Empowering Tomorrow's Innovators: Arvest Supports Bentonville Make48

Make48+Team
Nov 26, 2025
2 min read

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.

Bentonville students and adults standing in front of Bentonville banner with students holding large check for $15,000 — Students, Arvest Bank representatives, and Make48 CEO Tom Gray celebrate the $15,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation, directly supporting innovation in Bentonville Schools.

Created by educators and inspired by the hit television series, the Innovation Experience is a ready-to-implement program that guides students through the complete design process: from brainstorming initial ideas to building functional prototypes and ultimately pitching their innovative solutions.

This dynamic experience is designed to engage all students, whether they are natural builders or brand-new to innovation, giving them a compelling reason to create, collaborate, and think differently. Every step connects classroom learning to the real world, showing students that their ideas truly can have an impact.

The grant enables students (ages 12-22) from Bentonville Junior High School, Fulbright Junior High School, Lincoln Junior High School, and Washington Junior High School to dive deep into real-world problem-solving. Working alongside industry partners like the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas and Nabholz Construction, students weren't just learning, they were innovating.

The students will address practical challenges presented by participating companies, mirroring real-world problem-solving. This will encourage them to think critically, design original solutions, build physical prototypes, and troubleshoot the inevitable setbacks that occur.

“We are so proud to have Arvest Bank bring this innovative opportunity to its local schools, fostering a new generation of creators, engineers, and problem-solvers right here in Bentonville.” – Tom Gray, CEO of Make48

Several adults posing in front of Bentonville Schools banner and balloons holding large check — Arvest Bank team members with Make48 CEO Tom Gray, highlighting the strong partnership bringing the Innovation Experience to Bentonville Schools.

Make48 is honored to have Arvest support this initiative that is building the skills of tomorrow’s workforce in Northwest Arkansas. If your company is looking for a way to be involved, you can visit https://www.make48.com/classroom

4 Comments

Tom Wang

6 days ago

Make48 gives students and entrepreneurs the tools and time to turn ideas into working prototypes. Arvest's sponsorship helps keep this event free and accessible. For quick image editing, check out bulk image crop. Partnerships like these are how we build a stronger, more inventive future.

Arvest Bank's support for Bentonville Make48 is a fantastic investment in young creators. The hands-on 48-hour maker competition challenges teams to prototype solutions to real problems. For more strategic resources, visit Slay the Spire 2 cards. This kind of community backing truly empowers tomorrow's innovators.

Dorothy

Seeing that $15,000 grant for 400 students really got me thinking over my morning coffee. It’s cool how they partner with actual construction imposter game generator companies – makes the whole “design process” way more real than just a school project, doesn’t it?