CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation offers Omaha educators a shot at a $30,000 Makerspace for their classroom Application deadline is March 1, 2024

January 8, 2024

Creating classroom makerspaces is a rapidly growing trend in schools across the country. Omaha educators can win a $30,000 makerspace for their classroom in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition.

A makerspace is a designated area of a classroom where students can use various materials and tools to create something unique, often to solve a problem of some nature. Materials in the space can include everything from 3-D printers, electrical circuits and robotics components to cardboard, paper and glue.

The CIA sponsors the CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition to promote learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) fields. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) manages the program.

The competition will award one STEAM educator each in Omaha, Neb., Chicago, Ill. and Kansas City, Kan./Mo. with a makerspace loaded with materials worth $30,000.

Interested educators need to act fast! The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024. Winners will be notified in April and the items in the makerspace will be purchased and delivered to their classrooms for the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Susan Young, K-8 media specialist at Pinewood Elementary School, won the 2023 CIA Makerspace Nation competition in Omaha. The CIA launched the Mission Possible Program in 2021.

To be eligible for CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation, educators must:

• Educate 3^rd through 12^th grade students in a STEAM subject.
• Work for a school in Chicago, Ill., Omaha, Neb., or Kansas City, Mo./Kan.
• Submit a three-to-four-minute video creatively illustrating the need for and possible uses of a makerspace in their classroom.
• Apply by March 1, 2024.

A panel of educators and ORISE staff will determine the wining classroom for each city. Entries will be judged on how well they:

• Demonstrate or explain the need for the makerspace.
• Demonstrate or explain the possible use of materials in the makerspace.
• Exhibit overall creativity in the entry.