It’s been awards season of late at Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) — but not in the way you might expect.
Instead of accepting – or handing out – trophies, the MAMC team has been hard at work designing and fabricating custom awards and branded keepsakes for organizations across the region, including numerous departments and groups at Marshall University.
“Over the years, we’ve been asked to create trophies and awards, but recently the pace has really picked up,” said Tyler Brandstetter, MAMC’s STEM Education and Makerspace Coordinator. “A lot of the buzz is attributed to word of mouth. Someone sees cool things that we’ve made and wants something similar. Or they tour our facility, see the range of tools and materials we work with, and their creativity kicks in.”
For the past two years, MAMC has produced the Marshall University Research Corporation (MURC) Grantsmanship Awards. Using a 3,000-watt laser cutter, the team crafted each trophy from stainless steel, precisely cutting the shape and etching the lettering before forming it on an 80-ton press brake. This year’s design added a Marshall-green acrylic backing, introducing a vibrant pop of color to the sleek metal finish.
When the spotlight turned to “Dancing With the Herd,” a fundraiser during which Marshall President Brad Smith and First Lady Alys Smith waltzed away with the mirror-ball trophy, MAMC once again delivered. The team created 3D-printed, multi-colored keepsakes for participants and volunteers, featuring Marco the Buffalo in a Marshall sweater and hat, set against a mirror ball backdrop with green-and-white lettering accents.
“This really showcases our 3D-printing capabilities,” Brandstetter said. “Our Prusa printer can print up to five colors at once, which allows us to produce complex, multi-color designs in a single run.”
This same printer was used to create trophies for the Marshall University Aerial Drone Competition presented by MAMC. The cog-shaped awards featured a Marshall-green circle, a red drone centerpiece, and a black label with crisp white lettering. In previous years, trophies were produced from acrylic and etched using MAMC’s Boss laser — highlighting the center’s ability to evolve designs and techniques from year to year and project to project.
Currently, MAMC is designing awards for an upcoming Marshall cybersecurity event. The piece will combine etched marble and acrylic on a wood base and feature a buffalo silhouette cut from an actual circuit board — a striking blend of technology and tradition.
“Our community makerspace truly allows us to bring nearly any idea to life,” Brandstetter said. “Our Boss laser can etch or engrave wood, metal, marble, acrylic, leather and more. It even has a rotary attachment so we can engrave cylindrical items like water bottles.”
This versatility was recently on display when MAMC created heavy acrylic plaques for the Marshall University Foundation to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex. Using a specialty powder-coating process, the team etched a detailed image of the facility directly on the acrylic.
Other recent projects that reflect the breadth of MAMC’s capabilities include:
- 3D-printed ornaments for Mountwest Community and Technical College
- Metal and wood trophies for the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Change Maker Awards
- Custom 3D-printed luggage tags for an out-of-state college basketball team
- Etched coasters and a rubber stamp logo for a whiskey distiller
- Mothman-themed cups, water bottles and coasters for a client to resale
“We encourage people to visit our campus and community makerspace, the Maker Vault, to discover what’s possible,” said Deacon Stone, MAMC’s Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “Many people know us for 3D printing, but we offer so much more — from cutting, bending and etching metal and acrylic to engraving stone and glass, even creating custom vacuum forms. If you have an idea for something unique, stop by. We’ll help you use our technology to bring it to life.”
The MAMC Maker Vault is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Learn more at www.mfg.marshall.edu/maker-vault or contact Tyler Brandstetter at or 304-781-1624.
Feb. 26, 2026
