Going Off the Grid: Vandermont School Nails the Final Make48 Classroom Challenge

We are wrapping up our Make48 Classroom Experience pod announcements with a phenomenal showing! This semester, students have consistently blown us away with their problem-solving skills, and this final group was no exception.

For this pod, teams tackled the “Off the Grid” challenge at Vandermont, presented by Matt Muse Construction. Students were pushed to think outside the boundaries of traditional infrastructure, dreaming up innovative, self-sustaining solutions for off-grid living and working.

Meet the Winning Team

It takes a lot of ingenuity to build something from the ground up, but one team brought an incredibly creative and functional idea to life.

A big congratulations to the Vandermont team for taking the top spot! With a brilliant project (and an unbeatable name), the "Darth Vapor Wood Dehydrator" stood out to the judges for its clever design and practical application of the prompt. We are so excited to see the creativity and technical skills this team will bring to the regional competition!

A huge thank you goes out to Matt Muse Construction for sponsoring this challenge and encouraging students to explore the world of sustainable building and construction.

We also want to extend our gratitude to Brett Miller and all the incredible teachers and mentors who made this challenge a great success. Your leadership is what empowers these students to turn their big ideas into reality.

Are you ready to bring hands-on innovation to your classroom? We’re already having schools sign up for a chance to participate in the 2026–27 Make48 National Tournament. If you’re ready to give your students a chance to innovate, compete, and learn real-world skills, let’s make it happen. 

Be sure to follow our social media pages for the official announcements and to see more of these brilliant student ideas in action! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at @gomake48. Visit www.make48.com/classroom to learn more.