Happy New Year 2026!

Wishing All a Healthy & Productive Year Ahead

The new year is off to a tremendous start with much to look forward to in STEM! LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH, SUPPORT, VISION and MENTORSHIP are catchwords for 2026 and DFSME is excited to ring in the promise of tomorrow!

DFSME unites Delaware to support classroom teachers who inspire

and prepare today’s students for the workforce of tomorrow.

DFSME has been supporting Delaware's educators and the enhancement of Delaware's education system for 30 years. With our history of advocating for positive changes to improve STEM education for EVERY student in Delaware, we look forward in 2026 to taking it to the next level. We continue to actively look at the business/education interface and finding new working models for teacher support.

Thank you for your immense spirit and courage for continuing to make a difference in the world!

—Randy Guschl, Executive Director

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME)

We hope you enjoy this Edition!

DFSME Helps Future Generations With Your Support

At DFSME, when we envision the future, we see dedicated Delaware STEM Educators, inspiring their students to reach for fulfilling careers that aim to improve our world. DFSME provides STEM educators with the tools they need to make real-world STEM connections with their students and businesses.

Your Generous Donation Helps Support Delaware Educators

to Provide Enriched STEM Experiences for ALL Delaware Students!

We Appreciate Your Support!

DFSME is a 501(c)3 organization. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Early Registration Ends Friday, January 23, 2026

2026 YES! Delaware Youth Environmental Summit

February 20th • 7:30am – 2:30pm

Register early! Register your Team by Friday, January 23rd to be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card. General registration remains open until February 6th. Space is limited! Register today!

YES! is a statewide summit for ALL Delaware high school students with an interest in protecting our Earth. This includes high school students who are residents of Delaware but may attend school outside of Delaware, or any student of a Delaware high school (whether public, parochial or private) or home school in Delaware.

The inaugural YES! event was held in 2020 in Dover, Delaware with more than 270 students representing 17 high schools. Just five years later, the 2025 YES! event was attended by more than 750 students, from more than 40 high schools. Register now to be part of the growing excitement!

Sign Your Team Up Today!

Teams must be coordinated and registered through their teacher/advisor.

Students cannot sign up individually. Each team needs an adult Advisor.

Inspiring STEM Videos to Explore:

Connecting Students from K to Careers

Attention Teachers and Parents! What kind of problems do your students want to solve? Explore career profiles to find out about people who are using the skills they learned in school to become the kind of problem solvers that make a difference in their communities. Help your students make the connection from the classroom to promising careers!

Discover the skills to focus on in order to effectively tackle the problems that matter to you most. Go inside the lives of real STEM professionals to learn how they make important changes happen daily.

To access dozens of free videos from STEM Careers Coalition/Discovery Education that focus on STEM careers in various industries including Education, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Technology, Supply Chain & Transportation, Financial Services and others, click here.

Miss Delaware, Hailey Mack, Wants to Share

STEM Career Initiatives with Your Students

Hailey Mack is a 2024 graduate of Indian River High School and the current Miss Delaware title holder. In September, she competed in the Miss America Pageant in Orlando, Florida.

Through her initiative, Shoot for the Stars, Mack is championing girls and young women to explore STEM careers by visiting schools, science expos and community events throughout the year.

“My goal is to show young women across the state.

When others see that I’m not only an advocate for

women in STEM but also a woman actively pursuing

a STEM degree, they will feel inspired to do the same.”

Ms. Mack has always believed that young women deserve a place in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Now, the University of Delaware civil engineering student is using her Miss Delaware crown to make that vision a reality.

Hailey Mack will be a Speaker at Engineering Your Tomorrow on February 28, 2026.

If you or your school is having an event or workshop that aligns with Hailey’s mission, she is happy to share a great 30 minute presentation about growth mindsets that integrates STEM challenges.Please contact Hailey Mack at hailey.mack062206@gmail.com.

Engineering Your Tomorrow

A STEM Career Day for Girls in Grades 6-8

Saturday, February 28th • 9:30am – 3:30pm

Engineering Your Tomorrow (EYT) is a free program for middle school girls who will have the opportunity to participate in a fun-filled day of hands-on lab activities. They will discover how STEM impacts the world while also encouraging and growing their enthusiasm for learning.

At EYT, middle school girls will spend the day with scientists and engineers testing scientific hypotheses and exploring STEM careers. The girls and their parents/caregivers will experience how exciting engineering and science can be!

This event will be held at Conrad Schools of Science from 9:30am-3:30pm and will include workshops and demonstrations, as well as panels and information sessions for parents and caregivers.

Lunch is provided. Registration is FREE thanks to our generous Sponsors:

Engineering Your Tomorrow is presented by Million Women Mentors – Delaware.

Sponsored by Incyte, Artesian, DFSME, & Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids

January's Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM Honoree

Maxine Taylor, Rapid Customer Sampling Group Leader at Qnity, has dedicated her career to mentoring and empowering women in engineering. While in her previous role at DuPont, she established and led a co-op and internship program for early-career engineers and chaired their Women’s Network. Beyond the company, Maxine mentors aspiring high school and college engineers in both academic and professional settings.



Million Women Mentors is the premier network dedicated to encouraging girls and women around the world to pursue, persist and thrive in STEM careers. The Delaware STEM Council and DFSME are partners in the event along with MWM-DE and the Office of the Governor, State of Delaware.

2026 Delaware Outstanding Women in STEM

Call for Nominations!

Please nominate a mentor, colleague or other notable female scientist, researcher, technologist, or engineer for recognition by Million Women Mentors - Delaware. Nominees should have ties to Delaware by birth, education or career, and may be living or deceased. 

