Make48 Sparks Creativity in Winona This Weekend

Minnesota State College Southeast in Winona hosts the high-stakes Make48 invention competition, kicking off on Friday, May 2, 2025! The college's recently unveiled, state-of-the-art facilities will transform into a dynamic center of innovation for three action-packed days.

Minnesota State College Southeast

Seven talented student teams from the Winona region will dive headfirst into a compelling real-world challenge presented by Fastenal, North America's leading distributor of industrial and construction supplies. The focus? "Safety in Manufacturing". Be prepared for practical and groundbreaking solutions emerging as these bright young minds tackle this vital industry theme.

"Make48 is all about unleashing the power of collaboration and rapid problem-solving. We're thrilled to bring this dynamic event to Winona and witness the innovative solutions these students will create for such an important topic as safety in manufacturing." - Cassandra Muñoz, Communications, Make48.

Can they build it in just 48 hours? 

Follow the intense 48-hour sprint as seven high school teams embark on this invention challenge! Cameras will be rolling to capture every exhilarating moment of the competition. And we’ll be keeping everyone up to date on our social changes throughout the weekend.  Expect a lot of energy as these young innovators push their creative and technical boundaries to develop groundbreaking solutions for Safety in Manufacturing.

They won't be going it alone! A dedicated team of experts, including Tyler Isaacs, Adam Kittrell, Miles Davis, Luis Rodriguez (Ultimaker/Makerbot), Christina Santa Lucia (Ultimaker/Makerbot), Ryan Patterson (ShopBot Tools), and more, will be on hand to provide technical guidance. 

Representatives from Fastenal and Southeast will also be part of this crucial support. Industry professionals from Fastenal will be there to offer valuable insights and direction as Mentors, Chris DeBacker, a patent attorney, will guide teams on navigating the crucial aspects of IP, and to help with marketplace insights, a 3-4 person Focus Group will provide expertise on bringing their inventions to the market. 

What to Expect

The atmosphere on the Minnesota State College Southeast campus will be buzzing with energy as teams brainstorm, design, build, and refine their creations. We’ll see firsthand how a focused challenge like "Safety in Manufacturing" can inspire tangible solutions with real potential for industry application, all driven by the power of teamwork and problem-solving under pressure.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to witness the future of innovation in action! Stay connected for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Make48 competition at Minnesota State College Southeast in Winona.

Follow along as these young innovators rise to the challenge and potentially shape the future of manufacturing safety! https://www.make48.com/2025-mn-state-college-southeast