Engineering Connection: Senior Ryese Fernandes Brings Creativity to the Community

When Eagle Point High School senior Ryese Fernandes fires up the laser engraver in Mr. Langston’s Engineering class, part of the CTE program at EPHS, sparks of creativity and community pride shine through. For her latest project, Ryese is crafting a collection of custom holiday ornaments for the historic Butte Creek Mill, blending technical skill with local connection.

“I think it’s important for high school students to be connected with their community,” Ryese said. “And I think it’s important for our community to see what we’re doing, that we’re not just messing around in school. Some of us are actually doing the work to get our names out there.”

Ryese has spent four years mastering the Glowforge laser engraver, a high-tech tool that etches designs into wood, acrylic, glass, and even metal. “When I first started working on it my freshman year,” she explained, “I didn’t really know what I was doing. But after four years, I know these machines inside and out.”

The Glowforge, a computer-guided laser cutter, allows Ryese to transform digital designs into tangible keepsakes. “It’s kind of like a design program that tells the laser how to execute the product,” she said. “The brain of the machine is in the head of the laser, and if anything’s off—like if the lens is dirty—none of it’s going to work.”

For this project, Ryese is creating up to 100 custom ornaments for the Butte Creek Mill—each one laser-cut, engraved, and designed. Her inspiration came from the mill’s historic logo.

“I thought if it’s for the mill, it should have their name or logo on it,” she said. “So I took one of their older logos, dropped it into our program, and reworked the layout until it felt right.”

Ryese also added “2025” to commemorate both the year and her own creative contribution to the community. “I think it’s important to show when something was made,” she said. “It’s part of the story.”

Ryese’s drive to learn and lead extends far beyond the engineering lab. Since her sophomore year, she has been actively involved in SkillsUSA, a national organization that helps students develop leadership and career skills.

“I’ve been doing SkillsUSA since my sophomore year,” Ryese shared. “I originally did pin design, then in my junior year, I decided that I thought it was important to know more about health care and being educated about what to do in an emergency.”

That decision led to a remarkable achievement: first place at the state competition, followed by a trip to nationals in Atlanta in June 2025. This year, Ryese is continuing her journey with SkillsUSA as the chapter’s secretary, supporting other students as they grow in confidence and skill.

Her involvement in SkillsUSA reflects the same curiosity and community-mindedness that guide her engineering projects. “It’s all connected,” she said. “Whether it’s designing something, learning new skills, or helping others—you’re always learning from people around you.”

Working with high-tech tools takes both patience and precision—a theme that mirrors the spirit of collaboration at Eagle Point High School. Ryese is the first to admit that working with laser equipment is not for the faint of heart.

“You really need to know what you’re doing,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve seen people come in and accidentally mess up the machine because they used the wrong settings with the wrong materials.”

Yet, for all its technical challenges, Ryese finds joy in sharing what she’s learned with others. “They’re easy enough to learn, but you have to respect the machine,” she added. “It’s durable, but it’s delicate at the same time.”

Though the Butte Creek Mill ornament project isn’t directly tied to Ryese’s future career plans, it’s clear that her passion for craftsmanship runs deep. After graduation, she hopes to open her own powder coating shop, combining hands-on work with creative design.

“I think projects like this show what we can do,” she said. “It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.”

Ryese’s ornaments will be on sale at the Butte Creek Mill starting November 1st. She hopes visitors will appreciate not only the craftsmanship but also the collaboration, care, and creativity behind each piece.

The ornaments have been generously donated by the Engineering Program, and all proceeds from sales at the Butte Creek Mill will benefit the D9 Foundation’s student scholarship program. Visit the Butte Creek Mill on Rayal Rd during business hours to see these eye-catching designs.