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Kellenberg teen explores hands on experience ing. I’ve really improved,” he said. His work has included several For Makaio Welch, of Elmont, personal projects, including a a summer internship at M.A.C.- small metal figure, a brass obeTech Fabrication & Repairs in lisk and an Iron Man helmet that Queens has provided more than he has been constructing from an introduction to welding, laser-cut pieces of metal. He said that creating the helallowing the Kellenberg Memorial High School stumet has been chaldent an opportunity lenging because the to explore a career templates he found path he had never online were experienced before. designed for foam Makaio, who is rather than metal. entering 10th grade Makaio has had to at the Uniondale reshape the pieces school, began his by hand, account for internship at the fabcompound curves rication company in and repeatedly mid-July, learning adjust the metal so how to weld, operate the pieces fit togetha laser cutter, drill MAkAIo WELcH er. and assemble metal intern at M.A.C.-Tech “I had no idea pieces and work Fabrication & Repairs what I was doing,” with different types Makaio said of the of metal. helmet’s prototype. “I really like it because it’s “Now that I understand the actusuch a comprehensive view of al process, I’m trying to make a everything,” Makaio said. “I real one.” wasn’t just focused on one area. Chester Gordon, owner of Almost everything in the shop, I M.A.C.-Tech, said Makaio was know how to do.” among the company’s first Before the internship, Makaio interns as it began exploring never tried his hand at welding, ways to introduce more young but it has become one of the people to fabrication and the skills he has spent the most time skilled trades. developing. Gordon said students often do “I spent a lot of time on weldContinued on page 7
By HAILEY FULMER
hfulmer@liherald.com
Courtesy Benjamin James
Benjamin James balances the demands of medical school with his training as he prepares to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles at Jones Beach.
Benjamin James is going the distance By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
For Benjamin James, the road to becoming a doctor is measured in more than hours spent in the hospital or studying for exams. It is also measured in miles. The 25-year-old, third-year medical student at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell now lives in West Hempstead, but his roots are on the other side of the country. Originally from California, James has been an athlete all his life, including college and medical school, and is now in the final weeks of training for an Ironman triathlon. On Sept. 26, James will compete in the Northwell Ironman 70.3 New York at Jones Beach, where he will swim 1.2 miles, bike 56
miles and finish with a 13.1-mile half marathon. For James, the challenge has been not only to complete the race, but to find the time to prepare for it. The third year of med school is when students transition from primarily classroom-based learning to full-time clinical rotations. James spends his days in hospitals and ambulatory practices, while also taking part in case-based discussions, simulations, testing and independent study. “It’s definitely been a lot,” he said. “It’s been pretty tough to find time to train while being at the hospital, and then having to come home and study still.” James has learned to make the most of his limited training time. He often works out with classmates who are also taking part in Continued on page 9
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