Interested in gaining hands-on experience while building skills you can use in school, college, a future career, or your own business?
Join us for an Internship Orientation at Monumental Impact to learn about opportunities for high school and college students to get involved in real projects supporting our makerspace, programs, events, and community.
During the orientation, we’ll share how the internship program works, the types of projects and teams interns can participate in, expectations for the upcoming academic-year term, and how to get started.
Academic-Year Internship Term
September 14, 2026 – April 16, 2027
During the school year, we ask interns to commit to a minimum of 3 hours per week. We understand that students are balancing school, extracurricular activities, jobs, and other commitments, so internship schedules can be coordinated around availability and the needs of individual projects.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Depending on your interests, skills, and experience, internship opportunities may include:
Product Development & Delivery – Design, prototype, test, manufacture, and prepare products and projects.
Marketing & Communications – Photography, video, social media, graphic design, websites, and storytelling.
Business & Entrepreneurship – Product planning, research, pricing, sales, and supporting our Made @ Monumental Impact program.
Events Planning & Delivery – Help organize and support community events, workshops, competitions, and outreach activities.
Makerspace Services – Help support equipment, technology, projects, and day-to-day makerspace activities.
You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to do. The internship is an opportunity to explore interests, develop skills, work alongside mentors and other students, and contribute to projects with real-world outcomes.
Interested in Joining Us?
High school and college students interested in participating during the 2026–2027 academic year are encouraged to attend the Internship Orientation.
Ready to take the next step? Complete our Join Our Community application and indicate your interest in an internship with Monumental Impact. This helps us learn more about your interests, availability, and the types of projects you may want to explore.
Apply through Join Our Community, then come to the Internship Orientation to learn more and begin connecting with our team.
Internships can be…intimidating. You’re taking that first step in your professional career and have no idea what to expect. At Monumental Impact, we try to make our internships fun and welcoming, with plenty of opportunities to grow, learn, and make an impact.
As the season winds down, we decided to sit down with two of our most recent summer interns to connect about their experience.
The First Step
Dana (a rising sophomore at Air Academy High School) was looking for an opportunity to explore her interest in business and marketing when she came across our internship through the Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA). She came into the experience hoping to gain insight into how a business works along with hands-on experience with its operations.
“I will definitely remember this experience for a while because it was a new and exciting opportunity for me.” – Dana
Kevin (a rising junior electrical and computer engineering major at Baylor University) was also waiting for a chance to gain more experience in his field. He wanted to learn outside of the classroom, and see what it takes to actually develop a viable product. When a friend recommended our summer internship to Kevin, he found it was exactly what he was looking for.
What really drew both of them to Monumental Impact, though, was the option to work with a small, local business in the tech sector that has a real impact on the community they grew up in.
Their Summer Adventure
At the start of the Summer, both Dana and Kevin went into their internships expecting to learn more about tech, business, product management, and marketing. And they did.
Dana had the opportunity to help plan and organize our booths for the July 4th Street Fair and the Smokin’ Showdown & Palmer Paddle in August. She was able to learn more about the events themselves, how to operate a booth, and how to collaborate with others to get projects done.
She worked closely with Jeanette (our Executive Director), and other team members and volunteers to plan, execute, and promote these events. She was also instrumental in implementing our first collection of Made @ Monumental Impact products through an online catalog, which was also kicked off at the Smokin’ Showdown & Palmer Paddle.
While Dana was working to help promote the business externally, Kevin was looking for ways to help current community members inside our organization.
Many of our makers have expressed an interest in using LEDs in their projects but didn’t know how. The PCB (printed circuit board) artwork project, which Kevin worked on, helped change that. Using KiCAD software, he helped develop a modular system that any one of our members can now use and incorporate into their designs.
Working with others in the space, especially Mike, Kevin was able to deepen his technical knowledge while also learning everything that goes into making a product. From ideation to pricing, packaging, and launching. He also found that the selection of 3D printers, laser systems, and more are especially helpful.
Unexpected Growth
While using all the tools and machines and programs was fun, this internship helped them explore other things, too. Like skills they can take and use wherever they go.
Dana and Kevin were able to improve their communication skills and confidence while clearly expressing their ideas to people (some they didn’t even know very well). They also enjoyed collaborating with various people. They stated that this was a fun opportunity to bounce ideas, receive feedback, and see how others work.
