Innovation is Headed to Wisconsin: Meet the Schools Who Competed in Region 3!

Menomonie, WI – June 18, 2026 – In just a few weeks, Make48 is heading back to the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin’s only polytechnic university. From July 31st to August 2nd, UW-Stout will play host to our third competition of the 2026 season.

This region was by far the most packed bracket in Make48’s Innovation Experience history! We had schools competing from all across the country, stretching from the Midwest and Wisconsin, all the way down to Texas, and out to the East Coast, including classrooms from North Carolina and New Jersey.

Check out the incredible bracket lineup of competing schools below, along with the regional challenges and corporate partners who helped them get here.

Nine of these amazing teams from the regional brackets will move on to meet on the big stage in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where they will put their collaborative problem-solving and prototyping skills to the ultimate 48-hour test. But first, let’s take a look at all the contenders and the brilliant schools that put real-world innovation and design directly into the hands of their students!

The UW-Stout Championship Lineup

Bracket 1: Alliant Energy

Challenge Theme: Clear the Path

• Ripon Area Schools (Ripon, WI)

• Fall River High School (Fall River, WI)

• Western Dubuque FFA (Epworth, IA)

• Ames High School (Ames, IA)

Bracket 2: Indiana Region 8 (Garmann Miller)

Challenge Theme: (Un)Seen

• Angola High School (Angola, IN)

• Homestead High School (Fort Wayne, IN)

• Indiana Region 8 ESC District (Fort Wayne, IN)

Bracket 3: Crimestoppers

Challenge Theme: Safe By Design

• Alief Middle School (Houston, TX)

• Golda Meir School (Milwaukee, WI)

• iSTREAM (New Brunswick, NJ)

• We Code KC / DeLaSalle Education Center (Kansas City, MO)

Bracket 4: Xcel Energy

Challenge Theme: Making Energy Work Better

• White Bear Lake Area High School (White Bear Lake, MN)

• St. Croix Central High School (Hammond, WI)

• Saint Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN)

• Ashland High School (Ashland, WI)

Bracket 5: Winona Region (RTP)

Challenge Theme: Hard to Handle

• Cotter High School (Winona, MN)

• Winona Senior High School (Winona, MN)

Bracket 6: Green Bay (Bay Tek Entertainment)

Challenge Theme: Just Press Start

• Parkview Middle School (Ashwaubenon, WI)

• Pulaski Community Middle School (Pulaski, WI)

• New London High School (New London, WI)

• Omro High School (Omro, WI)

Bracket 7: FFA 1 (Conner Prairie)

Challenge Theme: Hidden in Plain Sight

• Hobbton High School / FFA NC President (Newton Grove, NC)

• Southern Boone High School (Ashland, MO)

Bracket 8: FFA 2 (Westinghouse)

Challenge Theme: Powered Up

• South Putnam Middle/High School (Greencastle, IN)

• Smithville High School (Smithville, MO)

• Cedar Shoals High School (Athens, GA)

Bracket 9: Presto (Beloit Memorial)

Challenge Theme: Ready, Set, Cook!

• Beloit Memorial High School (Beloit, WI)

Bracket 10: Altec & St. Joseph

Challenge Theme: On the Line

• Benton High School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Central High School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Bode Middle School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Lafayette High School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Robidoux Middle School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Spring Garden Middle School (St. Joseph, MO)

• Truman Middle School (St. Joseph, MO)

• St. Joseph School District (Spring 2026 Tournament Participants)

Stay tuned! We are incredibly proud of all the students, educators, and mentors who put in the work this spring to secure their spot. Follow along as we share the winning teams on our social channels and website. The competition goes live on July 31st on the UW-Stout campus!!