Ohio Connections Academy Student Discovers Passion for Robotics

Kody Greene, of Copley is a senior at Ohio Connections Academy. He enrolled in the public online charter school in the fall of 2017 after attending another online school. He left because he didn’t believe his previous school was challenging him enough.

Kody prefers learning in an online setting as it enables him to work at his own pace.

“I love OCA because it gives me a wide variety of flexibility, it makes it easy for me because I can move faster when I understand stuff and if I’m having difficulties, I can slow down and take my time as needed,” Kody said. “It's easier for each individual knowing that they can go at their own pace.”

He first enrolled in online school after he had been diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma when he was 10-years-old. After a four month stay in the hospital and two additional months in treatment, Kody had fallen behind and needed the flexible schedule to get back on track academically.

It was during his stay in the hospital when Kody discovered a passion that would help him on the road to recovery.

He had always been a Star Wars fan and to pass his time away in the hospital, he would study, draw and design different props from those movies and other motion pictures. He got more and more interested and decided he would try to actually recreate some of those props.

Today he takes time between classes and during study breaks to design and build replicas using multiple 3D printers to create the props. Among other things, he has built a working R2D2 replica robot that he likes to take to comic book shows and other events. He’s currently working on an Iron MK-2 design that will include airburst effects.

Following his bout with cancer, he wanted to do things that would put a smile on people’s faces, especially children. So he uses his talent to build props and replicas for people to look at and to enjoy.

“I love building my props because it allows me to express myself and give back to the community at the same time. I like to make stuff that everyone recognizes, young people and older people can both connect with such as Star Wars,” he said. “I honestly think there's been more adults giggling about seeing R2 in real life than kids. I just like the fact that something I can make can bring so much joy to others.”

At this point he isn’t sure where he will attend college after his high school graduation. He does know that he wants to work in engineering/robotics and maybe work in the motion picture industry for a company like Disney/Lucas Films.