Early this February, Makers Mill eagerly welcomed Sarah Souliere, a 22-year-old Mechanical Engineering junior at UNH, as part of an innovative three-month internship via the UNH Sustainability Semester for Impact program. This 400-hour experiential learning opportunity connects passionate students like Sarah with community organizations making meaningful social impact, like Makers Mill!
Inspired by her family of former and current military service members, including her grandfather who served in World War II, Sarah joined the Air National Guard civil engineer squadron last year, where she performs surveys, mapmaking, and floorplans of the base. However, Sarah’s aspirations extend beyond traditional engineering. Sarah dreams of designing affordable housing communities that prioritize accessibility and community connection.
At Makers Mill, Sarah is working at the greeter’s desk, welcoming the public and assisting with their diverse inquiries. She is also undertaking the important and long-awaited task of creating documentation for SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for tool and equipment use, a project that aligns with her aspirations to improve lives through human-centered design. Starting with the metalsmithing shop, Sarah is assigning a QR code for each tool, allowing members to instantly access a library of manuals, videos and safety procedures. This project aligns with her coursework in social innovation and problem-solving while also updating the tool library to ensure it remains current and accessible.
Born and raised in Barrington, NH, Sarah’s commitment to community service shines through her ongoing involvement with Girl Scouts, where she mentors younger troops. When not engineering solutions or serving her country, she enjoys baking treats like oatmeal cookies and banana nut bread, participating in choral programs, and reading historical scientific literature.
As part of UNH’s Sustainability Semester of Impact program, Sarah’s internship combines hands-on work at Makers Mill with specialized coursework in social innovation and problem-solving. This comprehensive program prepares students to tackle major social, economic, and environmental challenges through sustainable and scalable solutions.
Sarah plans to share her expertise with the community at Makers Mill by teaching Fusion 360 for 3D printing. Her joyful presence and valuable contributions not only enrich our collaborative environment but also embody Makers Mill’s mission of bringing people together to share their unique gifts and skills. Sarah’s work demonstrates how makerspaces like Makers Mill can inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful social change.