History of The Widget Cup®

The Widget Cup® event is an annual design/build competition for Career & Technical Education (CTE) students from Clarke County, James Wood, John Handley, Millbrook, and Sherando high schools in Frederick County, Clarke County, and Winchester, Virginia.   

Using science, math, technology, and career trades skills, eight-person student teams compete as they design and build a pre-determined widget, and then present their prototypes to the client.   

The competition is possible because of the support of area businesses and the local school systems. Business leaders from the community participate as judges, resource leads, material providers, and overall event sponsors. 

Past Widget Cup Winners

No. 8 | 2024:  Clarke County High School
Client: Belle Grove Plantation
Widget: outdoor chair for use on trails

No. 7 | 2023:  Clarke County High School
Client: Henry & William Evans Home for Children
Widget: outdoor donation collection box

No. 6 | 2022:  Clarke County High School
Client: Adult Care Center of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Widget: garden cart system

2021:  Event cancelled 

2020:  Event cancelled 

No. 5 | 2019 Winner:  Sherando High School 
Client: Winchester Little Theatre 
Widget: prop storage system 

No. 4 | 2018 Winner: Clarke County High School 
Client: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Widget: gates for the Glen Burnie Gardens 

No. 3 | 2017 Winner: Sherando High School 
Client: Bright Futures Frederick County/Winchester  
Widget: volunteer cubbies 

No. 2 | 2016 Winner: Handley High School  
Client: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum 
Widget: three-sided book shelf with storage 

No. 1 | 2015 Winner: Sherando High School  
Client: NW Works 
Widget: work benches