Youth Inventors Take Flight: Make48 Kickoff Crowns Wichita Champions

WICHITA, KS (March 24, 2026) – The pressure was high as Make48 launched its milestone 10th season at the GoCreate makerspace this week. In a city world-renowned for its aviation history, student inventors were tasked with a mission every traveler can appreciate: reinventing the in-flight experience.

Partnering with challenge sponsor Fastenal, the competition required teams to prototype a functional product in just 48 hours. Drawing inspiration from a private tour of the Kansas Aviation Museum and fueled by a tool run at Ace Hardware, the teams worked around the clock to turn sketches into reality using world-class industrial tools.

The Champions of Innovation

After three days of intense building, two teams secured their tickets to the National Competition this fall, where they will compete for a $10,000 grand prize. It was a tough decision from our panel of judges that included Jonathan Burkhart (Fastenal), Marquetta Atkins-Woods (Destination Innovation), and Ben Sauceda (Kansas Aviation Museum). But after deliberating, it was time to award the winners: 

Andover CAPS: Seth, Bridger, Alonzo and Connor

First Place & Best Innovation: Team Yogurt from Andover CAPS. Teammates Seth Scripter, Connor Scripter, Bridger Grantham, and Alonzo Lucas impressed the panel with a smart, streamlined solution for modern flyers. Their top-tier design earned them the first-place title, a $2,000 cash prize, and a one-of-a-kind custom trophy.

Hot Springs Junior Academy: Aspen, Trinity, James and Ethan

Runner-Up & Most Creative: Hot Springs EAST from Hot Springs Junior Academy. The team – composed of Aspen Ham, James Hall, Ethan Peabody, and Trinity Moss, delivered a highly creative prototype that captivated the judges. Along with a custom trophy handcrafted by the Make48 Tool Techs, they secured their official advancement to the national stage.

A Community Effort

The success of the Wichita event marks the fourth time the competition has been held at GoCreate on the Wichita State University campus. “Kim McCollum, Ken Wiseman, and the entire GoCreate staff ensured these teams had everything they needed to bring their visions to life,” said Make48 CEO, Tom Gray.

The event was bolstered by a "pit crew" of industry giants and local supporters, including AT&T, Walnut Brewery, and partners like ShopBot Tools, Trimble SketchUp, Thunder Laser, and Makerbot-UltiMaker.  Specialized school sponsors, including Stanley Black & Decker, Holland 1916, and Hovey Williams, provided the essential backing to bring these students' talent to the forefront.

How to Watch

The drama, the innovative designs, and the final reveals were all captured for television. Fans can catch the Wichita competition in two upcoming episodes on the This Old House Makers Channel on Roku this Fall. 

In the meantime, don’t miss a minute of the behind-the-scenes action. Follow @gomake48 on social media to see exclusive content captured during the intense 48-hour build. 

Hungry for more details? Make48 will release a full, deep-dive recap of the weekend and the inspiring stories behind it next week.

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About Make48:

Make48 is a nationwide invention-competition docuseries, distributed and aired in partnership with This Old House Makers Channel (Roku), that gives teams a challenge at the start of a three-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, sales sheet, and finally present their idea to a panel of judges. The teams have access to a makerspace and numerous Tool Techs (who can make almost anything), patent attorneys, marketing experts, and more. This format allows everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win, with no prior technical knowledge necessary. 

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Make48 Media Contact:

Cassandra Muñoz

cassandra@make48.com

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