Next Event: April 9, 2026
Host Location: James Wood High School 
Time: TBA

Established in 2015, the Frederick County EDA's regional Widget Cup® event is an annual competition for high school teams drawn from students attending public schools in Frederick County, Clarke County, and Winchester, Virginia. Participating students solve a real-life business problem for a local employer by using skills acquired through Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) courses. 

Each year, the EDA collaborates with teachers at the area's five high schools to field a competitive team. Teams are comprised of eight students who have demonstrated competencies in engineering, construction, welding, electricity, audio/visual equipment, and oral presentation. 

 The Frederick County EDA Widget Cup® teams come from 5 public schools in 3 localities.

The Widget Cup Competition 

Over the course of a full day of competition, the Widget Cup teams will design and build a product for a local business client who has expressed a real need for an object, tool, or structure. The project is not announced until the day of the event. Each team is provided the same starting materials. The students work together to problem-solve, design, and build a functioning device that the business client will use in their day-to-day operations.  

Using science, math, technology, and career trades skills, the student teams have one hour to create the design of their custom “widget," announced at the start of the event. Then the team must build a fully functioning prototype. Projects for client participants have included outdoor activity carts for Fremont Street Nursery, storage systems for Winchester Little Theatre, Discovery Museum, and Bright Futures; work benches for NW Works; outdoor chairs for Belle Grove Plantation; garden carts for Adult Care Center of the Northern Shenandoah Valley; and gates for the Glen Burnie Gardens at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. 

Throughout the day, the teams are judged by industry professionals using an extensive rubric. The students should be prepared to exemplify teamwork, leadership, and technical skill, among other qualities employers are seeking. 

“I'm impressed watching the students work – there's a lot of problem-solving and teamwork, things you like to see in our future workforce,” shared Stacy Haines. Stacy has represented Barrett Machine as a former Widget Cup judge. 

Throughout the event, Audio/Visual team members capture their team's design process and build. Once the build phase is complete and work stops, the A/V team puts the finishing touches on their visual presentation and the entire team prepares for the pitch to the customer.

At the conclusion of the day’s event, the Widget Cup trophy, designed and manufactured by local metal fabricator Fabritek/Winchester Tool, is presented to the winning team. The trophy will remain on display at the winner's school until the next year's event. 

Sponsoring The Widget Cup 

Many area businesses see The Widget Cup as a positive investment in the local workforce and show their support of the event through monetary sponsorship. The funds collected support the continued growth of The Widget Cup competition and help cover expenses for project materials. 

Sponsorship money allows The Widget Cup to provide: 

• $100 gift card to each student on the winning team 
• $200 gift card to one educator on each team fulfilling the role of Project Coach and one educator on each team fulfilling the role of Presentation Coach
• Lunch and snacks for volunteers and students on event day 
• Purchase of project hardware 

Volunteering at The Widget Cup 

Other ways the community can participate in The Widget Cup event is through volunteering during the event. The Widget Cup requires judges and resource team members who are local, experienced trades professionals. Judges will grade teams on parameters that require knowledge of engineering and/or the construction process. The Resource Team will assist students by answering technical design and engineering questions as the teams work to solve the challenge.  

Beyond the technical needs of the program, other Widget Cup® volunteers serve in various roles, including event day setup, guest check-in, general information desk, general support staff, and clean-up crew.

History of The Widget Cup®

The Widget Cup® News Coverage

2025: Widget Cup Brings Connection, Joy, and Talent to Innovation Center

2024: Clarke County Wins Widget Cup Event for Third Year in a Row

2023 Widget Trophy Won by Clarke County High School

2022: Clarke County Wins 2022 Widget Cup Competition

2022: The Widget Cup Returns in 2022