Innovative Student Solutions Shine at the 2026 Future City Competition to Tackle Food Waste

DiscoverE Celebrates Winners of 2026 Future City Competition

On February 18, 2026, DiscoverE, an organization dedicated to promoting engineering education, unveiled the winners of the 2026 Future City global STEM Competition. This year, the competition spotlighted the challenge of creating sustainable cities with a focus on reducing food waste, aptly themed 'Farm to Table'. Students from middle and high schools across the globe participated with ingenuity, teamwork, and engineering skills.

Middle School Highlights

Among the standout projects, Team Alimora from Lionville Middle School in Exton, Pennsylvania, claimed the grand prize in the middle school category, showcasing their innovative approach towards sustainable living and food waste management. Guided by their educator, Guy Raines, and mentor, Daisy Adams, the team was rewarded with $10,000 for their STEM program.

Following closely, Team Agrovena from West Ridge Middle School represented the Texas North region, securing second place and earning $5,000 to enhance their STEM initiatives. The third place accolade went to Team Agrosyne from JerseySTEM, representing New Jersey, who received $2,000 in funding for their educational programs. Rounding out the middle school awards were Team SFAX and Team Mycelia, which both received $750 for their respected contributions.

High School Innovations

In the high school category, Team Concordia from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, emerged as the overall winner, capturing impressive accolades that included a cash prize of $20,000. Each member is eligible for a scholarship of up to $10,000, which can total up to $50,000 for the entire team. Coach Taryna Patel led this ambitious team in their quest to redefine sustainable urban living through extensive research and digital modeling.

Notable mentions in the high school tier include Team New Orleans Joie De Vivre from Fulton Science Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia, awarded $14,000 and scholarships accounting for up to $35,000. Additionally, Team Amuna from Guilderland High School in New York took home $7,000 and scholarships totaling up to $15,000.

Significance of the Future City Program

The Future City Competition has garnered a phenomenal response, engaging over 92,000 students across the U.S. and abroad, marking the largest participation in its history. This initiative has not merely focused on competing, but has fostered critical skills essential for engineering careers. Surveys indicated that 83% of middle school participants now view math and science as crucial for their futures. Furthermore, 92% of educators reported that students learn STEM concepts that go beyond standard curricula, showcasing the program's value in education.

Support for Future City

Support for the Future City initiative has been significant, with key collaborations from various organizations like Bechtel Group Foundation, NCEES, and Bentley Systems Inc. Core sponsorship has come from renowned companies including Shell Energy and RTX, alongside academic institutions contributing to the program’s success.

By preparing students to think critically and creatively about real-world issues, DiscoverE's Future City Competition plays a pivotal role in promoting STEM education and engineering careers. Through competitions like these, young minds are steered towards envisioning a sustainable future.

For a deeper dive into DiscoverE and its programs, you can visit their website at discovere.org.

The 2026 Future City Competition not only celebrated innovative student achievements but also aimed to inspire future generations to tackle pressing global challenges through engineering and collaboration.