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Essay Winners

2024-2025 SECME Regional Winners

Essay (Illustration) - Elementary (K-2)

PositionTeam
First PlaceSchool: River Tower Academy

Team Member: Adam Torres-Rivero

Team Teacher: Hilary Rivero
Second PlaceSchool: Osceola Science Elementary School

Team Member: Josue Roldan Villegas

Team Teacher: Amy Trujillo
Third PlaceSchool: Stenstrom Elementary School

Team Member: Hallie Rettew

Team Teacher: Lynda Roche

Essay - Elementary (3-5)

PositionTeam
First Place School: Walker Elementary

Team Member: Wyn Swanson

Team Teacher: Dana Hilston
Second PlaceSchool: Stenstrom Elementary

Team Member: Cooper Shelton

Team Teacher: Lynda Roche
Third PlaceSchool: Dommerich Elementary School

Team Member: Amaan McCain

Team Teacher: Rebekah Dooley

Essay - Middle

PositionTeam
First PlaceSchool: Milwee Middle School

Team Members: Ansh Gandhi

Team Teacher: Carol Unterreiner
Second PlaceSchool: Milwee Middle School

Team Members: Noah Lenhart

Team Teacher: Carol Unterreiner
Third PlaceSchool: Divine Academy

Team Members: Zoey Graham

Team Teacher: Niki Mackey

Essay - High

PositionTeam
First PlaceSchool: Winter Springs High School

Team Member: Yashna Singh

Team Teacher: Jenna Nikles
Second PlaceSchool: Freedom High School

Team Member: Justin Zhan

Team Teacher: Amanda Kraemer
Third PlaceSchool: Divine Academy

Team Member: Melissa Greenwich

Team Teacher: Celia Paige

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

  • 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 18, 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
    • February 11, 2026
      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 MISSION: STEM registration site.
    • February 11, 2026
      Water Bottle Rocket patch design due by midnight. Please submit via your account on the MISSION: STEM 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.