Miner Creativity Challenge
S&T undergraduate and graduate students are invited to compete in the 2024 Miner Creativity Challenge.
This challenge is an opportunity for teams to design and build a toy focused on STEAM learning that will be assembled, played with and reviewed by grade school students ages 8–11.
In addition to mentorship from S&T faculty and staff, finalist teams will have access to maker spaces and Idea Labs in S&T’s new Innovation Lab and up to $20 of their supplies covered. A panel of professional judges and the grade school students will determine the winners.
Registration
Create a team of 3–5 and complete your registration by Feb. 4. Check the competition dates below for deadlines and required attendance.
Spring 2024 Competition Dates
| Jan. 24, 2024 |
Informal meeting4 p.m. | Ozark Room, Havener Center |
| Feb. 4, 2024 |
Team registration deadline |
| Feb. 6, 2024 |
Observation of target audience interaction with toy on the market5:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 19, 2024 |
Quad chart due |
| Feb. 23, 2024 |
Finalists announced |
| Week of March 10, 2024 |
First checkpoint meeting with mentor |
| Week of March 17, 2024 |
Second checkpoint meeting with mentor |
| Week of April 7, 2024 |
Third checkpoint meeting with mentor |
| April 18, 2024 |
Pitch video deadline |
| April 19–29, 2024 |
Judges review and score pitch videos |
| April 30, 2024 |
Final scoring and kid testing of designs with awards announced |
| May 1-8, 2024 |
Showcase of prototypes at the Curtis Laws Wilson Libaray- voting for People's Choice Award |
| May 8, 2024 |
People's Choice award winner announced |
Scholarship Prize Money
- Kid’s choice will be awarded $1,000 first place; $750 second place; and $500 third place
- Judges will award $3,000 first place; $2,000 second place; $1,000 third place
- People’s choice award to encourage S&T community to come view and vote for their favorite will be a $500 award.
2023 Winning Teams
First Place
"Quick Draw Cannon" created by team members, from left, Andrew Banta, junior in computer science; Abby Womack, freshman in Mechanical Engineering; Brendan Crotty, junior in mechanical engineering; Seth Huffman, freshman in mechanical engineering; and Nick Johnson, junior in mechanical engineering;
Second Place
"Tower Tumbler" created by team members, from left, Sebastian Davis, a senior in computer science; Evan Roach, a senior in mechanical engineering; Jacob Stobie, a senior in civil engineering; and Hayden Krumpelman, a senior in mechanical engineering.
Third Place
"Hydraulic Crane" created by team members, from left, Maxwell Attwood, a sophomore in mechanical engineering; Adam Kokal, a junior in mechanical engineering; Andrew Ellinghouse, a junior in architectural engineering; Braden Swift, a junior in economics; and Kyle Renkoski, a junior in mechanical engineering. Also pictured, far left, faculty mentor Dr. Jillian Schmidt, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
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