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Mission: STEM

Mission: STEM Regional Competition
(Formerly SECME Regional Competition)

SECME was a strategic alliance partnering schools, universities, industry, and government to renew and strengthen the professional capacity of K-12 educators, motivate and mentor students, and empower parents and communities so that all young people could learn and achieve at higher levels. SECME’s mission was to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students who would be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, thus creating a diverse and globally competitive workforce.

Born from the SECME program, Mission: STEM aims to engage, educate, and inspire all students. UCF is a proud sponsor and host for the Mission: STEM Regional Competition. Our College of Engineering and Computer Science has a long history of promoting diversity and supporting pre-college science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. Our future engineering and computer science students are sitting in Central Florida (and beyond) K12 classrooms making decisions about their futures. An important part of our college’s recruitment mission is to help enlighten young students by supporting programs such as the Mission: STEM. For more information, please contact STEM at STEM@ucf.edu.

 

CLICK HERE to register for the Mission: STEM Regional Competition at UCF! (Registration opens in October)

2024-2025 Guidelines Available!

Click here to view the 2024-2025 SECME Regional Competition Winners!

If you are a new Mission: STEM sponsor this year and would like to learn more about the Mission: STEM Regional Competition held at UCF, please join us for the Train the Trainer Workshop on Saturday, September 13, 2025! If you have questions or would like to register, please contact the K-12 Coordinator at Renee.Johnston@ucf.edu

Do you have questions regarding the Mission: STEM Regional Competition at UCF? Please view our FAQs for information regarding registration, payment, and more!

K-12 Mission: STEM STEM Day STEM Summer Programs STEM Virtual Programs
Mission: STEM Mission: STEM Registration Guidelines Results
2025-2026 Competition Theme

  • Mission: STEM 2025-2026 — Destination SpaceU

    • Dates:
    • Opening in October
    • September 8, 2025
      Train the Trainer Workshop Registration Closes at midnight

      – Email STEM@ucf.edu for registration details

    • September 13, 2025
      Train the Trainer Workshop
    • December 12, 2025
      Mission: STEM Regional Competition Registration Deadline

      – Schools with student/team numbers must be submitted online

    • December 19, 2025
      Invoice Request Deadline

      – All payments must be initiated with your bookkeeper
      – $20 per student

    • January 23, 2026
      Registration Fees Due

      – Check must be in the office by 4pm
      – No exceptions will be made

    • January 27, 2026
      All team and student names must be entered/finalized by midnight
    • February 2, 2026
      Essays (all grade levels) due by midnight via your account on the Mission: STEM registration site
    • Date TBD
      Energy Transfer Machine submissions due by 5pm. See guidelines for details on how to submit videos.
    • February 11, 2026
      Poster and video submissions due by midnight. Please submit via your account on the SECME registration site.
    • February 13, 2026
      Emergency name changes due by 5pm (name changes may be requested via email only)
    • February 21, 2026
      Mission: STEM Regional Competition

      – School/Team Check-in 7am
      – Opening Session 8am
      – Award Ceremony 2-3pm

    • Dates and times are subject to change. Registered teams will be notified via email in the event of a change.