22 DECEMBER 2025 By Rachael Bouley Access Play, Xavier Prep’s all-female engineering team, won Tier 1 honors in the 2025 Makers of Change Assistive Technology Challenge, a Valley-wide competition that featured more than 100 high school teams combining creativity, compassion, and STEM skills. This marked Xavier’s first time participating in the annual challenge, now in its eighth year. Southwest Human Development organizes the competition as a partner of Easterseals, a nationwide nonprofit that provides disability support. Participants were tasked with developing a way for Levi, a young boy with cerebral palsy, to play both independently and with his siblings. “We learned what he liked to do and also about his limitations, such as difficulties with coordination. Levi uses a wheelchair and sometimes needs to lie back in the chair, so the solution had to be something he could use while sitting and at an angle,” senior Shriya Tummala said. The Access Play team quickly got to work, researching Levi’s condition and sketching out a solution. They used a CAD diagram for the design, adding the grips and special features before 3D printing their final project: a magnetized game board with large, ergonomic pieces and multiple games to play. Their prototype was a success, as it addressed Levi’s challenges with fine motor skills. It also made an impact with the judging panel and audience, as Access Play was the only all-female team among the finalists. “It was surprising to win because we saw how competitive it is and how many great teams there were. It was amazing and validated all the hard work that went into it,” Shriya said. “When we found out our board game would solve issues for Levi, like helping his coordination and motor skills, it was inspiring to know that we could make a difference in his life.” Shriya, who is interested in studying engineering at college, was joined by fellow seniors Emma Robescu, Stella Vinokur, and Sophia Fireman as the group brought their vision for an innovative, accessible gaming system to life. Leon Tynes, Jr., Computer Science Department Chair, mentored the team. “These students are very creative, attentive to details and the needs of the ‘consumer’ and understanding the parents’ needs as well to help Levi with his development,” Tynes, Jr. said. “It’s a huge achievement that our students can research, conceptualize, and prototype in five weeks an actionable device to help a young kid with cerebral palsy.” The Access Play team learned how to present to a panel of experts, explaining their concepts and ideas, while discovering they can drive change at a young age. “STEM challenges are important because they require students to synthesize their entire base of knowledge in a multitude of subjects, from English, mathematics, statistics, and research, all coming together in a real-world context instead of a classroom environment,” Tynes, Jr. said. “The Makers of Change allowed me to combine my passion for STEM with helping others,” Emma said. “Designing a device that was accessible to Levi showed me how technology can make a difference in people’s everyday lives. Winning the challenge inspired me to continue pursuing a career where I can use innovation to make a positive impact.” This challenge opened a world of possibilities for a future in STEM, inspiring students about what could come after graduation. Congratulations, Gators! swhd.org/makersofchange Young innovators recognized with Tier 1 win at tech challenge Leon Tynes, Emma Robescu, Stella Vinokur and Sophia Fireman with Levi, Synthia, and Rudy Moreno. PHOTO: LISA ZUBA A collection of 60 luxury condominium residences within a new private, ated community adjacent to The Phoenician ® Resort. Two bedroom plus den and three bedroom plus den residences feature seamless indoor-outdoor livin. Enjoy views of iconic Camelback Mountain on the private rooftop terrace. Nearin completion and ready for move in December 2025. PRICES START AT $3.2M Offered by Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty (AZ DRE # LC646682009). 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