Adalyn Martin, an elementary student from Russell, was named the winner for Pennsylvania-based Reach Cyber Charter School’s 2026 Winter STEM Challenge in the 3-5 Digital Machines category.

Reach Cyber Charter School integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning into all aspects of its curriculum for students across Pennsylvania – inside virtual classrooms, on field trips, during after school activities, and even during winter break. Its annual Winter STEM Challenge allow students to put their skills and creativity to the test in the spirit of competition.

“At Reach Cyber, our mission is to help each student maximize their potential through engaging, real-world learning experiences,” said Jane Swan, CEO of Reach Cyber Charter School. “We are continually inspired by the creativity and innovation our students demonstrate, and the Winter STEM Challenge gives them the opportunity to apply STEM concepts in creative ways while building critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills that will support their success in the future. My congratulations go to this year’s winners who are all talented, bright, and on their way to a future of opportunity.”

For Reach Cyber’s 2026 Winter STEM Challenge, students were instructed to build Rube Goldberg machines, challenging them to design machines that complete a simple task in a complex and creative fashion. They were instructed to identify the problem they want to solve, determine their desired result and work backwards to build the machine, ensuring that the reaction of one event will cause the reaction of the next event.