QL Plus

Engineering innovation meets elite para-sports! Virginia Tech students Makenzie Bourne and Taiyo Watt are taking their USA Bobsled/Skeleton sled modification project to the next level! With lab space full, a local auto body shop stepped up to help them practice welding—an essential step in creating their custom weight distribution system for veterans competing in this high-speed sport. Para-skeleton athletes race at 80 mph, relying on balance and control to stay on track. Makenzie and Taiyo’s work will help ensure safer, more adaptable sleds for athletes with disabilities. Next up: Laser-cutting final parts and welding together custom trays to perfect the system. QL Plus is proud to support these future engineers tackling real-world challenges and improving the lives of veterans. Read more about this project in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/gN_R8seB

An enormous THANK YOU is in order to our friends at Hanger Clinic's Hanger Foundation for their generous grant to QL Plus. We're proud to be mission-aligned with the Hanger Foundation, who actively partners with grassroots nonprofit organizations and universities to make life more accessible for people living with limb loss and physical challenges. This grant allows us to continue our mission of improving the quality of life of injured and disabled veterans and first responders.

Thanks to Stars and Stripes for resharing a great segment on the work we do for injured and disabled veterans. Whether it's a service- or non-service related injury, the QL Plus team and our network of engineering schools are ready to enhance the quality of life of veterans across the country.

For over 15 years, QL Plus has been transforming the lives of injured and disabled veterans and first responders by pairing them with the brightest engineering students to create life-changing assistive technologies. But to continue this vital work, we need your help. Today, we're asking that you consider becoming a QL Plus Sustaining Donor—a way for you to provide steady, reliable support that fuels our mission every month. Your monthly gift of $5, $10, or $25 or more provides critical materials, supplies, and travel for more than 50 projects each year—from custom prosthetics to adaptive cycling devices and beyond. Your support not only improves lives but also empowers the next generation of engineers to innovate with purpose. Learn more about becoming a Sustaining Donor today -> https://lnkd.in/esyYk-mK

At QL Plus, we believe in the power of engineering innovation to change lives. That’s why we’re proud to collaborate with the University of South Florida (USF) on a capstone project that’s making a real impact. A team of USF biomedical and mechanical engineering students is designing a custom leg brace for United States Marine Corps veteran Yessenia Buckley, who sustained a spinal cord injury during training. Their goal? To create a lightweight, comfortable, and flexible device that enhances her mobility and quality of life. Yessenia, a former Marine Corps Captain, has shown incredible resilience in adapting to life after her injury. But her current brace is bulky and uncomfortable—so these students are stepping up to design a better, more personalized solution. Why this matters: ? Hands-on engineering experience ? Patient-centered innovation ? A real-world impact on a veteran’s life We're excited to see how this project unfolds and grateful for USF's talented students who are dedicating their skills to this mission. Learn more about this project in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/gxhvHq4p Stay tuned for updates! #EngineeringForGood #VeteranSupport #Innovation #USF #QLPlus

We hit a LinkedIn milestone! Thanks to everyone who follows the work we do to enhance the lives of injured #veterans and provide experiential learning opportunities to #engineering students across the country.

Happy Birthday to the USO! For 84 years, the USO has been a steadfast supporter of America's service members, keeping them connected to family, home, and country. At QL Plus, we share their commitment to improving the lives of those who serve. Thank you for all you do to uplift and support our military community!

Meet the universities of QL Plus! Bucknell University The Catholic University of America Colorado School of Mines Duquesne University George Mason University The George Washington University Grace College & Seminary United States Naval Academy Norwich University Ohio University Old Dominion University Rowan University + 13 more! Beyond the benefit to injured American heroes, QL Plus helps engineering students gain valuable real-world experience and skills, preparing them for their careers after graduation. See the full list of participating universities: https://lnkd.in/gt3HssVv

We're hiring for a new Executive Director! Since 2009, QL Plus has connected innovative engineering students with injured veterans and first responders to develop life-changing assistive technologies that enhance mobility, independence, and well-being. As Executive Director, you will lead this mission by driving innovation, forging impactful partnerships, raising critical funds, and shaping the future of QL Plus to make a meaningful difference for those who have sacrificed so much. Apply today using the link below. #nonprofitjobs #veterans

QL Plus and USA Bobsled/Skeleton are breaking barriers in adaptive sports! Army Veteran David Snypes, Jr. made history as the first one-handed athlete to steer a bobsled, thanks to a groundbreaking project by Virginia Tech College of Engineering students. Faced with the challenge of adapting the sport’s two-rope steering system, the students designed a one-handed solution—proving what’s possible for athletes with physical impairments. With support from QL Plus, and initial testing by Team USA Para Bobsled pilot DJ Skelton, this innovation highlights the power of teamwork, resilience, and adaptive sports to push boundaries and inspire change. This is more than a win—it’s a game-changer for accessibility in sports! Read more in the latest blog post from USA Bobsled/Skeleton: https://lnkd.in/gNwzy4kd #AdaptiveSports #Bobsled #Innovation #Veterans #Engineering