Season 10 Nationals

Make48 is a 48-hour innovation competition where teams are presented with a challenge and tasked with building a physical prototype, creating a sales sheet, producing a one-minute marketing video, and pitching their big idea to a panel of judges.

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In September 2026, the Ignition Lab at Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City hosted the Make48 Season 10 National Event, bringing together top teams from regional playoff events at GoCreate at Wichita State University, the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. With access to expert Tool Techs and high-tech equipment, teams had the resources to turn big ideas into working prototypes in just 48 hours.

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This year's challenge centered on the veteran experience and was created in partnership with Veterans Community Project. Throughout the weekend, students collaborated, problem-solved, designed, built, and learned from one another as they worked to bring their ideas to life. In the end, Architecting the Mastery from Cotter Schools took home the $10,000 first-place Best Innovation award, while The Bears from White Bear Lake High School earned the People's Choice Award.

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The Ignition Lab was a natural setting for the event, providing an opportunity for students ages 14 to 18 to put their creativity and hands-on skills to work. With experience in areas such as coding, circuitry, culinary arts, construction and design, digital media, robotics, and visual art, students were able to take what they know, work alongside others, and turn an idea into something real.