MEDIA ALERT: Middle schoolers to showcase STEM Machines at Contrapt Wisconsin machine contest at WCTC

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Wednesday, April 22, 2026) -- Watering a plant is a straightforward task, but to do so in eight or more steps – and create a machine to complete the task – involves engineering, creativity, teamwork and other skills. Enter, STEM Forward’s Contrapt Wisconsin contraption competition.

Waukesha County Technical College is looking forward to welcoming Contrapt Wisconsin for middle school students to campus this Friday, April 24.

Who:
Teams are composed of three to five middle school students from area schools. In total, approximately 150 students on 40 teams will compete

What: 
Participants create imaginative, multi-step machines using everyday materials in a whimsical, complex way, following a strict set of parameters. This encourages skill building in engineering, simple machines, trial and error, project planning and more.
 
Teams are required to give a verbal presentation of their contraption and run their machines multiple times for judges. Awards will be given to the top five teams, and special awards, such as Most Innovative Step, Best Construction and Most Unique Machine will also be given.

When:
The competition will be held Friday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the College’s Anthony J. Natalizio Center on the Pewaukee Campus, Building S.

Judging and viewing of machines will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon, with an awards ceremony from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m. Members of WCTC’s faculty will be among the professional engineer volunteer judges who will provide valuable feedback to students. Additional judges include STEM professionals from companies such as Eaton, Generac, Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee Tool, GE HealthCare and many others. 

Learn more about the contraption machine contests.