contribute through meaningful projects that strengthen our programs and community connections.

Each role helps expand the reach and sustainability of our mission.

🔹 Engage Through Leadership or Coordination

Our programs thrive through dedicated community members who help connect people and opportunities.

Community Member Liaison volunteers welcome new members and guide them toward the best way to engage.
Program Leads and Coaches support Competition and Entrepreneurship initiatives.
Marketing & Communications contributors help share our stories and inspire others to get involved.

If you’re looking to take a leadership role, we’ll help you find the right fit.

🔹 Access the Makerspace

Our community makerspace in Palmer Lake is open to members of all ages and experience levels. Whether you’re tinkering, fabricating, or just exploring your creativity, you’ll find equipment, training, and a supportive network of peers and mentors.
You can also take part in themed workshops — from Artistic 3D Printing and Mechanical Puzzle Design to Cosplay & Prop Fabrication — to expand your skills and meet others who love to make.

🔹 Partner and Collaborate

We’re actively seeking industry partners who want to help shape the next generation of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

By partnering with Monumental Impact, businesses can:

Provide real-world context for students and adult members through project-based challenges, guest talks, and facility tours.
Share industry insights that inspire entrepreneurship and inform career pathways.
Collaborate on career readiness experiences that connect hands-on making with practical workplace skills.
Engage with our community makerspace to explore innovation, prototyping, and local talent development.

We also work closely with industry, Tri-Lakes Chamber, Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance (PPBEA), colleges, schools and economic development partners to align these efforts and strengthen our region’s innovation ecosystem.
Parents, educators, and professionals all play a part in creating opportunities for our members to learn, build, and grow.

🌟 Why It Matters

Every connection strengthens our mission — to provide the resources, mentorship, and space needed to turn curiosity into capability.
When you engage with Monumental Impact, you’re not just joining a makerspace — you’re helping build a future-ready community where creativity and collaboration lead to real-world confidence.

Ready to Get Involved and Start Your Journey Today? 👉

Or email enable@monumentalimpact.org.

Monumental Impact Designated as an Enterprise Zone Contribution Project to Expand Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness in the Tri-Lakes Region

Posted on October 10, 2025October 25, 2025 by Jeanette Breton

Monumental Impact Designated as an Enterprise Zone Contribution Project to Expand Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness in the Tri-Lakes Region

Palmer Lake, CO — Monumental Impact, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering high school students, college students, and adults in technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship, has been officially approved as an Enterprise Zone Contribution Project in El Paso County.

This designation recognizes Monumental Impact’s role in driving regional workforce and business development through its Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness Programs — programs that equip participants with hands-on experience, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving skills in a collaborative makerspace environment.

“Our community makerspace is where innovation happens,” said Jeanette Breton, Executive Director of Monumental Impact. “It’s a place where students, professionals, and entrepreneurs come together to design, prototype, and launch ideas that strengthen our local economy and create new opportunities.”

Through these programs, participants gain access to advanced fabrication tools — including 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser engravers — as well as professional mentors and business incubation support. Monumental Impact’s hands-on learning model not only builds technical and entrepreneurial capacity but also fosters self-confidence, collaboration, and life-long learning.

As an approved Enterprise Zone Contribution Project, individuals and businesses who contribute to Monumental Impact may receive Colorado state income tax credits for qualifying donations. These contributions directly support the nonprofit’s mission to expand career-connected learning, small business incubation, and innovation pathways within the Tri-Lakes Enterprise Zone.

“Being part of the Enterprise Zone program allows our donors to multiply their impact,” Breton added. “Every contribution fuels opportunities for the next generation of makers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.”

🗣️ Community Voices on Monumental Impact’s Enterprise Zone Designation

Town of Palmer Lake

“Monumental Impact’s makerspace and mentorship programs prepare youth and adults for career pathways and serve as a launchpad for new and growing businesses in our region.”

Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce

“A unique and powerful contributor to our economic ecosystem, Monumental Impact is preparing the next generation of innovators and small business owners.”

Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance (PPBEA)

“Monumental Impact’s makerspace creates a dynamic hub where learners engage directly with industry professionals and community volunteers.”

To learn more about the Enterprise Zone program and how to make a qualifying contribution, visit:
🔗 https://monumentalimpact.org/monumental-impact-approved-as-an-enterprise-zone-contribution-project/

To contact us you can email enable@monumentalimpact.org or call us at 719-387-7414.

Students Elevate Their Tech Game

Posted on September 20, 2024October 28, 2024 by admin

Thank you to Stephanie Gonzales, a freelance writer for Lewis Palmer School District 38 (D38), for her article on Monumental Impact’s Engineering Firm Experiences offered to D38 students through a collaborative partnership with D38. Under the Engineering Firm Experience the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program is a competitive “sports of the mind” where students have “Go to Market” industry-like experiences as they prepare to compete, both in their robot’s capabilities and their business engineering portfolio.

