The movement scales.
The second-annual National STEM Festival brought the nation's top young innovators to Washington, DC (March 19–22, 2025) — showcasing bold ideas to government and industry leaders, and taking the mission global. Here's what 2025 delivered.
Watch the 2025 Festival sizzle
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philanthropic sponsors
The nation's best, on one stage.
103 Student Champions — the top-scoring innovators in the National STEM Challenge — came from 47 states and four U.S. territories to present groundbreaking projects to the public and senior government and business leaders. STEM Week extended the reach with 100+ free in-person and virtual events nationwide (March 14–23).
Student Champions from the National STEM Challenge
States represented
U.S. territories represented
Free STEM Week events across the U.S. & online
Bold ideas meet decision-makers.
Champions didn't just exhibit — they connected directly with the leaders who hire, fund, and shape the future of STEM, through structured roundtables, mentor sessions, and high-level programming.
Expert roundtables with C-level executives, federal leaders & youth innovators
Speakers — policymakers, astronauts, inventors & scientists
Mini conferences, including one presented by SUNY
Hands-on workshops for Champions
- Capitol Hill visit — Champions met the House Digital Services team to discuss how technology is shaping modern governance.
- Qualcomm innovation workshop — the essentials of turning ideas into impact: patents and IP, funding, customer insight, market strategy, and networks.
- Mentor sessions & a PMI Educational Foundation Lunch & Learn — building connections with corporate and federal leaders.
A packed house in Washington, DC.
2,381 members of the public joined Champions at the Saturday Public Expo — exploring 20+ hands-on STEM experiences, design & make activities, and bottle-rocket launches, plus interactive science with Arm & Hammer, robotics with the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation, and a STEM escape room by Learning Undefeated.
2025 took the mission global.
At the 2025 Festival, EXPLR announced the international expansion of the National STEM Festival to Armenia.
EXPLR Co-Founders Jenny Buccos and Kari Byron joined Armenian officials, including Ambassador H.E. Lilit Makunts, for a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gyumri Information Technologies Center — bringing the Festival to Armenia in 2026 and spotlighting young innovators on a global stage.
Industry & philanthropy at the table.
Presented with Co-Presenting Sponsors Autodesk, Broadcom Foundation, and The Square, alongside supporting organizations including Booz Allen, George Mason University, Google, Nokia, Project Management Institute, The Mark Cuban Foundation, Panasonic, Caterpillar Foundation, and the State University of New York (SUNY) — 60 corporate and philanthropic sponsors in all, backing the next generation of talent.
Invest in the next generation.
Partners gain measurable access to early talent, executive and policy audiences, and national brand reach — now across a growing global footprint.