Last week, Make48’s CEO, Tom Gray, and Tool Tech Miles Davis made their way to the heart of the Midwest to represent us at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo  in Indianapolis, IN. As a massive wave of over 70,000 attendees - wearing those iconic blue jackets - descended upon downtown Indianapolis, the energy for agriculture, leadership, and career exploration was electric! The 2025 FFA Convention Experience The Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and other ce

Get ready to meet a team of young engineers making waves in the world of robotics: The Wingers from Red Wing High School! This dedicated group of 9th and 10th-grade students is passionately expanding their knowledge and putting their skills to the test on the national stage. The Wingers recently proved themselves at the Winona Competition this past summer, where their innovative spirit shone brightly. Their achievement? They were named Runner Up for Best Innovation! Their sta

Meet the CTEC CAPS Creators from DeSoto, KS, the brilliant team who impressed everyone at the Women in STEM Make48 competition in Kansas City! This team earned the Runner-Up title with an innovative design that was both practical and stylish.  Maddy, Crosby, Caroline and team captain Jamiee Berry will represent Cedar Trails Exploration Center at the national competition in Fishers, IN this November. (Caroline and Jamiee are stepping in for previous team members Aurora and Nan

Imagine a builder constructing a high-rise without architectural drawings, or a chef preparing a gourmet meal without a recipe. The outcome would be, at best, a gamble. In the world of product development and manufacturing, that "architectural drawing" or "recipe" is the functional prototype. Far too many entrepreneurs and companies, eager to capitalize on momentum, make the critical error of rushing from concept to mass production. They view the prototype as a mere formality

Dr. Ronda Hamm is a nationally award-winning informal educator and entomologist whose career is an adventure rooted in making science and agriculture accessible to everyone. Her professional journey is defined by a belief that everyone, regardless of their background, can be an innovator. Driving Innovation: The Make48 Advisory Board Ronda's commitment to fostering innovation led her to accept a position on the Make48 Advisory Board. The decision, she says, was easy. “Knowing

October is celebrated annually as Manufacturing Month . This month-long initiative is a national effort to honor the success and significance of U.S. manufacturing while directly tackling one of the industry's biggest challenges: the skills gap and the public perception of modern manufacturing careers. MFG Day 2025 - Inspiring the Future of Manufacturing. Video courtesy of National Association of Manufacturers MFG Day is an initiative of the Manufacturing Institute. The workf

Dallas, TX (October 16, 2025) – Make48 is proud to announce that Southern Methodist University (SMU) will host its first 48-hour Make48 competition from February 20-22, 2026.  Students from the Innovation Classroom Experience  will meet on the SMU campus to tackle a mystery challenge, pushing the boundaries of their creativity, design, and fabrication skills. The event will be held at the Deason Innovation Gym (DIG) and will host the 6-8 teams that were the TOP winners of the

From October 13–17, 2025, the construction industry will observe Construction Inclusion Week (CIW). This annual event is a vital reminder of the industry's commitment to promoting opportunities and enhancing the professional experience for all construction professionals.  At the heart of this movement are the next generation of leaders already tearing down barriers—like the inspiring team of strong women from the Women in Construction Club (WiC) at the Milwaukee School of Eng

MINNESOTA, MN (October 8, 2025) – If you missed the exciting Make48 episodes from Minnesota State College Southeast  in Winona on the...

Meet We Fail Fast Too , the high school team from St. Thomas Academy who conquered the Winona Make48 challenge and are now headed to...