Alvernia Opens Student-Run O'Make Space in Reading Incubator

By Daniel Okafor

Alvernia University cut the ribbon on O'Make Space on Tuesday, Oct. 13, adding a student-run makerspace to its Spark Business Incubator at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne. The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance supported the ceremony.

The space holds six machines: two 3D printers, a laser engraver, a heat press, a sublimation printer, a Cricut cutting machine and an embroidery machine. Students use them to design, prototype and customize apparel, stickers, drinkware, signage and promotional merchandise. They can work with metal, wood, plastic, vinyl and paper.

Why did Alvernia build it?

Demand drove the project. Local businesses and entrepreneurs asked for more services, and student engagement grew at the incubator. As students worked with clients, explored new technologies and collaborated across disciplines, they spotted gaps in available equipment. Their advocacy shaped the final facility.

"Experiential learning and community engagement are central to Alvernia University's mission, and the O'Pake Institute's new O'Make Space brings both priorities to life," said Alvernia University President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. "By working with real technology, projects and clients, our students develop the confidence, skills and experience needed to succeed beyond the classroom while creating meaningful opportunities to serve and strengthen our community."

Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Ph.D., RTTP, the university's chief economic, community and strategic development officer, credited the students directly.

"Our students played an instrumental role in shaping this space, advocating for the equipment and resources needed to expand its capabilities," Ridley said. "O'Make Space creates new opportunities for prototyping and small-batch production, strengthening the services we provide to local businesses and entrepreneurs through the Spark Business Incubator."

Who runs the machines?

Graduate and undergraduate O'Pake fellows operate the space, along with EmpowerEd high school interns. They manage projects from initial concept and design through production and delivery. Along the way they build technical skills, client-relations experience and professional confidence.

The students collaborate with entrepreneurs, small businesses, university departments and community partners. The work connects classroom knowledge to real-world projects.

Aracelis Amador-Rivera, an Alvernia MBA candidate, framed the value of the room beyond its hardware.

"When you walk into this room, you'll see machines, equipment and tools, but what makes this space special is not the equipment itself. It's the opportunity it creates," Amador-Rivera said. "It's a place where curiosity becomes creativity, mistakes become lessons and ideas grow into meaningful projects."

What does it change for small businesses?

The economics matter for early-stage companies. Traditional vendors often require large minimum orders for customized merchandise. O'Make Space offers small-batch production instead, which lowers the entry cost for emerging entrepreneurs who need short runs of branded goods.

The model works two ways. Businesses get accessible creative services. Students get paid-quality experience running production for paying clients, a sharper test than any classroom assignment.

The new facility also deepens a partnership structure. O'Make Space works with the College of Innovation, Discovery and Enterprise, professional mentors and community partners. That network ties the O'Pake Institute's education mission to entrepreneurship and economic development in one operation.

The institute positions the space as part of a broader push to help students turn ideas into finished projects while contributing to growth in the Greater Reading community. If client demand keeps rising the way it did before the launch, the six-machine lineup may prove to be the starting inventory rather than the ceiling.