On May 20, Arizona Chief Science Officers (CSOs) gathered at Glendale Community College for the 2026 STEMMYS Showcase to celebrate student leadership, innovation, and impact. As members of the Arizona Leadership Council, we spent the 2025–2026 school year planning the showcase to provide students with an opportunity to present the Action Plans they developed to strengthen STEM in their schools and communities.
While every project was unique, they all shared a common purpose: inspiring greater youth participation in STEM, regardless of age, background, or ability.
Planning the showcase was an exciting and rewarding challenge. We worked together to select the venue and date, develop the event schedule, promote the event, and coordinate with students, advisors, and partners. Along the way, we learned the importance of communication, organization, and teamwork. Like any large event, we faced challenges, including coordinating busy schedules, adapting to last-minute changes, and balancing planning responsibilities with school and other commitments. But by supporting one another, we successfully brought our vision to life.
Seeing the event come together on May 20 made all of our hard work worthwhile. We had the opportunity to watch fellow Arizona CSOs present their incredible Action Plans, which showcased the creativity, passion, and dedication of student leaders across the state. From demonstrations featuring a Van de Graaff generator to student-designed coded games and many other innovative projects, every presentation reflected a commitment to making STEM more engaging and accessible in schools and communities.
For us, putting on the STEMMYS Showcase was a powerful reminder of the impact young leaders can have. Watching our fellow CSOs share their ideas, celebrate one another’s accomplishments, and be recognized for their hard work reinforced the value of student voice and service. Because the showcase was largely student-led and student-planned, it demonstrated what is possible when students are empowered to take the lead.
We hope the STEMMYS Showcase inspires even more students to pursue STEM, develop solutions to challenges in their communities, and create new opportunities for others. We are proud to have helped bring this event to life and celebrate the incredible work of Arizona’s Chief Science Officers. We hope the experience motivated others to continue expanding STEM opportunities in their own communities as well as beyond.
— The Arizona Leadership Council