“I have learned so much, and worked with so many helpful people.” – Kevin
Another, perhaps unexpected, skill they both gained over the past several months: time management. While they had to meet an ultimate deadline, Dana and Kevin were in charge of setting and taking the steps to get there while ensuring they were on track to reach that final destination.
Saying Goodbye
With the end of Summer and school starting back up, our Summer interns are getting ready to leave. But their time at Monumental Impact has helped prepare them for what’s next.
Dana wanted more exposure to business, management, and marketing. She got that over the Summer, and more. Now, she’s preparing to return to school, her friends, and her clubs. Her experience has only cemented her interest in business, working with people, and volunteering. She’ll continue to focus on school, learning, and helping out at her local library.
Kevin came in hoping to gain real-world experience with product management and entrepreneurship. Over the last several months, he was able to see firsthand everything a small business has to go through to create and sell products. Now, he’s returning to Baylor and hopes to put the skills he gained over the Summer to good use in upcoming classes. He also hopes to leverage the experience as he prepares for a future in the biomedical sector.
When asked if they’d recommend Monumental Impact to friends, family, or anyone else, they responded with a resounding “yes.”
Interested in applying for an internship, becoming a member, or volunteering with us? Let’s connect.
From an early age, Melissa’s heart was set on creating and making, and helping people along the way. Years later, after bouncing around from place to place, Melissa eventually found a home in Colorado. And in her search for a local space to help bring her visions to life, she found Monumental Impact.
Now one of our newer members, Melissa uses the makerspace to plan and execute her designs, start to finish. In fact, she’s already created several pieces.
The Journey to Monument
Before moving to Colorado, Melissa traveled. A LOT. After studying to become a teacher, she went international to help resource-constrained communities build and support education programs. She even spent 8 years in Uganda working with educational non-profits.
During her time abroad, she gained experience in programming, development, and formal and non-formal education, while pursuing her passion to help others. Really, it’s at the heart of what she does.
Fast forward several years and she’s back in the US pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she was able to make use of the makerspace provided by the Integrated Product Design program she was a part of. She was able to explore production design, CAD, entrepreneurship, and more. Melissa was also able to pursue another passion of hers: creating unique, fun products.
From Christmas Ornaments to Lamps…
Taking everything she learned — and her passion to just CREATE that she developed as a young girl making Christmas ornaments for her Grandma — Melissa now uses Monumental Impact’s makerspace to design and craft new products, while exploring what she can do next with her creations. Already she’s made rings, earrings, a hamster toilet paper holder, and an ostrich egg lamp. Each has its own unique charm. And when asked what her favorite was, she said, “I loved making all of them. I like different designs for different reasons…”
While making her products, Melissa has found the laser cutter and 3D printer extremely helpful during the process. And of course, the opportunity to learn more, along with connecting with others. She hopes to see more of that in our space in the future.
“When you talk through a project with other like-minded creatives it helps to move things forward.”
Bringing her ideas to life isn’t her only focus, though, here at Monumental Impact. She’s also interested in exploring more of what it takes to run a business and how to possibly sell her products. During her time as a teacher, she had to focus on finding resources and making them available to schools in the most affordable way possible. Whether that’s sourcing locally or repurposing items — and she’s interested in exploring that concept here.
Let’s make something together…
Melissa hopes to continue making products, exploring how she can turn her ideas into a sustainable business, and learn all she can. Part of that means collaborating.
If you’re interested in bringing your ideas to life, a membership with Monumental Impact is the perfect starting point. Because in addition to the tools you need to get started, you’ll also have access to a collaborative environment dedicated to helping you grow.
Melissa’s advice if you’re still unsure about taking that first step to become a maker? “Making that first step can be overwhelming, because overcoming it can be difficult. But the more that you try, starting small maybe, and talking to people and being in a space like this, you can see how other people do things and learn. And I think it is a rewarding adventure to stick [it] out and get over the initial uncertainty.”
Another great starting point is one of our orientations. It’s FREE and open to the public. You’ll learn more about Monumental Impact, our events and programs, our available tools (like that laser cutter and 3D printer) and more.
In July of 2025, Nicholas was visiting a local July 4th Street Fair. There, he came across a booth for Monumental Impact. And that would be a big first step for Nick’s budding career in technology and entrepreneurship. Starting as a member, exploring combat robotics and 3D printing, Nick has grown and learned so much over the past year with us. He’s also recently become an intern and started turning his passion for tabletop gaming into a viable business idea.
