In another list I see that GNU has been accepted for Summer of Code and is looking for projects.
[If this is not appropriate here, let me know. I couldn't find a general make developers list.]
My suggesion regarding GNU Make has to do with getting some of the goodness in the GNU Make fork remake back into GNU Make. But enough about me. What is most in need of help in GNU Make that a summer student might reasonably make progress on?
Discuss the ideas here and contact me offline and I'll forward the GNU contacts. (Or you probably can look them up for yourself if so inclined. I am not a coordinator, I am just a backup mentor).