This year and last have brought sweeping changes to all areas of Jemicy. One class, Jemicy’s Kinetic Sculpture Race class (or KSR), has been thriving in the new environment. I spoke to Mrs. August DiMucci about the challenges the KSR program has faced and how they’ve been dealing with change.
“We can’t use the same tools, we can’t use the same space,” said DiMucci, highlighting that teamwork–something she emphasized as a defining feature of KSR–had to fundamentally change.
Instead of working on the KSR vehicle for the race, students have had to shift their focus.
“This year, they’re all working on their own product. In KSR I, they made a derby car and a soapbox car.” Mrs. DiMucci continued, “KSR II build a 2 stroke 80CC…motorized bicycles as I call them.”
This year, first year students also learned to MIG weld and perform bicycle maintenance, while KSR II built lounge chairs out of pallets.
“It’s going great this year actually, just different,” Mrs. DiMucci said, appearing pleasantly surprised.
One student has taken advantage of the changes this year.
“It’s been a lot more independent and a lot more restricted,” said Carson Duda, a senior who’s been making the best of this year’s changes in the program. “We have to spread the budget thinner because everyone needs their own supplies; you have to be more creative.”
And being creative is just what Carson and the KSR classes have been doing.
Carson’s project, a miniature version of a KSR vehicle named “Not the Red Vehicle” from prior races, is currently on display at The American Visionary Arts Museum for the month of April and then raced on ZOOM on May 1.
“I haven’t seen it yet, [but] it’s neat to be able to have your stuff in a museum already at 18, it’s really cool.”
In addition to his vehicle on display, Duda also built an electric bicycle and a motorbike this school year.
MOOSE PRINTS 
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