Up to ten honorees will be selected for recognition during the

6th Annual Celebration of Delaware Women & Girls in STEM Day
in March 2026 at Legislative Hall in Dover.

For questions, please email mwm.dfsme@gmail.com.

Announcing the 2026 Delaware Science Olympiad Tournaments!

Delaware Science Olympiad inspires students to achieve the next level in their science education through exciting and challenging competitions.

The 2026 Delaware Tournaments are:

                       High School - March 7 - (venue not finalized)

                       Junior High - March 21 - (venue not finalized)

                       Elementary - April 18 - The John Dickinson School, 1801 Milltown Rd, Wilm., DE 19808

The Elementary Tournament has 10 events encompassing various areas of science. The High School and Junior High Tournaments each consist of 23 National Science Olympiad events and an additional

Delaware event in the following areas:

• Life, Personal & Social Science
•  Earth & Space Science                      
•  Physical Science & Chemistry
• Technology & Engineering Design
• Inquiry & Nature of Science

For the 2026 National Event Rules for high school and junior high, click here.

For team registration and fees, click here.

To download the flyer with details and more information, click here.

To volunteer, send an email to: DEScienceO@gmail.com.

For more information, visit: Delaware Science Olympiad and National Science Olympiad.

Artemis II Flight Will Launch Astronauts Around the Moon

for the First Time in 50 Years!

The clock is running! NASA is targeting Feb. 6, 2026 between 9:41pm - 11:41pm ET for launch of Artemis II from historic LC-39B at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida!

Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. 

The 10-day flight will help confirm systems and hardware needed for early human lunar exploration missions. From this unique vantage point and environment, the Artemis II crew will work with scientists on Earth to facilitate science investigations to inform future human spaceflight missions.

Follow us for the Latest Artemis II Updates!

#ArtemisII   #WeAreGoingBack   #Moon

#Orion #SLS #NASA #CSA

February 28, 2026 • 9:30am-3:30pm

Engineering Your Tomorrow

FREE STEM Career Day for Middle School Girls

Girls in grades 6-8 will spend the day with scientists

and engineers exploring STEM careers through fun, hands-on lab activities!

Parents/caregivers/teachers are encouraged to attend sessions

to help guide girls in making choices that will prepare them for

higher education and careers in STEM fields.

Registration is FREE thanks to our generous sponsors. Lunch will be provided.

Conrad Schools of Science, Wilmington, DE.

To register, click here.

……………………………………………………………

March 6, 2026

2026 Sussex County Science Fair

The science fair provides an opportunity for students in grades 6-12 to

present their original research in science, mathematics, or engineering.

Any student in Sussex & lower Kent Counties is welcome. Sponsors need not be teachers;

any responsible adult qualifies. Students in New Castle and upper Kent Counties

should contact the Stanton Campus of Del Tech for their Science Fair.

Owens Campus of Delaware Technical and Community College

For more information, click here.

……………………………………………………………

2026 Tournaments - March 7, March 21, April 18

2026 Delaware Science Olympiad

Delaware Science Olympiad inspires students to achieve the next level

in their science education through exciting and challenging competitions.

To download the flyer about the 2026 Tournaments, event areas, registration,

volunteer opportunities and more, click here.

To visit the Delaware Science Olympiad website, click here.

……………………………………………………………

March 11, 2026

2026 New Castle County Science Fair

New Castle County students in grades 6-12 are eligible

to participate in this challenging yet rewarding experience.

Participants can submit an individual or team project (up to three persons).

Students compete at their level and will be judged by a diverse panel of experts.

Judges will evaluate the projects and may question students

about how they arrived at their scientific conclusions.

Delaware Technical Community College, 400 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark, DE 19713

For more information, click here.

……………………………………………………………

March 22 - 27

National STEM Week 2026

National STEM Week 2026 is a ten-day celebration of science, technology,

engineering, and math. Join in with a vibrant lineup of events hosted by museums,

 libraries, and top STEM organizations nationwide.

From hands-on activities to interactive workshops and inspiring talks,

each FREE event is crafted to ignite curiosity and inspire learners of all ages.

Whether you're engaging in your local community or from home,

dive into a world of STEM discovery and innovation!

To explore National STEM Week Act, click here.

 ……………………………………………………………

March 24

Delaware Women & Girls in STEM Day

Established in 2021 by the State of Delaware Governor’s Office and

hosted in collaboration with Million Women Mentors and Delaware STEM Council.

More information to follow.

DFSME thanks the following organizations for contributions to STEM education in Delaware.

STEM Legacy

DuPont | LabWare

STEM Heritage

Ashland

STEM Sustainer

Bloom Energy | Mountaire Farms | Verizon

STEM Network

Croda | Delmarva Power | Walmart



STEM Business

Agilent Technologies | American Chemical Society Delaware Section

Autumn Arch | Chesapeake Utilities | Incyte

STEM Gifts in Kind

ChristianaCare | Corteva Agriscience | DelawareBio

Delaware Design Company | Delaware Nature Society | Delaware Technical Community College

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | EDiS

Junior Achievement | STEMconnector | Stroud Water Research Center | Whisman Giordano & Associates

Community Partners

Career and Technical Education Cadre | Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation

Delaware Afterschool Network | Delaware Department of Education | Delaware Math Coalition

Delaware Pathways | Delaware Science Coalition | Delaware STEM Council

Goldey-Beacom College | Healthy Food for Healthy Kids | Million Women Mentors

Northrop Grumman | University of Delaware



Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

100 W. 10th Street, Suite 612 

Wilmington, DE 19801 

Tel: 302.397.0034 | Fax: 302.397.0036 

Email: info@dfsme.org

www.dfsme.org

©2025 Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

501(c)(3) Education nonprofit dealing with K-16 STEM education in Delaware schools.