Leo Smolinski is a high school senior attending both James Hillhouse High School and ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven. Leo is also a mixed-media artist who explores film, painting, and textile arts. He has been an apprentice for 5 years. 

RACHEL ALDERMAN (Director, Teaching Artist) (she/her) is a director, producer and co-creator of theater experiences - fiercely committed to building ensemble onstage and off. Rachel has held senior leadership positions at Long Wharf Theatre and Hartford Stage, and she is a founding ensemble member of the award-winning A Broken Umbrella Theatre with whom she has collectively devised original, site-specific theater inspired by the history of New Haven, CT.

Hi! I’m a college student majoring in Product Design with a strong focus on how hands-on and digital making work together. I enjoy turning ideas into physical outcomes through experimentation, iteration, and precise execution. I emphasize the history behind different processes, confidence with tools, and creating thoughtful design decisions. 

Devin is a Junior at Hamden High and has been an Apprentice at Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop since 8th grade. He loves going out into nature and has been hiking throughout Connecticut since the age of five. Devin loves camping, fishing, and searching for local wildlife.