“It was from a human factors class at KU, and it had to do with the process of designing a cooktop for the blind.”

— Zach Young, unemployed, Muscatine, Iowa

“I had to make a volcano...it didn’t work. I was totally bummed.”

— Charley Downey, master’s film student, Olathe

“We cooked shampoo ... to test how much water was in it, and I remember the smell of the room because it smelled really good.”

— Michaela Boman, Slavic languages and literature major, Wichita

“I was in fifth grade, I don’t remember the project, but I mispronounced the word ‘barometer’ and my teacher called me out, in front of everyone, and made me feel ‘special.’”

— Curry Brown, bartender, Kansas City, Mo.