This semester, students didn’t just stay in the classroom; they stepped up to the runway to take on real-world challenges through the Make48 Innovation Experience.  The results were nothing short of first-class.  The Challenge “Home Away From Home”  With the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport setting a new standard for travel, the bar has been raised for passenger experience flying to and from the Heart of America.  These teams took on a unique challenge presen

Kansas City, MO (January 20, 2026) – The Make48 ‘Women in STEM’ episodes are planned for a spectacular release on February 4, 2026 !  In this special series, you will watch seven all-female teams from across the country tackle the signature 48-hour challenge. These episodes showcase a passion for innovation while noting the importance of gender equity in STEM and closing the gap.  The competition provided an exceptional platform for these young women to step into the shoes of

This semester, students across the country stepped up to take on real-world challenges through the Make48 Innovation Experience, and boy did they deliver! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the student teams whose ideas rose to the top, starting with a fantastic group of student innovators from the Bentonville, Arkansas area. These teams took on the challenge “Tools for the Trade,” presented by the Arvest Foundation, Nabholz, and ABC Arkansas. The students were ta

As we kick off 2026, Make48 is taking a moment to look back at the incredible sponsors who made our past season possible. Leading the charge as the challenge sponsor for our Season 9 Nationals was the global agricultural powerhouse   Corteva Agriscience™ .  For over 100 years, Corteva has worked side-by-side with farmers to grow healthy food, driven by the belief that no one should go hungry.  The 9th season challenge was titled  "Food Forward."  It addressed a critical reali

We are thrilled to announce that the first full semester of this year’s competition season is officially complete! Make48’s first competition of the year stems from our  Classroom Challenge , where students across the region have been hard at work solving real-world problems. The first set of challenges, which ran from  September 2nd to November 14th, 2025 , has concluded, and the results are nothing short of inspiring. Hundreds of students, dozens of schools, and countless h

We are thrilled to start the year off with an introduction to the newest addition to the Make48 family! Please join us in welcoming Alexandria Lundquist, who has joined us as our new Education Associate. Born and raised in Kansas City, Alexandria is a recent graduate of Colorado Christian University, where she majored in Business Administration and Marketing. After graduating this past May, she returned to her roots in KC to kick off her career. While this is her first full-t

Nashville, TN (January 7, 2025) – We hope everyone had a restful holiday break! As we gear up for an amazing year ahead, we wanted to take a moment to rewind to one of our highlights from right before the holidays. Visit NAAE at https://www.naae.org Nothing beats the feeling of connecting with educators who share a passion for hands-on learning. That’s exactly why Tom and Amy Gray headed to Nashville, TN, for the 2025 NAAE Convention. As the premier organization for school-ba

What a year 2025 has been! This year marked a massive milestone for us: Make48 celebrated its 10th Anniversary! For a decade, we have been celebrating innovation, makers, STEM-learning and the power of "doing." From new school partnerships to history-making events, here is a look back at the incredible moments that defined our year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Make48 2025 Highlights We traveled across the country this year, bringing the 48-hour challenge to new co

The Final Make48 event of 2025 has wrapped, and what a way to close out the year! We invite you to take a glimpse of the Season 9 Nationals as it unfolded in Fishers, IN, hosted by the incredible Fishers Maker Playground.  Six outstanding teams banded together to take on the Corteva Agriscience “Food Forward” challenge. It was a whirlwind 48-hour competition filled with collaboration, STEM education, innovation, and making memories that will last a lifetime.  Catch the energy

Kansas City, MO (December 4, 2025)  – Make48 is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation, a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to supporting rural communities by investing in education and local leadership.  This generous grant will allow Make48 to bring its Innovation Classroom experience to a wide network of schools across rural Kansas and Missouri over the next several years. It will ensure: Expanded Reach:  A minimum of