Oklahoma legislators to join STEM panel at Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair

Oklahoma legislators to join STEM panel at Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | [email protected]

STEM initiatives and workforce development in focus; event expected to draw hundreds of attendees

The 68th annual Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair will be hosted at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater on Friday, March 27.

This year, several Oklahoma government officials and executives of STEM-related companies will be in attendance.

OSSEF is Oklahoma's premier science, technology, engineering and mathematics research competition for Oklahoma students in grades six through 12. To become eligible to compete in the state science and engineering fair, students must first qualify by competing in their respective regional science and engineering fairs, which are usually open to all interested students.

Registration for OSSEF opened Feb. 1 for students who qualified from their regional fairs. Then, student entrants who have been researching and experimenting during the school year will have a chance to compete in one of 10 science or engineering categories. At the event, students present their research to expert judges.

A student presents their research to Hanchen Huang, dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, at the 2025 Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair.

There are two divisions within OSSEF: a junior division for competitors in grades 6-8 and a senior division for grades 9-12. Senior division students compete with the hopes that their project will be selected to advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair. ISEF is the largest pre-college science competition in the world, and its finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships.

Last year, four students advanced to ISEF from OSSEF, and a total of seven other students qualified for ISEF from their regional fairs to make up Team Oklahoma at the competition, where multiple Oklahoma students received awards. Dr. Rachael Eaton, OSU College of Arts and Sciences research engagement program director and co-director of OSSEF, said it had been the best showing for Team Oklahoma and qualifiers from OSSEF at ISEF in the last several years.

One of the student awardees who advanced from OSSEF last year was Stillwater High School's Alex Kidangathazhe, who placed third in the ISEF grand awards ceremony in the microbiology division. Kidangathazhe then became the only Oklahoman among 300 high school seniors to be named a Top 300 Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math research competition for high school seniors.

Kidangathazhe was selected from an applicant pool of over 2,600 individuals from 826 high schools across 46 states and 16 countries. This achievement earned him a $2,000 award as well as a $2,000 award for his school. Kidangathazhe was mentored throughout his research by Dr. Phurt Harnvoravongchai, an OSU visiting assistant professor in veterinary pathobiology.

Students present their research to expert judges at the 2025 Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair.

"Just like for students interested in sports or music or art, Oklahoma kids who are curious about science and excited about engineering need a way to build skills, grow their confidence and show off what they can do," Eaton said. "Conducting authentic research and competing at OSSEF provides our young people with the chance to develop essential tools and a sense of belonging that will help them grow into the skilled workforce that Oklahoma needs. Supporting OSSEF and STEM-focused young people is a step forward in building a stronger STEM foundation for Oklahoma."

Ed Stokes recognizes the importance of STEM education in the state. The OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology alumnus and CEAT Strategic Advisory Board chairman is putting together a panel discussion on OSSEF day focused on strengthening K-12 education in the state, workforce readiness in STEM fields and innovation across Oklahoma.

Stokes is a 1975 OSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering who had a 40-year career with ConocoPhillips. At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Stokes will take the panelists to view the OSSEF projects and interact with student participants during the OSSEF Open House, which is open to the public from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m.

Featured panelists will include Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell; Secretary of Education Dan Hamil; Rep Nicole Miller; Oklahoma Workforce Commission CEO Kyla Guyette; Katie Altshuler, deputy executive director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy at OSU; and Allyson Carson, executive director of the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association.

"I've had an incredible career as an engineer and mega-project manager with a leading international company. For a boy from a small town in Oklahoma, that journey was only possible because of the engineering education I received at OSU. Now, in retirement, my passion is giving back by helping as many young Oklahomans as possible gain access to the same high-quality STEM education that enabled my success."

OSSEF - along with many other STEM programs, such as Envirothon, Odyssey of the Mind and Science Olympiad - is hosted by the OSU Honors College's K-12 Outreach program. In line with OSU's land-grant mission and strategic plan, the program strives to increase access to diverse educational programming that fosters curiosity, exploration and lifelong learning throughout Oklahoma and beyond.

To learn more about participating in OSSEF and other STEM programs and competitions, please visit the K-12 Outreach website.

Conducting OSSEF would not be possible without more than 100 volunteers, including the more than 175 project-judging volunteers needed annually. If you are interested in serving as an event volunteer or project judge, please visit the judges and volunteers website.

OSSEF also has in-kind partnerships and multiple sponsorship opportunities available, which help showcase the research of all OSSEF students, send Team Oklahoma to international competitions, and support educators in coaching students in STEM research.

For more information on how you can support the next generation of scientists and engineers, please contact Harlie Runner Perry, director of development at the OSU Foundation, at [email protected]or make OSSEF your Orange Passion at the OSU Foundation website.