The 10th Annual NC State Make-A-Thon<\/a>, held Jan. 23\u201326, 2025, brought together 177 students from across campus to design, prototype and pitch solutions to global sustainability challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s\u00a0grand prize winner<\/a>\u00a0of $4,000 was\u00a0EcoPack<\/strong>, who designed an app to increase sustainability awareness and accessibility on campus. The app included a redeemable \u201cPack Points\u201d reward program and provided resources to help students engage more with campus sustainability initiatives. Master of Textiles student Deitra Harnish was a member of the winning team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional Make-A-Thon awards included:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past ten years, Make-A-Thon has engaged more than 1,000 students from every college on campus to form nearly 270 student teams. The competition requires teams to include members from at least two colleges, fostering collaboration that prepares students for their professional futures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon\u2019s interdisciplinary focus not only highlights the unique expertise of each participant but also pushes students to think beyond their individual fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorking with teammates from diverse disciplines was like assembling a puzzle where every piece added a new layer of depth,\u201d said Ravali Giddemari, an M.S. Textiles<\/a> student and member of the winning team for Best Integration of Social Responsibility. \u201cEach person brought unique expertise\u2014whether it was technical, creative or strategic\u2014that challenged me to think beyond my comfort zone. This collaboration pushed our project to be not just innovative but also viable and impactful in ways I wouldn\u2019t have imagined on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morgan Starnes, an environmental technology and management<\/a> student whose team placed second, reflected, \u201cYou have to communicate ideas that are the basis of what you do, but are completely new to others. However, it was rewarding because our final creation was a great mix of all of our areas of expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The importance of collaboration was echoed by Sowmya Macheri Balaji, an engineering<\/a> student from the Grand Prize-winning team, who said, \u201cCollaborating with teammates from different disciplines was a key factor in shaping our project. Without an interdisciplinary team, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to create such a well-rounded solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon brought together over 80 campus, industry, and community members who served as mentors and judges. Their guidance not only shaped the student projects but also provided invaluable networking and learning opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amanda Cease, a\u00a0textile design <\/a>student whose team earned the Judges\u2019 Honorable Mention, shared, \u201cMeeting with mentors and hearing their feedback was invaluable. Their insights helped us refine our solution and understand its broader impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The significance of collaboration extended beyond the competition for some students. Vijayarahul Srinivasan, an engineering<\/a> student from the Grand Prize-winning team, noted, \u201cMake-A-Thon truly changed the way I approach problems. Throughout the event, the numerous interactions with other students, staff and mentors shaped the way I perceived the sustainability problem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, 87% of competing teams in this year\u2019s Make-A-Thon indicated an interest in pursuing their idea further through means such as applying for a NC State Sustainability Fund<\/a> grant or participating in future entrepreneurship competitions<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Make-A-Thon<\/a> celebrates its 10th anniversary, its impact is clear. By fostering innovation, collaboration and real-world problem solving, it prepares students to address sustainability challenges with creativity and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon 2025 was made possibility through the generous support of its sponsors, including the Climate and Sustainability Academy<\/a>, Coca-Cola<\/a>, Eastman University Engagement Fund<\/a>, Global One Health Academy<\/a>, Innovation and Entrepreneurship<\/a>, NC State Dining<\/a>, University Libraries<\/a>, Office of Research and Innovation<\/a>, University Housing Living and Learning Villages<\/a>, University Sustainability Office<\/a>, individual donors through NC State\u2019s Crowdfunding Campaign<\/a> and the Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
The 10th Annual NC State Make-A-Thon<\/a>, held Jan. 23\u201326, 2025, brought together 177 students from across campus to design, prototype and pitch solutions to global sustainability challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s\u00a0grand prize winner<\/a>\u00a0of $4,000 was\u00a0EcoPack<\/strong>, who designed an app to increase sustainability awareness and accessibility on campus. The app included a redeemable \u201cPack Points\u201d reward program and provided resources to help students engage more with campus sustainability initiatives. Master of Textiles student Deitra Harnish was a member of the winning team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional Make-A-Thon awards included:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past ten years, Make-A-Thon has engaged more than 1,000 students from every college on campus to form nearly 270 student teams. The competition requires teams to include members from at least two colleges, fostering collaboration that prepares students for their professional futures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon\u2019s interdisciplinary focus not only highlights the unique expertise of each participant but also pushes students to think beyond their individual fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorking with teammates from diverse disciplines was like assembling a puzzle where every piece added a new layer of depth,\u201d said Ravali Giddemari, an M.S. Textiles<\/a> student and member of the winning team for Best Integration of Social Responsibility. \u201cEach person brought unique expertise\u2014whether it was technical, creative or strategic\u2014that challenged me to think beyond my comfort zone. This collaboration pushed our project to be not just innovative but also viable and impactful in ways I wouldn\u2019t have imagined on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morgan Starnes, an environmental technology and management<\/a> student whose team placed second, reflected, \u201cYou have to communicate ideas that are the basis of what you do, but are completely new to others. However, it was rewarding because our final creation was a great mix of all of our areas of expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The importance of collaboration was echoed by Sowmya Macheri Balaji, an engineering<\/a> student from the Grand Prize-winning team, who said, \u201cCollaborating with teammates from different disciplines was a key factor in shaping our project. Without an interdisciplinary team, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to create such a well-rounded solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon brought together over 80 campus, industry, and community members who served as mentors and judges. Their guidance not only shaped the student projects but also provided invaluable networking and learning opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amanda Cease, a\u00a0textile design <\/a>student whose team earned the Judges\u2019 Honorable Mention, shared, \u201cMeeting with mentors and hearing their feedback was invaluable. Their insights helped us refine our solution and understand its broader impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The significance of collaboration extended beyond the competition for some students. Vijayarahul Srinivasan, an engineering<\/a> student from the Grand Prize-winning team, noted, \u201cMake-A-Thon truly changed the way I approach problems. Throughout the event, the numerous interactions with other students, staff and mentors shaped the way I perceived the sustainability problem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, 87% of competing teams in this year\u2019s Make-A-Thon indicated an interest in pursuing their idea further through means such as applying for a NC State Sustainability Fund<\/a> grant or participating in future entrepreneurship competitions<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Make-A-Thon<\/a> celebrates its 10th anniversary, its impact is clear. By fostering innovation, collaboration and real-world problem solving, it prepares students to address sustainability challenges with creativity and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make-A-Thon 2025 was made possibility through the generous support of its sponsors, including the Climate and Sustainability Academy<\/a>, Coca-Cola<\/a>, Eastman University Engagement Fund<\/a>, Global One Health Academy<\/a>, Innovation and Entrepreneurship<\/a>, NC State Dining<\/a>, University Libraries<\/a>, Office of Research and Innovation<\/a>, University Housing Living and Learning Villages<\/a>, University Sustainability Office<\/a>, individual donors through NC State\u2019s Crowdfunding Campaign<\/a> and the Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n