New Mexico Governor's STEM Challenge
Recognizing achievement and developing potential in New Mexico's diverse student population by exploring how STEM careers can address local, state, and global challenges.
Save the Date: February 7, 2026, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., New Mexico Highlands University
Our Story
The New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge is a unique partnership between the public and private sectors that fosters the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators from our state. Started in 2019 by then-Secretary Bill McCamley of the Department of Workforce Solutions, the Challenge was created to be both a competition and a collaboration between students, schools, government, and business and industry. These participants have been brought together by the LANL Foundation, which has overseen the Challenge since its inception.
When students participate in the Challenge, they are not only vying for monetary prizes, but they are given the valuable opportunity to meet with potential employers in their field. The teachers who lead the teams are supported by the New Mexico Public Education Department with stipends and paired with expert mentors. Meanwhile, corporate sponsors of the Challenge are exposed to the talented future workforce of our state and use the opportunity to advise and recruit STEM students. Past sponsors include Anchorum St. Vincent, Deloitte, Exxon Mobil, the Form Foundation, Honeywell, Intel, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lovelace Health System, Meta, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Pattern Energy, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Sandia National Laboratories, and Virgin Galactic.
Whether you are student, an educator, an employer, or just interested in STEM, come join us at the New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge!
2026 Challenge Question
"As natural disasters continue to affect New Mexico (e.g. wildfires, floods, drought, heat waves, dust/windstorms, etc.), how can innovations in STEM help your community predict disaster, mitigate harm, respond effectively, and/or recover long term?”
"Applying science, engineering, and technology to make the world safer is something we do every day, so this is a challenge that really resonates with us"
- Los Alamos National Laboratory Director, Thom Mason
Past Participants & Winners
- October 1, 2025 - Final Deadline for Team Registration
- TBD - Teacher Professional Development
- January 9, 2026 - Final Deadline to Submit Written Proposals
- January 12, 2026 - Written Proposals Shared with Judges
- TBD - Travel Funds Disbursed to Teams
- January 23, 2026 - Final Deadline for Judges to Submit Scoring
- January 26, 2026 - Written Proposal Scores Shared with Teams
- February 6, 2026 - Mixer for Industry Partners and Teams
- February 7, 2026 - Showcase Day at NM Highlands University (Las Vegas, NM)
