The energy was electrifying at The Delta School in Wilson, Arkansas, where seven high school teams went head-to-head in their first Make48 competition. Sponsored by E-Z-GO, the challenge pushed students to dream up clever gardening solutions using golf carts as their canvas.
Teams tackled the challenge, brainstorming ideas that ranged from hose-carrying systems and irrigation contraptions to handy towing attachments – all designed to seamlessly integrate with existing E-Z-GO carts.
One team rose above the rest. Mob Mentality, the ingenious minds from Rivercrest High School (Dave Diagostino, Jiya Mangat, Jered Robertson, and James Simpson), will represent the region at the Nationals competition in November!
Their winning product, MODUFOLD GARDEN, was designed to maximize the utility of an E-Z-GO golf cart with an adaptable cover that adds both storage and workspace. It effortlessly slides on and off, revealing a convenient tool storage, foldable table for on-the-go projects, and hanging storage for additional organization. With an incredible pitch to the judges, Mob Mentality snagged the coveted Overall Innovation Award and will go on to compete at Nationals!
Behind the Scenes with Mob Mentality: A Q&A
We caught up with the team to get a glimpse into their winning formula:
On team roles: “The team was built prior to the competition based on a variety of unique skills that each of us brought. Jiya for her marketing abilities and ability to speak in front of groups. James for his ability to speak in front of groups and ability to problem solve, and Jered for his ability to problem solve and his matter for fact way of quickly knowing if an idea worked or not. I learned my skills to lead a team for this group.”
Biggest surprise or challenge: “The most surprising challenge for this competition was overcoming a failure of the design over and over. We had to go back to the drawing board several times to get our prototype to work properly. We adapted to this by staying positive, keeping an open mind, and adapting to the changes that needed to be made.”
Advice for future competitors: “DO IT! This is a one of a kind competition that really stretches you to think outside of the box and be creative. You need to come with an open mind and be able to fail, learn from your mistakes, and move forward quickly.”
Key takeaway: “Do not underestimate what students can do! Too often as teachers we think we have to walk them through problems step by step, but if you give them a problem, let them be creative, and get out of the way you will be amazed at what they can do.”
The Make48 competition at The Delta School was a testament to teamwork and ingenuity. In the end, it wasn't just about winning; it was about coming together for the power of collaboration, innovation, and supporting the boundless potential of young minds.
Let Mob Mentality's triumph serve as inspiration. Who knows, the next great innovation could be just 48 hours away!
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