I focused on an engineering design related to protecting prosthetic limbs. My goal was to create a device for a prosthetic leg that would keep it safe while doing activities like going to the beach. I was inspired by books I read as a child where the main character had a physical disability, and by Harpeth Hall’s Summer Stem Institute which introduced me to prosthetics in real life. I chose to focus on protecting a prosthetic because they are hard to repair if damaged, and they are essential to the user's lives. As part of my research, I learned about many different aspects of leg prosthetics, including how a leg prosthetic works, types of attachments, and the pros and cons of using a prosthetic. I also discovered that prosthetics can be fragile, and there is a high risk of damaging a prosthetic without proper protection, especially if the user wants to wear it at a place like the beach. The idea of protecting a prosthetic from salt water and sand inspired my final product. For my product, I created a waterproof cover that users can wear over their prosthetic leg to prevent sand and saltwater from entering and degrading it. To create my final prototype, I used material from a poncho for the body, a shoe sole for the bottom, and elastic from a swim cap for the top. I tested my prototype by submerging it in dyed water with a paper towel roll inside of it to see how much water entered. One of the most exciting parts of my project and a key component of my design was working with an actual leg prosthetic that I borrowed from Vanderbilt’s prosthetic labs. Through SEEK, I deepened my knowledge of the function and construction of prosthetics. I also learned how to pace myself while completing assignments and how to handle shifting my approach to hard tasks and going a different route.