Written by Savannah Hicks, SHARE Greater Lynchburg Communications Intern

This past weekend, our community came together for another incredible MEGA Meetup—an event that brought learning, making, and connection through hands-on projects led by our talented shop captains. Whether attendees were seasoned members or first-time makers, the June MEGA Meetup served as a vibrant reminder of what happens when curiosity meets community. These one-day learning extravaganzas happen just three times a year, and anticipation is always high.

Makers of the Month: Reese & Allison!

We’re thrilled to announce that three young makers have officially earned their Junior Maker badge and proudly taken the Maker Pledge! These youth have shown incredible dedication by attending Vector Space educational events like First Friday and Maker Faire Lynchburg. At each event, they participated in hands-on activities designed to ignite creativity, problem-solving, and a love for making. To earn the Junior Maker badge, participants must complete five different event activities within a single calendar year.

Congratulations to Jon Formo, our April Maker of the Month!

At Vector Space, our makers are the heart of everything we do—and this month, we're thrilled to spotlight someone whose creativity, dedication, and technical skill continue to elevate our community.

In the United States, the number of women in manufacturing is extremely low, with the number of women employed as artisans or machine operators between 1-4%. Here in Lynchburg, we are working to change that statistic. In partnership with the City of Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Toursism and Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, Vector Space has launched the newest iteration of our Women in Machining program.

In April 2025 Vector Space installed two permanent, public chess tables in Downtown Lynchburg. The intent of this project is to further activate this space in a way that appeals to a broad age range, engages the mind, and has a proven record of success in many other communities. The tables were designed and built at Vector Space by Adam Spontarelli. Located in the patio area next to The Depot Grille, each table features a strudy steel base, plasma cut and welded to represent chess pieces.

We are officially one month into the FIRST Robotics Competition program. In early January, 14 local teens and as many mentors gathered at Vector Space to watch the live presentation of the 2025 season challenge: Reefscape.