STEM Design Challenge
Each year, teams are given the “STEM Design Challenge” to find a solution to an engineering problem. Students work in small teams to design and build their project out of a K’Nex Challenge set. Students are then judged on the following criteria: Creativity, Teamwork, Challenge Success, Design, Presentation, Budget.
2025/2026 STEM Design Challenge
Eco-Factory: Build a Sustainable Production Machine:
In this challenge, elementary and middle school students will design a section of a factory that produces a product using sustainable practices by preparing a prototype constructed of K'Nex and/or Engino, that showcases how their functioning machine works, and how it supports environmentally responsible production.
The machine prototype should clearly demonstrate sustainability principles by minimizing waste, maximizing efficiency, and/or simulating the use of recycled, reusable, or otherwise sustainable parts, materials, or resources.
Teams may choose to incorporate recycled or reused materials into other aspects of the model outside of the K'Nex/Engino prototype, such as background settings, factory signage or products, or visual representation of sustainable resources to highlight environmentally responsible thinking and enhance the model’s commitment to sustainability.
Competition Date: March 18, 2026
Location: Central Intermediate Unit 10, 200 Shady Lane, Suite 120, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Fee: $100 per team. Districts will receive an invoice after the competition has completed.
Registration Deadline: February 27, 2026
Note: Registrations cannot be accepted after the deadline has passed.
Competition Agenda
Please let us know who will be competing from your district by filling out this FORM.
STEM Design Challenge Information
STEM Design Challenge Resources
STEM Design Challenge Sample Prices (Middle School)
Payment:
Districts will receive an invoice after the competition has completed.
Checks should be made out to Central Intermediate Unit 10 or CIU10
Payment should be mailed to:
Central Intermediate Unit 10
200 Shady Lane
Suite 120
Philipsburg, PA 16866
ATTN: STEM Design Competition
Ms. Melissa Duckworth
Educational Consultant
Email: mduckworth@ciu10.org
Phone: 814-342-0884, ext. 3054
Direct: 814-422-4154