Kentucky Teacher Builds Life-Changing 3D Hand

Quick Smiles:

• A Kentucky teacher devised a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for his student.
• The student now enjoys greater independence thanks to the custom device.
• The affordable prosthetic is being improved and can grow with the student.

At Red Cross Elementary in Barren County, Kentucky, Scott Johnson blended empathy and ingenuity to brighten a young student’s future.

Johnson, the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, quietly dedicated months to crafting a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for fourth-grader Jackson Farmer.

Jackson, born without his right hand, had previously relied on a basic rubber prosthetic.

“He’s got a skin tone rubber type hand that he can wear, but it doesn’t have a lot of functionality to it. He can’t actually grip things and whatnot,” Johnson said.

After studying models and consulting experts, Johnson unveiled the prosthetic to Jackson at a school event, offering to customize it for him with the green light from Jackson’s mom.

The newly designed hand features comfortable materials, is fully mechanical, and can grip and release objects through simple wrist movements.

The hand takes about 25 hours to print, is budget-friendly at only $20 in materials, and was funded by Johnson himself.

Looking ahead, Johnson is working to refine the design based on Jackson’s feedback and will update it as Jackson grows, aiming to teach him how to personalize the hand in the future.

“We can scale up the file as he gets older,” Johnson shared. “One day, he’ll be able to make his own edits. That’s the goal.”

Stories like this remind us of the power of innovative thinking and support within our communities. Know someone making a difference? Share their story and help spread the joy!

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