Rube Goldberg Machine Contest: Students create intricate machines to complete a simple task

WAUKESHA -- Making complex machines to complete simple tasks. That's what more than 300 high school students were doing on Saturday in Waukesha.

More than 20 teams from across the country competed in the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest at Waukesha County Technical College.

In 20 steps or more, students had to create a machine that could open an umbrella, but the competition isn't just about the technical skills.

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"I think what's really exciting is also those soft skills. Learning how to meet deadlines, work as a team, employability skills beyond just the technical skills," said Rich Merkel, STEM Forward.

Students work on their machines for about two to four months before the contest. They're judged on construction, creativity, communication and most of all, function.