The Stonington Community Center has announced that COMO STEAM Director Victoria Witte will be competing in the Make48 national inventor challenge and concurrent filming of the popular series that broadcasts on PBS.

Make48 is a nationwide invention-competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a two-day event. Teams have 48 hours to create a prototype, promotional video and sales sheet, and pitch their product to a panel of judges.

Witte and her team, Magic Make, competed in the Hartford City Series competition in October at MakerspaceCT. Stanley Black & Decker served as the challenge sponsor, setting the challenge theme of Outdoor Lifestyle.

Witte’s team competed against seven other teams, going home with the first-place trophy for their product, The Eclipse 360.

The portable, directional light was a hit with the judges. The interior shade allows you to direct the light where you want to, creating a warm and intimate space perfect for weddings or outdoor events.

Witte and her team will now go on to compete on the national stage for a grand prize of $10,000, while bringing national recognition to the maker movement in Stonington and the Stonington COMO Makerspace.

The national competition will take place March 25-27, in GoCreate, an 18,000-square-foot makerspace on the Wichita State University campus. The docuseries airs on PBS.

The 1,400–square-foot COMO makerspace and pottery studio hosts 3D printing, laser cutting, art, ceramics, and tool classes and workshops throughout the year for adults and youth as young as 3.

More information can be found at thecomo.org. Youth and adult volunteers who are interested in STEAM programs can volunteer by contacting Witte at v.witte@thecomo.org or by calling the COMO office at (860) 535-2476.

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