Inscryption to Warhammer
If you’re not familiar with tabletop gaming, think of it as a more complex and immersive board game. Oftentimes, it’ll include role-playing, intricate rules and storylines, and even miniature figures to help tell the story. Think of more well-known games like Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons.
Nick’s first real immersion into tabletop gaming began with the game Inscryption. It introduced him to how in-depth a game could be, as well as others in the gaming community. From there, he began to learn more and more about the industry. Today, his favorite game to play is Legions Imperialis, a Warhammer game that uses some of the smallest minifigures and models, allowing for larger-scale campaigns. “With the community, whether it’s talking about Warhammer or other experiences, it is a great time.”
Where Monumental Impact comes in…
Through his membership and internship at Monumental Impact, Nick has been able to learn more about 3D printing, resin printing, and entrepreneurship — and the potential to create his own tabletop game.
“That’s when I knew I could do a lot, if I had the resources available to make tabletop games.”
During his experience in our combat robotics program and utilizing our printers to create models for Warhammer, Nick found inspiration and gained the experience he needed to start developing prototypes for his own game. In fact, he’s started building his own kit. Many assets have already been made, as well as a dice tower (pictured above) that’s currently in the works. To help invite more tabletop gaming community members into the space, he is recruiting others to help make and deliver custom requests for people wanting a game kit of their own.
But like with any business, creating the product is only half the battle. Through our entrepreneurship program, Nick has been able to learn more about developing products and how to make his venture more sustainable. For example, how important it is to consider the unit cost of an item and how to get better value out of your product.
Nick has also been developing ways to market and spread interest for his product, namely by being one of the leading forces planning and developing outreach events for Monumental Impact, which will spread the joys of tabletop gaming to the Tri-Lakes area.
“Because I believe that tabletop gaming is a great activity for anyone to play and connect.”
Nick’s hope is to keep making game kits and eventually finish his own game. Beyond that, he wants to get more people involved in tabletop gaming. By planning events — like home-brewed gaming sessions and cohorts for members at Monumental Impact — he wants to provide a space where people can experience everything that tabletop gaming has to offer. And who knows? Maybe they can start learning how to make a game themselves.
Want to get involved?
Nick can usually be found at our makerspace Tuesdays and Thursdays if you want to drop by and chat.
Or you can let us know how excited you are to explore tabletop gaming at our booth during this year’s July 4th Street Fair (yes! We’ll be there again!). Can’t make it? Drop by our makerspace during open hours. We look forward to seeing you soon.
From idea to 3D-printed object—with mentoring every step of the way
Host: Community Mentor, Mike Hinkle
Overview
Ready to turn a napkin sketch—or a “one day I’d love to make this” idea—into something you can hold? This workshop focuses on practical 3D design for 3D printing with step-by-step guidance from maker and mentor Mike Hinkle.
Mike will demonstrate 3D design using TinkerCAD, a friendly browser-based tool perfect for beginners. Participants are welcome to use any design software they prefer, including Fusion 360 or FreeCAD.
These sessions are open to both Monumental Impact members and curious neighbors in the Tri-Lakes community. If you’d simply like to observe and learn, you’re welcome to attend for free. If you’d prefer to create a design and take home a printed project, bring any needed materials and contribute at least $20 to help maintain our printers and workspace.
What We’ll Do
Introduce foundational concepts of 3D design and 3D printing
Walk through a simple TinkerCAD design
Create ornament or small object designs as a shared example
Assist participants with personal or gift projects
Review print settings, materials, and how to prepare reliable prints
As a group, we’ll create one or two small shared designs during the workshop and, when possible, complete a print. These community-made items may be added to our Entrepreneurship Program members’ product lines, or they can be a participant’s take-home piece, depending on the design and the group’s goals.
Who Should Attend
Monumental Impact members eager to improve 3D design and print skills
Tri-Lakes community members curious about 3D printing and our makerspace
Beginners with no design experience
Makers with early-stage projects who want guidance
What to Bring
A laptop (recommended) for TinkerCAD or your preferred design tool
Any project or gift ideas you’re exploring
Optional: reference photos or sketches of something you want to recreate
Workshop Series
This workshop is part of a four-week mentoring series leading into winter break. Each session offers hands-on learning and time to develop your skills and your project.
