Zach Maggia and Clay Dobbins, both 2019 Gibbs College graduates now working full-time at TAP Architecture, have partnered with AIA Oklahoma, Bishop McGuinness STEM students, Positive Tomorrows and TAP Architecture to provide Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) Oklahoma first responders with ear savers to wear with their protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3D printed ear saver. Image credit: Zach Magia
The idea, which originally came from Ian and Hailey McDermid, owners of The Pump and The Bunker Club in Oklahoma City, was to create ear savers for EMSA Oklahoma first responders to wear during the pandemic. Maggia and Dobbins got involved with the project when their boss at TAP, Anthony McDermid, mentioned that his son, Ian, knew someone at EMSA that needed ear savers and asked if they could help.
EMSA Facebook post. Image credit: Zach Magia
The ear savers move the point of contact for medical masks from behind the ear to the back of the head, so instead of the elastic resting behind the ear, it has hooks that transfer the strain and make masks more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. The team has completed approximately 250 ear savers for EMSA so far, with a goal of providing 600.
On April 24, 2026, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture hosted its annual Graduate Student Showcase, a celebration of research, design innovation, and creative exploration across all graduate programs within the College.
The Gibbs College of Architecture celebrates fifth-year architecture student Haley Praytor, who has been recognized at the national level for her design work. In early March, Haley received a Graduate Division Award of Merit for her submission to the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association student design competition.
Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
