STEAM Olympics Draws Hundreds of Students to Bloomington

Annual event showcases young learners' skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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More than 260 students from across central Illinois and beyond participated in the third annual STEAM Olympics at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. The growing event, organized by the non-profit For a Better Tomorrow, featured a variety of academic and creative challenges for students from first through 12th grade.

Why it matters

The STEAM Olympics aims to bring more STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) opportunities to the local community, inspiring students and showcasing their talents in these critical fields.

The details

The competition transformed IWU classrooms into zones where students could present their projects, share ideas with judges, and demonstrate their hard work. Participants came from as far as Dallas to take part in the event, which included both individual and team challenges across multiple academic disciplines.

  • The third annual STEAM Olympics took place on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

For a Better Tomorrow

A non-profit organization that collaborated with Illinois Wesleyan University to host the STEAM Olympics.

Sambasivarao Gurijala

An event organizer and president of the For a Better Tomorrow board.

Roman Eckhardt

A third-grade participant who enjoyed the competition and encouraged other students not to be nervous.

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What they’re saying

“The best smiles when they learn collaborating with other kids. I feel the best seeing the smile on their faces.”

— Sambasivarao Gurijala, Event organizer and For a Better Tomorrow board president (25newsnow.com)

“I would say that most of the time you're nervous if you're new. Overall {the competition} is a lot of fun.”

— Roman Eckhardt, Third-grade participant (25newsnow.com)

The takeaway

The STEAM Olympics showcases the growing interest and talent in STEAM fields among young learners in the Bloomington area, highlighting the importance of providing engaging educational opportunities that can inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.