Meet All 7 Teams Competing at Make48 Nationals

Seven talented student teams and their advisors have earned their spots to compete at Make48’s 10th National Competition.

After proving themselves across regional and licensed qualifying events, these innovators are heading to the national stage. Here is a look at the qualifying rounds, the challenges they tackled, and the 7 teams advancing to Nationals.

Wichita, KS: GoCreate Makerspace

Make48 kicked off its milestone 10th season at GoCreate in Wichita, Kansas. In a hub world-renowned for aviation history, student inventors drew inspiration from a tour of the Kansas Aviation Museum before tackling a challenge every traveler can appreciate: reinventing the in-flight experience. 

Partnering with challenge sponsor Fastenal, teams had just 48 hours to build a working prototype.

Team Yogurt (Andover CAPS – Andover, KS)

Seth Scripter, Connor Scripter, Bridger Grantham, Alonzo Lucas

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Hot Springs EAST (Hot Springs Junior Academy – Hot Springs, AR)

Aspen Hamm, James Hall, Ethan Peabody, Trinity Moss

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Read more about the Wichita Regional Event.

Detroit, MI: Wayne State University (C2 Pipeline Program)

Make48 teamed up with Wayne State University’s C2 Pipeline program for the only licensed Make48 event of the 2026 season. 

Focused on college and career readiness, the competition challenged seven teams with “Enhancing the Warrior Experience: Innovation for WSU Athletic Facilities,” moving from concept to physical prototype over a single intense weekend.

Pipeline Pals (Warren Woods Tower – Warren, MI)

Nancy King, Serina Lo, Pamela Cook, Emily Angel, Denver Smith-Whitt

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Read the full Wayne State University Recap.

Atlanta, GA: SkillsUSA National Conference

Inside the Georgia World Congress Center during the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), Make48 teamed up with Fastenal and Fendt. Teams faced a demanding agricultural design challenge: create a portable, mounted utility kit that can attach to a Fendt tractor to support a farmer through a full workday. 

The excitement peaked inside State Farm Arena during the spectacular, stadium-sized NLSC Closing Session. In front of a roaring arena—the largest live audience in Make48 history—Tom Gray and Sharrell Howard took the stage to announce the winners heading to Nationals.

Smarts & Sparks (Oak Harbor High School – Oak Harbor, WA)

Ivan Perez, Joel Christopherson, Julianne (Lux) Eby, Chris Whiteman

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Challenge Accepted (Career & Technology Center at Fort Osage High School – Independence, MO)

Garrett Gearhart, Silas Jones, Randy Ledbetter and David Chairez (New Team Member)

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Read more about the SkillsUSA Event.

Menomonie, WI: UW-Stout Polytechnic

As Make48's third regional and largest event of the season, the UW-Stout Polytechnic campus brought together nine ambitious teams to tackle the future of fast-food innovation.

Over 48 intense hours, they were challenged to design and build a physical product that streamlines operations and enhances the customer experience at food counters and eateries.

The Bears (White Bear Lake Area High School – White Bear Lake, MN)

Eric Olson, Logan Blalock, Ben Bower, Jack Firkus

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Architecting The Mastery (Cotter Schools – Winona, MN)

Eric Paulsen, Jack Slaggie, Jaxson Greshik, Brielle Staudacher

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Read more about the UW-Stout Event.

What’s Next: The National Championship

At Nationals, records are wiped clean. All seven teams will start on a level playing field with a brand-new, unannounced build prompt benefiting the Veterans Community Project (VCP). Teams will receive the official challenge details just 24 hours before the 48-hour build clock begins. 

Good luck to all the teams! It is set to be a fantastic 48 hours of innovating and collaboration, all in support of a good cause. 

To learn more about or get involved, visit https://www.make48.com/2026-season-10-nationals-kcmo