The third competition this year was hosted by The Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB). Students from KSSB mentored peers from six other schools for the blind across the U.S. (Texas, California, Washington, New Mexico, Maryland, and Indiana).
The WSSB Lions, representing the Washington State School for the Blind, clinched the “Best Overall Innovation” title, securing their spot in Nationals! Congratulations to Sadie Stephens, Theo Burkhalter, and Eric Alaniz, led by Team Captain Clint Hanson and supported by chaperones Jared Miller-Price and Sean McCormick.
Q&A with the Mustard Team from Washington
Team members Sadie, Theo, Eric, Clint, and Jared sat down with Make48 and shared their excitement and surprise at winning first place, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and enthusiasm as key strengths.
They look forward to using what they learned to improve their skills in STEM and creative problem-solving, hoping to continue building friendships and fostering collaboration.
Make48: How did your School and Chaperones help prepare you for the competition?
Theo: "They told us it was a competition but mainly to just have fun there."
Clint: "I admit I was fully surprised when we won. There were so many good ideas... I was confident we'd place, but then we weren’t getting anything. I was like, 'Oh well, there’s a lot of good stuff here.' And then we won. I was like, 'Oh wow. We won!'"
Eric: "I wasn’t expecting [the win] either."
Make48: What was your team’s biggest strength?
Sadie: "Our communication."
Theo: "Our endurance and being able to push each other."
Clint: "The enthusiasm and commitment everyone had to the idea. It plugged in the information we needed to continue on. It was pretty cool."Jared: "Sadie also said patience, which was tough."
Theo: "I feel like growing through those challenges brought us closer together."
Eric: "It made us stronger at the end."
All the students lived on campus during the competition weekend. KSSB graciously hosted all 6 school teams and assisted Make48 throughout the 48-hours and beyond.
Make48: What was the biggest challenge during the competition at KSSB?
Theo: "The competition was short and long at the same time."
Eric: "It was a long weekend, especially waking up at 5:30. But we tried to get to work at 6am, then go eat a little breakfast, then go back to work.”
Sadie: "And have like 25 cups of coffee."
Eric: “It was worth it”
The team credited Sadie for her artistic skills in creating design concepts, and they praised each other’s leadership, problem-solving, and technical abilities.
Make48: What’s a fun fact or funny story about your team?
Theo: "During a goalball practice, Eric and I both went for the ball and banged heads."
Jared: "Theo is a huge tech nerd—always trying to figure out how things work."
Theo: “Eric is a very good leader. Leaders come with great responsibilities. And a great friend to joke around with. And Sadie is a very good artist.”
Jared: "Sadie’s a very creative problem solver. Her art skills helped communicate ideas during the competition."
Theo: "Sadie drew our hat designs—it was really cool.”
The team emphasized having fun, staying relaxed, and not focusing solely on winning. They also encouraged others to showcase their talents and embrace learning through the process.
M48: Advice for someone who wants to compete in a Make48 event?
Eric: "It’s hard in the beginning, but by working together, you come up with an idea and make it a reality."
Theo: "Just have fun and show your talent. It really gives you opportunities to push what you can do and really try something new."
Sadie: "Just make it fun for yourself and your teammates. We laughed a lot."
Eric: "A lot of laughter—to the point where other teams told us to quiet down.”
Clint: (laughing) But that's what sleep deprivation does to you.”
M48: Where’s the trophy now?
Jared: "It’s in the main hallway of the school. We had a big welcoming committee when we brought it back—everyone loved that it was tactile."
The WSSB Lions plan to keep their successful team dynamic for Nationals, highlighting how seamless their teamwork was during the competition.
M48: What will your team do differently at Nationals (if anything)?
Clint: "Honestly, I think everyone played their role perfectly. The competition was almost seamless, and everyone contributed. I wouldn’t change much of anything."
The partnership between Make48 and KSSB is a shining example of how innovation can break down barriers.
Witness the inspiring results of this collaboration as teams compete head-to-head on "This Old Makers Channel" later this year. The victorious squad will then face the ultimate challenge in November, battling for the coveted Season 8 championship title. Don't miss a beat! Subscribe now and follow these incredible student journeys all the way to Nationals!
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[KSSB Logo] For more information about the Kansas State School for the Blind and its initiatives, please visit https://kssb.net/.
[WA Logo] For more information about the Washington State School for the Blind and its services, please visit https://www.wssb.wa.gov/.
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