Seventeen teams from Orange County middle schools, high schools and community colleges won cash prizes of $100 to $350 as part of the ocMaker Challenge, a STEM-based design competition where students use 3D modeling, 3D printing and other advanced technologies to build prototypes of products aimed at solving real-world problems.
More than 150 teams competed in last weekend’s event Chapman University’s Hutton Sports Center.
The annual ocMaker Challenge supports creativity and innovation by converging academics with hands-on learning to promote 21st-century skills.
The ocMaker Challenge integrates science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, by encouraging students to identify a unique problem or need, document solutions and use technologies that include 3D modeling and 3D printing.
Below are a list of the Division Award winners. For a full list of winners, click here.
| Division Award | Most Innovative | Team Award | School | District | Teacher |
| College | Smart Fishing | $150.00 | Saddleback College | South OC Community College District | Gabriela Sandoval Martinez |
| High School | Retractable Heels | $150.00 | Sunny Hills High School | North Orange County ROP | Dan Zanone |
| Middle School | Programmable battery charger | $150.00 | Walker Junior High | Anaheim Union High School District | Jack Gupton |
| Division Award | Most Socially Conscious | Team Award | School | District | Teacher |
| Middle School | Buzz Trap | $100.00 | St. Margaret’s Episcopal | Private | Eric Harrington |
| High School | Public Trash | $100.00 | Marina High School | H.B. Union High School District | Carrie Peterson |