Rocket engineers make Halloween fun accessible

McNicholas engineering students got creative this Halloween, designing and building Halloween costumes that would fit over wheelchairs.  

They created a firetruck costume for Jake and a Ghost Rider costume for Chase who are both wheelchair bound. Jake and Chase showed off their costumes at May We Help’s annual inclusive Halloween Festival and a costume parade.  

May We Help, a non-profit organization co-founded by McNicholas graduate Bill Deimling ‘61, designs, builds, and delivers custom assistive devices that help people with disabilities achieve independence. McNicholas has partnered with May We Help to create accessible toys, beds, athletic equipment, and now costumes! 

“The students did some amazing work and were able to use their skills to make a difference in these kids’ and their families’ lives,” engineering teacher Mr. Steve Dalton said.   

Students met with each family to hear feedback and take measurements. It was important that the design not only looked nice but attached to the chair perfectly as well.  

“This project felt truly special because we were able to apply what we have been learning throughout this semester to the real world in a way that directly helped someone in the community,” junior Grace Reuss said.  “Seeing Chase so eager to move around in his Ghost Rider costume made me feel elated to have completed the project.”  

Mr. Dalton is proud of his students who worked hard to develop their talents and to gain the knowledge and skill required to meet a real-world need.  

“These students will always be able to look back on this experience and know that as teenagers they were able to use their skills to do something that mattered,” Mr. Dalton said.