At the 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum (GFF) in Salt Lake City (October 9-11), over 200 students and industry supporters divided into 20 intermixed teams to create 3D sculptures out of $10,000 worth of toilet paper, donated by MILWAUKEE TOOL.
How much TP is that? One fully packed box truck or 9,600 individually wrapped rolls!
During the TP Challenge, teams were not only building community among student chapters, but they were also helping to build a brighter future for the residents of the shelter receiving the TP donation following the event. Funds that would normally be spent supplying the shelter with toilet paper can now be used for additional outreach programs and support for their residents, many of whom are in the same age demographic as the student participants.
Volunteers of America, Utah provides year-round support for individuals experiencing homelessness through shelters, meals, basic needs, education, employment services, legal aid, housing assistance, and physical and mental health care to youth primarily aged 15-22. With the TP Challenge donation, their services can stretch further in 2025 and beyond.
The students’ hearts were in the right place for the challenge and their minds and bodies also got a workout during this physical and mental activity.
Step 1 – Find a Team
Students were instructed to stand in a taped off square and form teams with a maximum of 10 people and with only 1 person per school (peer-to-peer networking)!
Step 2 – Read Instructions & Formulate a Plan (Schedule, Budget, Creativity)
Each team had to follow a list of instructions to earn points and avoid fines. Some real-world scenarios were incorporated such as tight spaces, the decision to subcontract or self-perform, and a change order was thrown in to keep everyone on their toes!
Step 3 – The Build
Once they were ready, teams headed over to the Supply House to purchase their rolls or full cases of TP.
The first decision was whether their team wanted to sub out opening their boxes to a member of the Career Development Committee with the proper tools and PPE, or if they wanted to self-perform with safety scissors. Ripped boxes incurred a hefty fictional fine since they were needed to transport the 160 cases of TP to the shelter. Ripped outer rolls were also fined since the TP would be unable to be donated to the shelter and would need to be disposed of.
Next, the students were instructed to pay special attention to the scope, which would be documented during the final inspection with an official stamp (GFF sticker). Teams were required to stay within the boundaries of their taped squares and their structures had to be at least as tall as the shortest person on their team, and at least as wide as the tallest person on their team.
The change order was shared about 45 minutes into the challenge and instructed the teams to build a fence around the perimeter of their structures. Quite a few students headed back to the supply house for additional materials, which they learned first-hand can greatly impact their final budget and schedule. Once built, the teams conducted a turnover meeting, which asked them to share a group selfie on a social media platform of their choice. This request was built-in to help the students with their chapter recruitment in the future by giving them a photo and story of the types of out of the box (literally) events that happen at the MCAA GreatFutures Forum. A hashtag, #HowMCAARolls, was also incorporated. Check it out!
Step 4: Load It Up – Do Good for the Community
Following the challenge, three judges circled the rooms to time stamp the scoresheets (schedule score) and then give points for creativity. The students then carefully packaged the TP back up and paraded through the hotel with the boxes to the loading dock.
Step 5: Celebrate the Win! Highest Score Wins the Bowl!
The following morning, second place was awarded Kleenex packs (to dry their tears of defeat) and 1st place, team #14 which built a suspension bridge, was awarded a commemorative desk ornament to forever remember their TP Challenge victory. Awards were presented by Michael Lee Evans, our challenge sponsor (MILWAUKEE TOOL), and MCAA President Brian Hughes.
The real winners, though, are each and every TP Challenge participant. Students walked away with new contacts at schools across North America, a newfound appreciation for how project scope, budget and schedule can affect a jobsite, and finally a heartfelt sense of pride for doing something good for the community with their involvement in the TP donation project. Special thanks to MILWAUKEE TOOL for making the TP Challenge possible!
The GreatFutures Forum activities rotate from year to year, so don’t miss your chance to be in the room for the next chaotically fun activity and your chance to network with students and MCAA members, all while building a GREAT future. See you in 2026!
2026 MCAA GreatFutures Forum
September 24-26, 2026
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, MO
-Registration opens mid-summer 2026!
Do you have questions on how to get involved with the MCAA Career Development Initiative or regarding the MCAA GreatFutures Forum? Contact Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org) or visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming. Also be sure check out the JRGF website to explore the work the John R. Gentille Foundation is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.