The June Harless Center launched its inaugural Pumpkin Drop Engineering Design Challenge in 2022 as part of the Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Center’s WV Makes Festival. Since then, the Pumpkin Drop has become a highly anticipated annual event, inviting students in grades 3–12 to put their creativity, teamwork, and engineering skills to the test.
Students design and build protective devices ahead of time to keep their pumpkins safe during a dramatic 10-story drop. With support from the Huntington Fire Department, pumpkins take flight from a tower ladder while students cheer on their designs.
The day is always a smashing success, blending fall fun with hands-on STEM learning and showcasing the power of creativity, problem-solving, and innovation in action. Plans are already underway for this year’s drop — stay tuned for details on how to get involved!