BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Local students ranging from first grade through high school are invited to check out the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics at Illinois Wesleyan during the third annual STEAM Olympics, a multi-day event offering hands-on learning.
The competition will take place on the IWU campus on Feb. 14-15, 2026. Students can engage in various activities, including 3D printing and art workshops, essay writing, science and math tests and a science fair. The event newly includes a speech and debate competition and spelling bee. Registered participants and their families will also have access to optional lab tours on IWU and Illinois State University campuses to witness real-world applications of STEAM fields on Feb. 21, the day of the STEAM Olympics award ceremony.
Illinois Wesleyan’s Vice President of Student Retention, Compliance and Training Dakesa Piña is spearheading the university's partnership with For a Better Tomorrow (FBT), a Bloomington-based organization that promotes social justice by meeting needs in the community through philanthropy and by nurturing future generations of servant leaders.
In the event's first two years, she said, “registrations went from 235 to 574, more than double. Student participants increased from 128 to 250 and IWU’s student scholarship amount increased by 50%, from $5,000 to $7,500.”
“One of the most meaningful aspects of the STEAM Olympics,” Piña said, “is that the event directly raises scholarship funds for IWU students with financial need. The funds support students who might otherwise struggle to remain enrolled or access opportunities.”
“The STEAM Olympics introduces students and families in McLean County and beyond to Illinois Wesleyan University in a fun and high-impact way,” Piña said. “Seeing IWU’s campus, interacting with faculty, staff, student volunteers and experiencing the facilities firsthand help families visualize IWU as accessible, welcoming and relevant to their children's future.”
Piña said IWU’s community relationships are strengthened as the event expands the pipeline of prospective students and reinforces IWU’s commitment to community engagement, educational access and social responsibility.
“The STEAM Olympics becomes a cycle of investment—youth are inspired by IWU, and IWU students receive support through the success of the event,” Piña said.
Interested community members can find more information and register at www.forbettertomorrow.org/steam.