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

Fishers, IN (Nov. 23, 2025) – It has been an incredible journey for Make48 Season 9. After intense regional events in Dallas, Winona (MN), and Kansas City, the competition concluded this week in Fishers, Indiana, at the remarkable Fishers Maker Playground . Six teams battled their way through regional competitions to earn their spot at Nationals. These middle and high school students faced a new location and a fresh challenge, but they brought the same creativity and drive th

The halls of Bentonville Schools  are buzzing with invention this year, thanks to a vital partnership with Arvest Bank . Through a generous $15,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation, Arvest became a proud supporter of the Bentonville-Make48 POD, an immersive, semester-long innovation challenge, that will serve 400 students. Students, Arvest Bank representatives, and Make48 CEO Tom Gray celebrate the $15,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation, directly supporting innovation in Be

The intense 48-hour inventing challenge is officially over! Make48 is thrilled to announce the successful wrap-up of our 9th season at the Fishers Maker Playground . Six winning teams from regional competitions gathered for a weekend filled with creativity, rapid prototyping, and courage as they raced against the clock to tackle a complex challenge presented by our sponsor, Corteva. Clockwise from top left: The Wingers, The Dream Makers, Bolts & Brains, The Other Guys, We Fai

The 2025 Make48 Innovation Classroom Experience  has officially started in classrooms across the nation! From Kansas City to Little Rock and beyond, young minds are transforming their ideas into tangible prototypes, engaging in a unique, hands-on learning adventure. This nationwide pilot program is developing the next generation of innovators by connecting classrooms with leading industry partners.  Bringing Make48 to the Classroom Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners Th