Regional students recognized as Finalists at the 2026 Regeneron ISEF

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Society for Science announced the winners of the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), featuring more than 1,700 young scientists representing over 60 countries, regions, and territories. The prestigious international competition was held May 9–15 in Phoenix, AZ, and we had many from our region who can be considered among the world’s top young scientific researchers. 

A few Highlights:

Washington-Liberty sophomores Margaret Saperstein and Orgil Soronzonbold were first in their category, and H-B Woodlawn junior Janak Vasisht, was also a recognized finalist from Arlington.

Nine students from Fairfax County Public Schools won awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that took place last week in Phoenix, Ariz.  

Winners of category awards included:

High School National Finalists representing Invention Virginia / Invention DC

 

Five high school teams (14 inventors total) have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

Invention Virginia / Invention DC - Middle School National Finalists

 

Five middle school inventors have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

Invention Virginia / Invention DC - Elementary School National Finalists

Eight elementary inventors have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

Ecosystem support for Arlington Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College, and Virginia Tech

The Virginia Department of Education STEM leaders recognized the collaboration between the Career, Technical and Adult Education Office of Arlington Public Schools, the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, and Virginia Tech's, D.C. area Technical Education and Workforce Development programs with 2026 support for efforts to promote innovate STEM opportunities for all students.

Arlington Career Center Culinary students receive top honors

Arlington Career Center students competed at the Virginia ProStart Competition and brought home top honors, with first-place finishes for Alena Zabler and Ximena Puican Vela.

Their hard work, talent and professionalism on the competition floor made the entire APS community proud.

Volunteers needed: Regional Invention Virginia / Invention DC Expo - April 18 - Alexandria

A few hours can make a lasting impact! 

Join us on April 18 at the Invention Virginia NoVA Regional Expo and be a part of a student inventor's journey!

Sign-up here:
https://lnkd.in/ex-HVs3q  

March 31 USPTO online workshop - File a Patent Application without an Attorney

SOaR presents: Learn the three-step approach to filing a patent application without an attorney

United States Patent and Trademark Office -  03/24/2026 03:01 PM EDT

View it as a Web page. Patent Alert   Learn the three-step approach to filing a patent application without an attorney Are you interested in filing a patent application without assistance from a registered patent attorney or agent? If so, join our next Stakeholder Offerings and Resources (SOaR) session on Tuesday, March 31, from 1–2 p.m. ET. Sheree Brown, a patent examiner who is an expert on the application process, will discuss the three-step approach to filing a patent application without an attorney or agent (known formally as a pro se application).  Topics we will cover include: Understanding the different types of patents Filing provisional versus nonprovisional applications Researching related, pre-existing inventions Registering as an e-filer Completing the required forms, including disclosures SOaR training events are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. After you register, we will email you instructions to join the webinar. For more information about SOaR training events, email SOaR@uspto.gov. Captioning services will be provided. Register today Stay connected with the USPTO by subscribing to regular email updates. Visit our subscription center at www.uspto.gov/subscribe to update or change your email preferences.

Mark your calendars - April 18 Regional K-12 Inventors Expo

 This is your opportunity to connect with brilliant K–12 student inventors as they showcase their prototypes and share the stories behind their invention journeys.  

As a community or industry professional, you can:

🔹 Mentor students and provide meaningful, supportive feedback
🔹 Guide aspiring inventors on next steps (state competitions, patents, and beyond)
🔹 Share real-world insights into your industry’s innovation process
🔹 Bring a hands-on activity to inspire future inventors
Your involvement directly fuels creativity, confidence, and experiential learning in our community. The encouragement you give could be the spark that launches the next great innovator.
Learn more and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eavTpx8R

Northern Virginia Young Inventors Event - Saturday April 18 - Potomac Yard Metro

 Participate in Invention Virginia's April 18 Northern Virginia Expo as either an Inventor or as a Industry or Community Professional - www.InventionVirginia.net or www.InventionDC.net.  

Saturday, April 18 | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM  

No costs for Inventors or Families or Community and Industry Professionals.

We’re looking for industry professionals to:
🔹 Encourage and mentor student inventors
🔹 Share real-world insights on innovation
🔹 Provide supportive feedback on their ideas

New After-School Resources for Coding in North Arliington

 reposted from ARLnow:

Code Ninjas programming ‘dojo’ planned at Lee Harrison Shopping Center

By Jared Serre, February 26, 2026  

A kid-focused coding academy is in the works at the Lee Harrison Shopping Center, and it’s already enrolling families. Code Ninjas, a programming “dojo” teaching skills like building video games and debugging code, has filed permits to take over a 900-square-foot space on the shopping center’s lower level at 2449 N. Harrison Street. The school plans to open in June, according to its Instagram page.

“At Code Ninjas Arlington, kids don’t just learn how to code — they build games, solve real-world challenges, strengthen critical thinking skills, and gain the confidence to create the future,” wrote the company, which has over 400 locations, including spots in Alexandria and Fairfax County.

See more photos and comments at ARLnow.

Proposed FCPS Academic and Career Pathways for Skyview HS

 Fairfax County Public Schools has shared potential academic and career-focused pathways as part of its comprehensive academic plans, and STEM-focused advocates will not be disappointed.

from https://www.fcps.edu/skyview :

Potential Academic and Career Pathways

The career pathways and courses below are being recommended for the new high school. While some of these courses are still in development, we are excited to offer unique pathways which will lead to high demand industry credentials and exciting postsecondary opportunities. While the course sequences are recommended for each pathway, students are welcome to move in and out of pathways, as appropriate, based on their interests. 

*Please note that pathway and course information is subject to change.

Click "Read more" below to see the list of courses.

Recruiting Industry professionals supporting young inventors - Saturday, April 18. 9am

Visit InventionVirginia.net to learn more and volunteer: 

Arlington Career Center Updates Coming Soon

Largely due to parents' misunderstanding or misconceptions of  the relationship between Arlington Tech and the school system's broader Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, school officials are again reconsidering how the new Grace Hopper building housing Arlington Tech and the Career Center programs will be used.  This comes at a time when nearly all STEM education funding and state and federal priorities are explicitly connected to developing the future technical workforce.

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Amid controversy, School Board delays programming decisions at new Career Center space

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

Arlington Tech Robotics club adviser Steve Nystrom, works with students on projects (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

School Board members are giving themselves extra time before making final decisions on rearranging the locations of some non-traditional secondary programs.

Rather than being taken up the first week of February, as would be the typical cycle following its Jan. 22 presentation as an information item, final discussion and vote will be taken two weeks later.

The delay will allow for more community engagement, School Board Chair Bethany Zecher Sutton said at the meeting.

Waiting until the Feb. 19 meeting for final action will “give us four weeks to continue to hear from the community, engage with staff and make sure we have done all of our homework,” Zecher Sutton said.