Hundreds of University of Central Florida students turned out Friday to attempt to break the world record for the longest high-five chain.
The attempt on the UCF Memory Mall fell short of its record-breaking goal of 1,700. But the sponsor, Microsoft OneNote, achieved its bigger goal of bringing attention to Limbitless Solutions, the UCF student team that’s producing 3-D printed bionic arms for children.
A line of students and faculty snaked around Memory Mall for the high-five chain, which worked like the “wave.” It ended with Limbitless student leader Albert Manero high-fiving Alex Pring, the 7-year-old boy who was the first recipient of one the bionic arms.
Pring was joined by Wyatt Falardeau, a fifth-grader from Vero Beach who is now being fitted for an arm by the UCF team.
Microsoft came to UCF as part of a campaign called The Collective Project. In addition to the world-record attempt, there were other on-campus events this week that were meant to raise awareness of how students can come together using technology to rally around a cause and make a difference in the world.
On Thursday, students from across the university came to the Engineering II building for a Build-a-Thon. They met members of the Limbitless team and built mechanical hands. About 50 volunteers participated, constructing 60 hands that will be shipped to Children’s Rehabilitation Institute of Teletón USA, a San Antonio-based pediatric rehabilitation center that serves children with neuromusculoskeletal disabilities.