TCT Rising Star Award
Celebrating neurodivergent young people in engineering and 3D printing
We were proud to partner with TCT for the fourth year to present the TCT Sanjay Mortimer Foundation Rising Star Award 2026.
The award recognised an up-and-coming neurodivergent young person with the creativity, curiosity and potential to help shape the future of engineering, particularly within 3D printing.
The award was once again sponsored by our wonderful partners at Prusa Research. The winner received a PRUSA CORE One + 3D printer and became an SMF Star, gaining access to funding, mentorship, training and a supportive community.
Entries closed on 30 April 2026, and Neil Doherty was subsequently announced as the 2026 winner.
Winner of the SMF Rising Star Award 2026
Neil Doherty
Neil Doherty is the deserving winner of the 2026 TCT SMF Rising Star Award, recognised for his remarkable journey into 3D printing and the transformative impact it has had on his life in just three years. Mentored by 3D Printing Cornwall, Neil has progressed from a beginner into a confident creator, designing and selling products that are now used by local businesses. Alongside his technical expertise, he has developed valuable skills in communication, independence and commercial awareness. Neil is also exploring emerging technologies such as virtual reality and digital design, while inspiring others by sharing his story in schools. His creativity, resilience and determination embody the spirit of the Rising Star Award.
Prusa CORE One+ 3D Printer
As the winner of the 2026 TCT SMF Rising Star Award, Neil received a PRUSA CORE One 3D printer to support the continued development of his design and engineering skills.
Neil will also have the opportunity to become an SMF Star, giving him access to further support through grants, training, mentorship and other opportunities as he continues his STEM journey.
Neil Doherty receives the 2026 SMF Rising Star Award alongside Amanda Hull of Rapid News Group and Teula Bradshaw, CEO of the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation.
Winner of the SMF Rising Star Award 2025
Abigail Duckworth
Abigail Duckworth found 3D printing to be the first medium that truly unleashed her creativity. Despite the challenges of undiagnosed ADHD, she excelled, leading groundbreaking research at Loughborough University on printing lattice structures onto physio tape for arthritis support. Her innovative work was showcased at AM Meets Medicine 2021 and published in a peer‑reviewed paper. Her resilience and originality make her a deserving SMF Rising Star Award recipient.
Prusa CORE One+ 3D Printer
The Prusa CORE One+ is a compact and powerful enclosed CoreXY 3D printer, designed to deliver high-speed, high-quality prints with a seamless, reliable workflow. Featuring a robust all-steel frame, active temperature control and a generous build volume, it supports everything from everyday filaments to advanced materials with ease. With intuitive software, one-click printing and future upgrade options, it offers a versatile and dependable solution for both new users and experienced makers.
Abigail Duckworth receives her award from host Mark Watson and Teula Bradshaw, CEO of the SMF
Winner of the SMF Rising Star Award 2024
Charlotte Bridgewater
Charlotte Bridgewater is a student at Newcastle University who has a passion for helping others. She developed the idea of her dissertation project to assist her friend with a lifelong physical disability. She is designing the “TuCan”, an assistive technology device that helps individuals with poor grip strength open beverage cans. She achieved one of the highest marks in her entire year group for the initial submission for this project. As a female in a field where women are underrepresented, she embodies creativity, self-motivation, hard work, and most importantly, compassion. She has shown remarkable resilience against adverse situations that could have hindered her success, making her a deserving recipient of the SMF Rising Star Award.
The mod0
This machine is only the third of its kind, it is a compact and powerful open-source CoreXY with the flexibility to produce quality parts quickly and the opportunity to tinker. Featuring the E3D Hemera XS, Revo High-Temperature Hotside and a 0.4mm High Flow ObXidian nozzle, mod0 is ready for any filament. We are extremely grateful to Brendon for his generous donation, this is an incredible opportunity to own a truly unique printer with impressive capabilities.
Lottie Bridgewater receives her award from host Dallas Campbell and Teula Bradshaw, CEO of the SMF
Winner of the SMF Rising Star Award 2023
Zac Smith
Zac Smith receives his award from host Jonny Herbert and David Lamb, Trustee of the SMF
Zac's application demonstrated that despite the challenges of his neurodiversity, he has found solace and joy exploring engineering and design, having consistently delivered outstanding results that showcase his technical skill, innovation and creative thinking, and is using his unique perspective to bring fresh and invaluable qualities to the field of engineering.
As the winning entrant Zac received a Prusa 3D printer to help support his journey into Engineering, plus the opportunity to become an SMF Star, providing access to grants, training and more. During his acceptance speech, 16 year old Zac thanked all the support he has received from his school teachers as well as thanking Sanjay specifically for his incredible influence and inspiration.
The Prusa MK4
The MK4 was generously donated by Prusa Research Ltd, one of the SMF partners. It is the latest edition of their flagship 3D printing workhorse. It combines the reliability and safety features of its predecessors with high-speed performance enabled by Input Shaper support. It brings plenty of new features like a perfect smooth first layer thanks to the Loadcell sensor (no manual adjustments needed).