Building Our Social Enterprise

Posted on April 18, 2021October 28, 2024 by admin

We are ready to build our foundation as a social enterprise. Are there high school students out there in the Tri-Lakes area interested in joining us on the journey? Do you want to help us with engineering and / or technology products, services or event content? There are no definitive books or surefire nonprofit business models for what we envision as our offerings, but we are okay with this. Since every student is different and the fields of technology and engineering are broad and diverse, we expect over the years our offerings will be different, broad and diverse. Our internships will provide industry experiences as we define, refine, make and deliver offerings. We look forward to helping spark interests and increase awareness of career opportunities in these fields.

Our intent as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit is to be a social enterprise^[1]. We would prefer to diversify our funding options and provide opportunities for students to gain industry experience of bringing products, services and events to market as engineers and technologists. As a nonprofit, we can be entrepreneurial. We can sell products and services, but our income must go back into our mission. Our mission is to enable student interests and skills in engineering and technology. Thus we should focus our products or services to be engineering and / or technology-centered to align with our mission.

As with any business we should also set income goals that align with this social enterprise intent. This year we have set non-zero goals for any products, services or event income that we are able to achieve together.

This summer we will be building a foundation in both our development lifecycle and our offerings. The process will span a year across multiple internships for one product to complete one cycle. After working the product through the process, students will gain a deep understanding of the roles, process and types of businesses that are involved in bringing an engineering and technology-focused product to market. Exciting times for those coming on board this summer for the journey!

We are starting this summer in Stage 1 of our development lifecycle. In our first two weeks we will brainstorm and collaborate together on what products, services or event content we have an interest in designing and prototyping. What types of products will we design, prototype, sell? How do we plan to deliver? Who is our target audience of these products? Which way will we choose to manufacture them later in the year? We will also explore whether we could provide services? What can we offer with our skills?

We don’t plan to work in isolation and will look at opportunities to broaden our experience. For instance, to get a lay of the industry in Stage 1 we intend to visit with inventors and businesses that deliver products or provide services, large and small.

On November 20th, 2021, Monumental Impact intends to host a MITEE^[2] Exhibition. This event will provide an opportunity for students to showcase projects they have been working on and for supported programs to share their latest creations. During our brainstorm some students may come up with a project that will focus on entertaining community members at the exhibition. To add to the fun, we may choose to host activities in which both adults and students can participate such as a DonkeyCar Rally and Colorado Combat Robotics. The Exhibition will provide an opportunity for some fun, market offerings and inspire others to love engineering and technology as we do!

If you are a high school student in the area interested in engineering and technology, we’d love to have you on our team. Monumental Impact is looking forward to seeing what we come up with together!

More information on applying to our internships can be found here.

Summer Internship Schedule

We know summer schedules can be hectic. Some may have jobs that are helping them with funds while others have family vacation obligations. We have proposed the following 2-7-2 schedule for our summer internships. The work schedule will include a 2-week focused time of 3-4 hours a day as a team at the beginning and end of the internship while we have a 7-week flex period in-between where team members are working remotely. A key to this schedule will be the first work week of June 1st where we work together to define our projects and business expectations.

[1] More about social enterprises can be found in our previous article, How is Monumental Impact a Social Enterprise?.

[2] MITEE stands for Monumental Impact for Technology, Engineering and Entrepreneurship.

Ready to enable student experiences

Posted on November 30, 2020November 1, 2024 by admin

Core to our mission is to enable student experiences. We now have a space, but how does that impact enabling student experiences, especially in a time of COVID? Well, it impacts our ability to have a home base to enable different types of student experiences even with COVID. We will use our space for: small team competition activities; training before a rotation of desktop equipment to a student’s home and; internships with home-based businesses.

What type of student experiences? With two of our industry areas of technology and engineering we are currently focused on enabling student experiences with fabrication and design capabilities. These two areas can be enabled with some out of the box thinking even with the restrictions of COVID.

For fabrication experiences we will start with 3D Printing and CNC router equipment (examples shown). Supplies include plastic filament, aluminum, lexan, router bits, Dewalt 611 router for these types of experiences.

The design area covers many different disciplines of engineering and graphics, even programming and entrepreneurial marketing. To provide design experiences you need high-end graphics PCs with software licenses for the discipline of interest such as mechanical, electrical, programming and graphics. By providing the equipment and supplies needed for these experiences, students interested in these areas are enabled to explore these career pathways.

We look forward to enabling students interested in learning design-to-fabrication techniques with desktop tools and supplies even with COVID. We also look forward to enabling small team activities for the Bearbotics that is still competing this season during COVID.

With these types of student experiences available to students interested in these fields, we will have enabled them in their journey even during COVID. With a will there’s a way to enable. We just need to think outside of the box. Will you help us enable these student experiences?