--- title: Three Teams Set to Make It Happen description: "The inaugural Fall 2021 Make It Happen Challenge showcased students from across the University with one thing in common: a desire to bring their ideas to life. Three teams won award packages, which include a monetary grant for supplies and materials, hands-on training and design consultation." image: https://horn.udel.edu/hubfs/MakerGym_Mask_03.23.21%5B24%5D.png --- [![University of Delaware](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/HPE_Jan2017/logo.png?width=168&height=70&name=logo.png "University of Delaware")](http://udel.edu) #### Horn Entrepreneurship # [Stories & Updates](https://horn.udel.edu) ## Three Teams Set to Make It Happen by [Meg Marcozzi](https://horn.udel.edu/author/meg-marcozzi) • March 23, 2021 ![MakerGym_Mask_03.23.21\[24\]](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/MakerGym_Mask_03.23.21%5B24%5D.png?width=1250&name=MakerGym_Mask_03.23.21%5B24%5D.png)University of Delaware student teams were awarded more than $5000 to use in design, prototyping and fabrication of their projects.   The inaugural Spring 2021 Make It Happen Challenge showcased students from across the University with one thing in common: a desire to bring their ideas to life. The Challenge, presented by UD MakerGym and Horn Entrepreneurship, is a University-wide, semester-long student design competition that provides grants for making and innovation, targeting ideation, proof of concept, prototyping or small batch production. In addition to financial support, students receive training, tools, materials and mentoring. Three teams won award packages, which include a monetary grant for supplies and materials, hands-on training and design consultation: **Hydra Cultivation Network ** Funding Award: $1624 Sophia Angeletakis, HS22, and Metehan Cebeci, AS22 Developing systems, methods and a distributed network of cultivators for supplying dense, high quality cultures of research organisms. *Project Goal: Produce and distribute 15 tank systems and viable Hydra colonies to microbiology enthusiasts \[influencers\] for evaluation and network seeding.* **UP Cycle Design** Funding Award: $3248 Sierra RyanWallick, BE22, Michelle Yatvitskiy, AS22 UP Cycle Design: Creating affordable, upcycled products with a transparent process, while supporting community causes.  *Project Goal: The production line for our cause-themed cloth stickers.  Reusable bag partnership with Goodwill DE. Upcycled bag partnership with Alchemize Fightwear.* **Coral Connectors** Funding Award: $415 Samuel Koeck, EO22 Improving coral resilience by enhancing the structural complexity of reef systems.  *Project Goal: Design and create a module to mimic the structural complexity of reef systems.* Team submitted proposals outlining their project’s purpose, scope and funding requirements. Six teams were selected to give 5-minute pitches followed by 5 minutes of Q&A to an expert panel of judges, including Mark Bendett, President, Northstar Strategic Consulting; Robert Herrera, Co-Founder, The Mill; John McDonald, CEO, Semi-Handmade; Brian Pryor, Vice President, Lightforce at DJO; Alexis Slupe, Intrapreneur, W.L. Gore; and Susan Springsteen, Co-Founder, H2O Connected.  Teams and their projects were evaluated for Feasibility, Cost Effectiveness, Innovativeness and Impact. The Make It Happen Challenge will be a biannual competition hosted at the start of the spring and fall semesters. For maker-related updates, reservations and virtual tour, visit the [MakerGym website](https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/maker/spaces/makergym/). **About the MakerGym** [The MakerGym](https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/maker/spaces/makergym/)is an interdisciplinary design and fabrication studio, focused on student empowerment and collaboration. This creative space offers 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Router and Mill, Hand Tools, Work Benches, Sewing Machines, Water Jet and Wood Shop which complement and provide depth to existing making capabilities on campus in order to support education, research, and personal growth. All students have access to our resources including the necessary training and design consultation to help them turn their ideas into action. 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