Ella Swank

Ella worked at Camp Sonshine this past summer as a camp counselor. During the school year, she works for the Recreational Therapy Program at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute as a recreational technician, where she coordinates recreational therapy activities. Skilled in additive manufacturing, CAD, human-centered design, and whole-person healthcare, Ella is also an undergraduate researcher in UNO's Additive Manufacturing Biomechanics Lab. Most recently, she designed and prototyped an assistive device using Tinkercad and additive manufacturing to improve accessibility and user functionality. In 2026, she was awarded a NASA Nebraska Space Grant to conduct research on developing a 3D-printed modular arm brace to be used in space. She was also awarded the prestigious Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) Fellowship, a global program dedicated to "repairing the world" through innovative and accessible user-centered design and assistive technology solutions. At UNO, Ella is a student leader for Providence Church College Community (PC3) college ministry and a member of Biomechanics United. Ella plans to attend occupational therapy school after graduation, aspiring to become a pediatric occupational therapist.