Celebrating Innovation at the 2026 Statewide Design Challenge Showcase
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On March 4, 2026, innovation, creativity, and student voice took center stage at the Statewide Design Challenge Showcase, hosted at Battelle. The event brought together the top 21 highest-scoring student teams from across Ohio, along with the Sticker Design Contest winners from each grade band, for a day dedicated to celebrating problem-solving and the future of STEM in our state.
Organized by the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN), the annual Statewide Design Challenge invites K–12 students to tackle real-world problems through hands-on, collaborative STEM learning. For many schools, the challenge serves as an entry point into high-quality STEM education, connecting classroom learning to authentic issues while building critical skills like teamwork, resilience, and systems thinking.
The 2025–2026 challenge: #STEMmovesOhio
This year’s challenge, #STEMmovesOhio, asked students to explore a timely and complex question:
How do we improve aspects of electric transportation to enhance the movement of people and things across Ohio?
Student teams developed plans, systems, and products addressing the future of electric vehicles, drones, and advanced air transportation, with focus areas that included battery design, manufacturing, supply chains, vehicle integration, customer experience, and societal considerations.
The challenge was made possible through partnerships with the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and DriveOhio, connecting student ideas directly to Ohio’s manufacturing and mobility ecosystem.
A statewide celebration of student work
The March 4 showcase marked the culmination of months of student work. After advancing through virtual hub and state-level judging, the top 21 teams earned the opportunity to present their solutions in person at Battelle’s headquarters.
Throughout the morning, students:
- Presented their designs to scientists, engineers, and industry professionals
- Engaged in meaningful conversations with experts from manufacturing, transportation, education, and research
- Participated in lunch discussions that connected their ideas to real-world careers
- Celebrated alongside peers from across the state who share a passion for innovation
In addition to the team presentations, the event also honored Sticker Design Contest winners from each grade band. Their designs, created around the #STEMmovesOhio theme, were produced and distributed to partners and participating schools statewide, extending student creativity well beyond the showcase.
Keynote
The showcase also featured a keynote address from [Keynote Speaker Name], [Title / Organization].
Keynote focus (placeholder):
[Brief description of keynote message, connection to innovation, STEM careers, manufacturing, mobility, or student problem-solving.]
The keynote helped frame the day by reinforcing the importance of student-driven innovation and the role today’s learners will play in shaping Ohio’s future workforce.
Schools Represented at the 2026 Showcase
We were proud to welcome student teams and educators from schools across Ohio, representing diverse communities and regions of the state.
Participating schools included:
[School Name] – [City/Region]
[School Name] – [City/Region]
[School Name] – [City/Region]
[School Name] – [City/Region]
[School Name] – [City/Region]
(Full list of attending schools to be added.)
Why the design challenge matters
The Statewide Design Challenge is more than a competition. It’s a learning experience that:
- Makes STEM accessible to any Ohio school
- Supports educators with toolkits, rubrics, and professional learning
- Connects students with industry experts through programs like PowerUp Partners and Industry Insights
- Highlights the relevance of STEM learning to Ohio’s workforce and economic future
By engaging with authentic challenges, students see themselves as problem-solvers and contributors capable of shaping the future of transportation, manufacturing, and technology in Ohio.
Looking ahead
As we celebrate the achievements of the 2026 showcase teams, sticker designers, educators, and partners, we’re reminded of what’s possible when schools and industry work together to elevate student voice and innovation.
Congratulations to all who participated in making the 2026 Statewide Design Challenge Showcase a success. We look forward to continuing this work and welcoming even more students into the challenge next year.
The post Celebrating Innovation at the 2026 Statewide Design Challenge Showcase appeared first on Ohio STEM Learning Network.
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