Registration Open for Make-A-Thon 2026

Make-A-Thon, NC State’s annual sustainability innovation competition, is now open for student registration. The event will take place January 22–25, 2026, on Centennial Campus and invites students from all majors to collaborate and create solutions to sustainability challenges.

Make-A-Thon offers students a chance to build their resumes, gain hands-on experience and connect with mentors and industry professionals. Participants develop teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills while contributing innovative ideas that can make a real impact on campus and for the world.

Cash prizes will also be awarded to winning teams. Last year’s prizes totaled more than $8,000, and prize details for 2026 will be announced soon.

Students can register as a full team or sign up individually or in pairs to be matched with other participants. Teams must include members from at least two different colleges, with space limited to 200 students, so early registration is encouraged. 

The interdisciplinary nature of the event is often a key to success. 

“Collaborating with teammates from different disciplines was a key factor in shaping our project,” said Sowmya Macheri Balaji, an electrical and computer engineering student on last year’s winning team. “Without an interdisciplinary team, we wouldn’t have been able to create such a well-rounded solution.”

Faculty and staff are also needed to serve as mentors and judges, helping guide and evaluate student projects. Their support not only strengthens the student experience but also helps inspire the next generation of sustainability innovators.

For more information on participating in Make-A-Thon, visit go.ncsu.edu/makeathon.

This post was originally published in Sustainability News.