The excitement is building for six incredible teams from across the United States as they prepare to face off at the Make48 Season 8 Nationals competition! These teams have already proven their innovativeness by winning their city-level Make48 events. Now, they're ready to take their skills to the next level and compete for the grand prize of $10,000!
Meet the contenders who will go head to head on November 8th in Kansas City. To be held at Operation Breakthrough's Ignition Lab powered by 87 & Running, this promising event will see teams from Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Washington and Wisconsin compete for the title of Make48 National Champions.
Meet the Teams:
The Innovation Hall Bears (Willow Springs High School, Missouri): Emerging victorious from the "Stadium Experience" challenge at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this Project Lead The Way team impressed judges with their ingenuity and problem-solving skills.
Watch highlights here
Team members
Matthew Knapp - Team Captain
Nolan Perkins
Madalyn Poor
Seth Wake
Mob Mentality (Rivercrest High School, Arkansas): This team tackled the "Gardening Golf Cart" challenge at The Delta School, devising creative solutions for gardening using golf carts for E-Z-GO. Their innovative approach and collaborative spirit earned them a spot at Nationals.
Watch highlights here
Team Membres
James Simpson
Jiya Mangat
Dave Diagostino - Team Captain
WSSB Lions (Washington State School for the Blind): Demonstrating remarkable talent and determination, the WSSB Lions from Washington State School for the Blind designed an accessible gym apparatus with inclusivity in mind for the “It's Gym-Tastic” challenge. Their winning design earned them the "Best Overall Innovation" title at the Kansas State School for the Blind event.
Watch highlights here
Team Members
Eric Alaniz
Sadie Stephens
Theo Burkhalter
Clint Hanson - Team Captain
EH Royals (Eastern Hancock Indiana FFA): Stepping up after the original winning team was unable to compete, the EH Royals from Indiana are heading to nationals. The team placed 2nd in the “Agricultural Education” innovation challenge when they pitched their interactive display designed to educate the public about the diverse and positive impact the agriculture industry has on society.
Watch highlights here
Team Members
Sarah Williams - Team Captain
Silas Fredenburg (3rd from left)
Audrey Wooldridge-Jacobi (not pictured)
Golda Girls 2.0 (Golda Meir School, Wisconsin): This all-female team from the Milwaukee School of Engineering event tackled the "Scalable Sustainability" challenge, wowing judges with their innovative and sustainable solutions.
Read recap here
Team Members
Camilah DeLeon
Tina Gleason - Team Captain
Dayana Landa-Medina
Maya Sierra
The Knights (Beloit Memorial High School, Wisconsin): Focused on construction safety, The Knights from Beloit Memorial High School developed a novel solution at the University of Wisconsin-Stout event, securing their place in the national competition.
Watch highlights here
Team Members
Corey Hedlund
Sam Koland
Scarlett Kirkpatrick
Audra Glosemeyer
The 48-Hour Challenge
During the intense 48-hour competition, these teams will transform their ideas into fully functional prototypes based on a Brand-New Challenge. They'll have access to the Ignition Lab; Powered By 87 & Running makerspace filled with cutting-edge tools and technology, including 3D printers, laser cutters and woodworking equipment.
A team of skilled tool techs from the maker community, Operation Breakthrough, ShopBot, Onshape, Lincoln Electric, and the Make48 team will be on hand to assist them in bringing their visions to life. Along with our mobile maker trailer filled with tools from our partners.
The Nationals Season 8 event promises to be an inspiring showcase of ingenuity and determination, with these six teams pushing the boundaries of what's possible in just 48 hours. Stay tuned for updates on the Make48 Nationals Season 8 competition!
Follow Make48 on social media to witness the excitement unfold and cheer on these talented teams as they strive to make their invention dreams a reality.
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About Operation Breakthrough:
Operation Breakthrough serves over 700 children from Kansas City's urban core, providing early learning, before and after school enrichment, and a range of supportive services for children and families. The organization's commitment to innovation is evident in its MakerSpace and MakerCity initiatives, which provide children with opportunities to explore, create, and develop 21st-century skills. https://operationbreakthrough.org/
About Make48:
Make48 is a nationwide invention-competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a three-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, and sales sheet, and present their idea to a panel of judges. The teams have access to a makerspace and numerous Tool Techs that can make almost anything, patent attorneys, marketing experts, and more. This format allows everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win, with no prior technical knowledge necessary. Make48 Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
Make48 Media Contact:
Cassandra Muñoz