Last October, OEM Fabricators had the awesome opportunity to get involved with the Make48 challenge at UW-Stout, where the focus was all about saving rainwater in cool and innovative ways. UW-Stout hosted the event, calling it the Career Pathways Event, sponsored by 3M-Menomonie. It was a jam-packed 48-hour brainstorming and building marathon, pulling in six high school teams from all around northwest and central Wisconsin. The vibe was all about creativity and pushing the limits on what can be done to conserve rainwater. OEM Fabricators was proud to sponsor the “Weekend Warriors” from Neillsville High School.
Being part of this event really showed us how UW-Stout is all in on encouraging students to think outside the box, work together, and get their hands dirty solving real-world issues. The teams, buzzing with energy, dove into their projects in the Fab Lab makerspace, guided by a bunch of smart folks from the industry, UW-Stout’s own bright students and teachers. It wasn’t just about competing; it was a full-on collaboration fest, where ideas were flying, and prototypes were coming to life with a little help from us and other local businesses.
We, alongside local heavyweights like 3M-Menomonie, Fastenal, and Andersen Windows & Doors, were excited to back these talented youngsters. It was more than just a competition; it was a community coming together to support the next wave of innovators. Plus, the winning team members were awarded $1,000 scholarships to UW-Stout and $2,000 for their team. This event was a real eye-opener on the power of collaboration, innovation, and community support, and we can’t wait to see what these young minds will come up with next!
