Ohio Academy honors 77 schools and 1,249 teachers for STEM excellence

The Ohio Academy of Science selected 77 Ohio schools and 1,249 teachers for the Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research for the 2025-2026 school year. The awards recognize schools that expand student research and science opportunities beyond the classroom, with support from the Ohio Department of Development.

Why it matters: - The awards recognize Ohio schools and teachers that expand hands-on STEM learning and student research beyond traditional classroom instruction. - The program is designed to encourage scientific inquiry, technological design, and student problem-solving across PK-12 education. - The awards also connect STEM education to workforce development by supporting skills tied to innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking.

What happened: - The Ohio Academy of Science selected 77 Ohio schools and 1,249 teachers for the Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research. - The awards cover accomplishments during the 2025-2026 school year. - Each school will receive a Governor’s Award certificate. - Each teacher will receive a complementary membership to The Ohio Academy of Science. - The Office of Technology Investments at the Ohio Department of Development funded the program.

The details: - To qualify, a school must conduct a local science fair with 12 or more students and send at least two students to Regional Science Day, or have six or more students participate in Regional Science Day when no local fair is held. - Students must also participate in at least one additional youth science opportunity beyond the classroom. - The Ohio Academy of Science defines STEM education as the mastery and integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for all PK-12 students. - The academy says the program uses student-focused, project-based curricula to build communication, teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. - The Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards were first established in 1985. - The awards honor Ohio schools and teachers that stimulate student research and technological design and extend experiential learning beyond regular classes. - The Ohio Academy of Science is a membership-based, volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization founded in 1891. - The academy says it is Ohio’s leading organization for fostering curiosity, discovery, innovation, and problem-solving skills. - OAS programs support STEM research among pre-college and college students through the professional scientific community. - More information is available on the Ohio Academy of Science website.

Between the lines: - The awards highlight how Ohio is using recognition programs to push schools toward broader STEM participation, not just classroom performance. - The emphasis on science fairs and regional competition suggests the state values student research pipelines that can scale into higher-level STEM opportunities. - State development officials framed the awards as part of Ohio’s long-term economic strategy, linking classroom STEM work to future jobs and innovation. - Michael E. Woytek said the academy is proud to honor schools and teachers preparing students for the future, and said science drives economic growth by fostering innovation, creating new industries, and generating high-skilled jobs. - Lydia Mihalik said today’s classrooms are laying the groundwork for Ohio’s future economic success and praised educators for shaping problem-solvers and visionaries.

What's next: - Schools and teachers selected for the award will receive their certificates and memberships. - The program will continue to incentivize local science fairs, Regional Science Day participation, and other student science experiences beyond the classroom. - The awards remain part of a broader partnership between the Ohio Academy of Science and the Ohio Department of Development.

The bottom line: - Ohio is rewarding STEM programs that move students from classroom learning into hands-on research and competition, with a direct tie to the state’s future workforce needs.