About the Mentor – Mike Hinkle
Mike is a long-time maker, robotics mentor, and thoughtful guide in our community. He excels at helping participants translate ideas into practical, printable designs that work in the real world.
Space is limited to keep the mentoring hands-on and personal.
Hands-on laser projects for gifts, signs, and entrepreneurial ideas
Host: Community Mentor, Mike Hinkle
Overview
Curious what our laser can really do? This mentoring workshop offers a guided, hands-on introduction to laser engraving and cutting through real project work that’s approachable for beginners and still interesting for seasoned tinkerers.
Mike will walk the group through engraving a starter item and then designing and cutting a simple project. If you’re thinking about custom gifts, ornaments, signs, or labels for the holidays, this is a great chance to test your ideas with support and encouragement.
These workshops are open to Monumental Impact members and to Tri-Lakes community members who want to explore what our makerspace offers. If you simply want to observe and learn, the session is free. If you’d like to make a project you can take home, bring your material and make a minimum $20 contribution to help maintain our equipment and space.
What We’ll Do
Cover the basics of using the laser engraver safely and effectively
Engrave a starter item together as a group
Design and cut a simple laser project
Explore ideas for personal or gift projects you’d like to try
Discuss file types, materials, and settings for successful laser work
As a group, we’ll complete one or two simple laser projects during the workshop. These finished pieces may be used by our Entrepreneurship Program members to support their product offerings, or they can be a personal take-home project for the participant who contributed—depending on the nature of the item and the group’s goals that session.
Who Should Attend
Current Monumental Impact members looking to build laser skills
Tri-Lakes community members curious about our makerspace
Makers, small business owners, parents, students, and retirees
No prior experience needed
What to Bring
Any gift or project ideas you want to explore
A notebook or laptop for notes and design tweaks
Optional: a small item you’re curious about engraving (we’ll confirm if it’s laser-safe)
Workshop Series
This session is the first of four weekly workshops leading up to winter break. Each week builds on hands-on practice, but you’re welcome to attend even if you can’t make every session.
About the Mentor – Mike Hinkle
Mike is one of Monumental Impact’s most active community makers and mentors, with deep experience in robotics, fabrication, and practical problem solving. He’s known for helping people turn “I’ve never tried this before…” into “Look what I made!”
Space is limited to keep the mentoring hands-on and personal.
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.Testing in progress — Mike evaluates his RIVAL Robotics League bot unloading DOOMSDAY game elements during a scrimmage at the Colorado School of Mines.Mike and members of the Combat Robotics Club meet to discuss build techniques and robot design strategies in preparation for upcoming competitions.Mike leads a discussion with members of FTC Team 19541 – the Bionic Sharks – reviewing robot design concepts and game strategy during a build session at Monumental Impact.Hands-on learning in action! Mike works alongside the Bionic Sharks team as they test drive components and troubleshoot mechanisms.Having fun talking robots with the Bionic Sharks team.Mike demonstrates live 3D printing during a Maker Moments: 3D Creations & Curiosity session at Silver Key’s Tri-Lakes Activity Center, inspiring others to explore creativity at any age.Mike readies his Plastic Antweight bot, “Pain in the Bot,” before a match — a great example of precision design and the excitement of combat robotics.In the arena — Mike competes with his Plastic Antweight bot at the Golden Tech Tussle, held at the Colorado School of Mines’ Labriola Makerspace & Innovation Space.A lifetime of creativity and curiosity — Mike stands proudly with his lineup of combat robots, embodying the joy and lifelong learning that drive his work.
🛠️ 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.
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.
Join us for a special Product Feedback Session where our student interns will showcase their latest product prototypes and invite your feedback. You’ll also see creative works from other members made using the equipment in our community makerspace — from laser-cut and 3D-printed designs to handcrafted products.
Your insights help shape the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and makers. Come connect, share ideas, and be part of the creative process!
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.
Join Monumental Impact at the 2025 Veterans Small Business Conference, Colorado’s premier event supporting veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners. We’ll have a booth alongside veteran business owner and MITEE community member Dan Spohn of UBI Business Consulting.
Discover resources, connect with local organizations, and explore opportunities for growth, mentorship, and collaboration.
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.
