AMUG names two scholarship recipients for 2026 conference
Li Yang and Abby Stamper will present their work at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference in Reno, Nevada, next week
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has named the recipients of its annual scholarships, recognizing an educator and a student for their contributions to the field of additive manufacturing. Both recipients are scheduled to present their work on the main stage at the AMUG Conference on March 17 – the event runs March 15–19 in Reno, Nevada.
Li Yang, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Louisville, has received the Randy Stevens Scholarship, which is awarded annually to an educator in additive manufacturing.
Abby L. Stamper, a mechanical engineering student at Boise State University, has been awarded the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship, which is bestowed annually to a college student.
Academic excellence and a career path dedicated to educating
Dr. Yang has spent the past 19 years in academia, beginning with doctoral research in industrial and systems engineering at North Carolina State University before joining the University of Louisville. His work centers on lightweight structures produced through additive manufacturing and on narrowing the gap between design concepts and real-world applications.
“I am working towards an integrated design framework that employs an analytical approach for the multi-scale design relationship of lightweight structures, while utilizing both process physics and experimentation to capture the compound geometry-process-property relationships of lightweight features,” he stated.
Ed Herderick, EWD director at America Makes and a longtime collaborator, described Yang as “a passionate educator who has inspired and taught hundreds of students over many years”.
A student applying digital fabrication to prosthetics
Stamper began 3D printing in the fourth grade and later founded Brown Box Cookie Cutters, a venture producing original 3D printed designs. She has since shifted her focus to orthotics and prosthetics, completing two internships with Western Prosthetics & Orthotics.
“I want to solve problems related to biomechanical efficiency, durability, and accessibility in prosthetic and orthotic systems, particularly where device performance, cost, and coverage limit real-world use,” she stated.
Dr. Olga Ivanova and Brent Griffith, co-chairs of AMUG’s Scholarship Committee, jointly stated: “We were thrilled with the quality and diversity of this year’s applicants. The submissions demonstrated outstanding talent, creativity, and potential in the next generation of additive manufacturing leaders.”
The Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship was founded by Renee Bourdeau and is financially supported by Formnext. The Randy Stevens Scholarship was founded by In’Tech Industries, Inc. and is financially supported by GreatAmerica.
VoxelMatters spoke to Fournier ahead of the event to get his insights on AM’s foundational role at General Atomics.
