Women in STEM Take Center Stage at Make48 Kansas City!
- Make48+Team
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Kansas City, MO (July 21, 2025) – The Kansas City Art Institute recently hosted Make48’s latest event: a powerful Women in STEM competition! Seven all-female teams from across the country met on KCAI’s campus to tackle an exciting challenge, showcasing their passion for innovation and showing the importance of gender equity in STEM.
The Future Is Female | Women In STEM: A Diverse Group of Innovators
The competition brought together a fantastic array of talent from schools and organizations around the Midwest.
Lady Jacket Innovators (Center School District)
WomEngineers (Columbia, MO Public Schools)
Raiders in Construction (Milwaukee School of Engineering)
The Dream Makers (The Kansas State School for the Blind)
CTEC CAPS Creators (DeSoto, KS/Cedar Trails Exploration Center)
WeCode KC (Kansas City, MO)
Southern Heat (Alief Middle School, Houston, TX)
Women make up only 35% of the STEM workforce and occupy fewer leadership roles. Mentoring and community have been noted as key tools for developing and improving representation of women in STEM fields. This unique 48-hour challenge provided an exceptional platform for these young women to step into the shoes of engineers and demonstrate their STEM expertise.
The Future Is Female | Women In STEM: A Diverse Group of Innovators
The Challenge: Innovating for the Modern "She Shed"
Teams were tasked with designing a physical product for a modern "She Shed" – a personalized sanctuary that can serve various purposes, from a wellness retreat to a creative studio or a small business hub. The product needed to either enhance the interior experience or be physically attached to the exterior of the She Shed.
The product brief outlined specific requirements, pushing teams to think comprehensively:
Prototype: A working or "looks like, feels like" model of their idea. For larger solutions, a small-scale prototype (no larger than 2’ x 2’ x 2’) was permitted.
Marketing Video: A 60-second video explaining the problem and their solution.
Sell Sheet: A one-page overview with key product features, a user story, and visuals or mockups.
Beyond product development, teams also had to master the art of the pitch. Each team presented their idea to a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. The participants had to adhere to the format: 1-minute video; 4-5 minute live pitch and leaving 4-5 minutes of Q&A from the judges. This format truly tested their ability to articulate their vision clearly and concisely under pressure.
Mentorship and Support: The Unsung Heroes
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of numerous companies and organizations from across the country. A heartfelt thank you to:
Neighbors Construction, SportingKC, Women Developing WI, BioForward, Sunset Investors, Heartland Black Chamber, KC Blind All Stars, Reinhardt Construction, SM Wilson, MEM, SOA Architecture, Fervo Energy, Kiewit, JE Dunn, K-State Salina, Hovey Williams, Westlake Ace, TREKK Design Group, Thornton Tomasetti, KC Home Builders Association, Barr Advisory, Rhys Ivy, Clarkson Construction, Garver, Global Earthworks & Underground, KC STEM Alliance, Xena Workwear, Walnut River Brewery, and Boulevard Brewery Company.
An invaluable addition to the event was Melissa Johnson, a Master Gardener (@fancyflowerfarmer), who served as a mentor. Her firsthand experience with outdoor spaces and extensive expertise provided crucial guidance and inspiration to the teams throughout the competition.
The spirit of support was truly remarkable, with everyone contributing to the success of the event. A special shout-out to our incredible Tool Techs and Volunteers: Abha Kaushik, Adam Kittrell, Angelica Sandoval, Anissa Christine, Anyshya Hemphill, Ariel Lacey, Brandy Aube, Chaitali Dave, Charlie Cox, Christina Santa Lucia, Clint Hanson, Craig Fabin, Elizabeth Derstine, Grace Jensen, Jaclyn Alcantara, Lauren Byrne, Luis Rodriguez, Mara Hug, Matt Rohr, Michael Cerv, Michael Overstreet, Michaela Pingel, Miles Davis, Ria Dave, Sarah Burns, Sheryl Hampton, Steven Howard, Tamela Carter, Tyler Isaacs, and Whitney Manney. Your dedication made all the difference!
The Perfect Venue: Kansas City Art Institute
Our deepest gratitude goes to the Kansas City Art Institute staff and faculty, especially Chris Chapin, whose instrumental efforts helped plan and execute this event over several months. The inspiring environment, equipped with artistic designs and cutting-edge tools, truly empowered these young women to bring their innovative ideas to life.
And, of course, a huge thank you to our talented film crew who documented every moment, from insightful interviews to behind-the-scenes action, capturing the essence of the Women in STEM fever at Make48!
Want to see all the outtakes from the competition? Head over to Make48’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/gomake48/. What innovative ideas do you think the teams came up with for their "She Shed" products? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What about the Western states? NO women Accomplishments?