26-27 Student Competitions
ARIN IU28
ARIN Regional Competition: October 28, 2026
Location: River Valley STEAM Academy Gym, Saltsburg, PA
Time: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
State Competition: N/A
Cost: FREE
Lunch is not provided.
REGISTER HERE by October 1, 2026
Please print, distribute, collect, and submit the Parent Release Form for each student participating prior to the competition.
Description / Details: A FREE, one-day STEM challenge for students in grades 5-12! No prep required—just bring your creativity and problem-solving skills, similar to a hack-a-thon. Work in teams of up to 4 students to tackle real-world challenges, design innovative solutions, and showcase your ideas. It’s a hands-on, fun experience with no barriers to participation—get ready to innovate and inspire!
Key Details:
- Open to students in grades 5–12
- Teams are organized by grade bands (5–6, 7–8, and 9–12)
- Schools should refer to the ARIN Student Competition Guidelines for the number of teams they may bring to this competition.
- Schools can bring teams of up to 4
- The problem is revealed the morning of the event and simulcast across the state
There is no state final, but the goal is to help students develop an initial prototype or idea they could grow into a submission for other competitions like Invention Convention, PA Media and Design Competition, or another competition. For more information, please visit the PA Keystone Competition website.
ARIN Regional Competition - October 16, 2026
Championship Event - Nov. 19, 2026 Acrisure Statium
VIRTUAL SUBMISSION
Cost: FREE
SUBMIT HERE by October 16, 2026
Please print, distribute, and collect the Parent Release Form for each student participating and include the completed forms in your submission.
Description / Details: Teams of 4 students in grades 9-12 are tasked with creating a presentation and one model demonstrating their solution to powering Acrisure Stadium and/or the city of Pittsburgh. Teams may spend no more than $40 on materials to create their scale model. Students are encouraged to use recycled, recyclable, and/or refurbished materials. Click here for more information and the rubric.
Winner advances to finals at Acrisure Stadium. The competition date will be announced at a later date.
Key Details:
- Open to students in grades 9–12
- Regional competition is virtual - please submit a video of your presentation.
- Schools can submit as many projects as they'd like to the virtual regional competition.
- One regional winner will advance to the finals.
Check out this video from the 2025 Powering Pittsburgh Championship!
ARIN Regional Competition: December 14, 2026
Location: River Valley STEAM Academy Gym, Saltsburg, PA
Time: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
State Competition: February 2027, Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos
Cost: FREE
Lunch is not provided.
REGISTER HERE by November 20, 2026
Please print, distribute, collect, and submit the Parent Release Form for each student participating prior to the competition.
Participation Guidelines
- Open to students in grades K–12
- Teams are organized by grade bands (K-4, 5-8, and 9–12)
- Schools should refer to the ARIN Student Competition Guidelines for the TOTAL number of teams they may submit to the regional competition, either virtually OR in person.
- Schools can bring teams of up to 4
- Districts with more than one interested team can request to be added to the waitlist, and if space is available, will be given an additional registration.
- Winners of the regional event will be eligible for the state competition: February 2027, Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos
Registration
- Register Here for the in-person Regional Competition by November 20, 2026
- OR
- Compete virtually and submit materials online as per the Virtual Submission Guidelines.
- PLEASE NOTE - YOUR TOTAL SUBMISSIONS (VIRTUAL + REGIONAL) CAN NOT EXCEED YOUR DISTRICT ALLOTMENT. For example, if a school is permitted to submit 5 teams, and they bring 5 teams to the in-person regional event, they may not submit additional teams to the virtual event, or vice versa. Please host an in-house competition to determine your top submissions.
For rules, rubric, and logbook templates, visit the PA Invention Convention website: https://www.pennsylvaniainventionconvention.com/
Visit the PA Invention Convention website for more information.
🚨STEM Design Challenge Information Website🚨
ARIN Regional Competition: March 16, 2027
Location: River Valley STEAM Academy Gym, Saltsburg, PA
Time: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
State Competition: April-May 2027 - Location TBD
Cost: FREE
Lunch is not provided.
REGISTER HERE by March 1, 2027
Please print, distribute, collect, and submit the Parent Release Form for each student participating prior to the competition.
Description / Details:
- Schools should refer to the ARIN Student Competition Guidelines for the number of teams they may submit virtually or bring to this regional competition.
- Teams of 2-4 students
- Students can use Engino and/or K'Nex pieces.
- You can purchase the STEM Design Challenge Engino kit from this link.
- This event is for students in grade bands 4-5 and 6-8.
- Teams can use K'Nex, Engino, or a mix of both. (They don't connect together but teams could use both in their prototype.
- Visit the STEM Design Challenge website for more information.
The Media and Design Competition (MADCOM) is under reconfiguration for the 26-27 school year. ARIN will not host a Regional Competition.
ARIN Regional Competition: April 14, 2027
Location: River Valley STEAM Academy Gym, Saltsburg, PA
Time: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Lunch is not provided.
REGISTER HERE by April 1, 2027
Please print, distribute, collect, and submit the Parent Release Form for each student participating prior to the competition.
Description / Details: The 24 Math Challenge is a card game that contains various numbers, and the main goal of the game is to do math calculations (add, subtract, multiply and divide) to reach the answer of 24. Districts have a set number of seats; however, if districts do not participate that will open additional seats for interested schools.
Student Sustainability Design Challenge (SSDC) 2026–2027
*Organized by the Consortium for Public Education*
Kickoff: November 19, 2026
Project Development & Partner Engagement: December 2026–February 2027
Spring Showcase: March 18, 2027
Location: Rodef Shalom, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. for Kickoff and Spring Showcase
Cost: FREE
Description / Details: The Student Sustainability Design Challenge (SSDC) is a FREE program for middle and high school student teams to explore, design, and present solutions to real-world challenges that impact their communities and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Students participate in project-based learning to connect local challenges to global impact, learn how local organizations are leading sustainability efforts, and research, design, and prototype sustainable solutions. Students also have opportunities to engage with industry and community partners and present their work to peers, community members, and professionals.
Key Details:
- Open to middle and high school students
- Open to educators in any subject, club, or advisory
- No prior project-based learning (PBL) experience is needed
- Kickoff – November 19, 2026: Students are introduced to the UNSDGs and reflect on local challenges.
- Project Development & Partner Engagement – December 2026–February 2027: Self-paced project development during which students engage with industry and community partners to inform their thinking and design potential solutions.
- Spring Showcase – March 18, 2027: Students share their project proposals in a final poster session.
- Participating teams have the opportunity to receive seed funding to support the development of their projects.
For more information and registration, visit the Student Sustainability Design Challenge website or contact cmurrell@tcfpe.org.