Okaloosa and Walton Students Win Big at Regional STEM
Okaloosa and Walton Students Win Big at Regional STEM Staff Reports February 27, 2026 10:13 am Emerald Coast, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education, Walton County In Brief: Who: Students from Okaloosa and Walton counties, Superintendent Marcus Chambers, and professional scientist judges What: 2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair When: Projects presented February 11; awards ceremony February 17, 2026 Where: Northwest Florida Fairgrounds and Beachside Community Church Why: To recognize student innovation, promote STEM excellence, and advance top projects to state competition Students from across the Okaloosa County School District and neighboring Walton County proved that the future of science is already here. Dozens of young innovators gathered on February 11 at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds to present projects at the 2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The competition culminated in an Awards Ceremony on February 17 at Beachside Community Church, where top performers were recognized for their achievements. Professional scientists and engineers volunteered as judges, conducting one-on-one interviews with each student. Beyond scoring projects, judges offered direct feedback and mentorship — giving students real-world exposure to scientific dialogue and methodology. “The quality and innovation of these projects highlight the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “We are proud of all the students who participated and inspired us with their ideas.” Awards were presented across multiple categories, with first-place winners required to meet specific scoring thresholds. State Finalists were selected based on overall scores, ensuring that only the top-performing students advanced to the...
Read More







