Raymond High School sophomore Destiney Hyson-Berard designed a clip for face masks to make the masks more comfortable for healthcare professionals working amid COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo Raymond Public Schools) -
Raymond High School sophomore Destiney Hyson-Berard first designed a clip featuring a butterfly. (Courtesy Photo Raymond Public Schools) -
Raymond High School teacher Sandra Gilbert models a clip for face masks that her student, Destiney Hyson-Berard, a sophomore, designed this spring. (Courtesy Photo Raymond Public Schools) -
Raymond High School sophomore Destiney Hyson-Berard has also created alternative designs including the above, which features a sunflower design. (Courtesy Photo Raymond Public Schools) 
Sophomore Destiney Hyson-Berard designed mask clips this spring to help alleviate ear pain caused by wearing face masks for healthcare professionals amid COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of the Raymond School District)
RAYMOND – Challenged to design something that would help people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Raymond High School sophomore Destiney Hyson-Berard didn’t have to look far for inspiration.
Hyson-Berard came up with the idea to design a clip for face masks this spring featuring a butterfly for her mother, a healthcare professional. The clip not only alleviates pressure on the wearer’s ears by stretching behind their head to secure their face mask, but it also features a butterfly design Hyson-Berard created in an effort to spread joy and positivity in the stressful, challenging climate surrounding the pandemic.
The assignment to create something that would help slow the spread of COVID-19 or help people with tasks during the pandemic was given to students by computer aided design (CAD) teacher Sandra Gilbert in mid-April. Hyson-Berard designed the clip using Tinkercad, a web-based program she and her classmates learned after transitioning to remote learning.
After Hyson-Berard designed the clips, she worked with Gilbert to perfect and 3D print the final iteration.
“It felt good to know that I actually made something in a class and it is able to help other people, besides just creating something just for fun,” Hyson-Berard said.
Each takes about 20 to 40 minutes for Gilbert to print using one of the school’s three 3D printers at her house. Hyson-Berard has since designed several variations to offer options to medical professionals, including clip that feature puppy paws and a sunflower design.
Since May 21, Gilbert has printed approximately 50 mask clips using Hyson-Berard’s design.
“I think once she realized there was a need beyond her mom, it just made her want to do more,” Gilbert said. “I don’t think it gets better than that.”
Area healthcare professionals can still receive a free clip by filling out a google form here. Clips will be mailed to individuals as they are made.
Hyson-Berard and Awais Khan, a freshman, are also working to design face shields to print and distribute to those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our kids are pretty amazing,” GIlbert said. “We are a small school, and you don’t always realize there is talent even in small schools. But there really is a lot of talent in our school. i just want our kids to have credit for that.”
The following video clips may be used freely by the news media:
- Raymond Sophomore Designs Mask Clip for Medical Professionals Amid COVID-19 SOT: click here.
- Raymond Sophomore Designs Mask Clip for Medical Professionals Amid COVID-19 VO: click here.
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