NEW YORK (Press Release) — EXPLR announces the 55 students whose outstanding performance in the National STEM Challenge has earned them the title of National STEM Champions. Among them is local student, Lya Kim, from Saipan International School, who will be recognized at the third annual National STEM Festival Powered by EXPLR in Washington, D.C., June 24-27, 2026.
Each National STEM Champion, along with a guardian, will receive an expense-paid trip including travel and lodging. At the Festival, Champions will showcase their innovations to leaders across business, government, and academia, as well as to the public during the free Build Day expo.
With an acceptance rate of less than 5%, the National STEM Festival is one of the most competitive early talent platforms in the world. The 2026 cohort represents students from 47 states and four U.S. territories, developing solutions that span critical areas such as healthcare, energy, and emerging technologies.
During the National STEM Festival, students will showcase their projects to top government and corporate leaders, as well as network with other exceptional students from around the country.
“The 2026 Champions have raised the bar for what we thought was possible at this level. They’re already building the technologies, cures, and systems America needs,” said Jenny Buccos, Founder & CEO of EXPLR and Co-Director of the National STEM Festival. “The National STEM Festival exists to ensure those with the power to amplify their work know exactly where to look.”
About Lya Kim’s project
“My project originally established magnetopriming as a breakthrough for space agriculture by significantly enhancing the germination and radicle orientation and growth of sugar snap peas in microgravity. I am now extending this research through a Phase II study on local Saipan plants to test the technology’s medicinal and ‘pioneer plant’ applications for long-term space missions; specifically, the focus is on Vigna marina (Beach beans) as a stress-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing ‘pioneer plant’ and Morinda citrifolia (Noni) for its ability to reduce DNA adducts via antioxidant scavenging 2.8 times more powerful than Vitamin C.”
About EXPLR
EXPLR builds the future-ready talent pipeline by connecting curiosity to career. Students aged 13-19 engage in real-world, career-connected learning through digital content, industry-validated credentials, and live events. The ecosystem includes the National STEM Festival, EXPLR Edge digital credentials, and programs that enable employers to discover, connect with, and invest in emerging talent. Visit EXPLR.com/.
