U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hosts Student STEM Competition

Annual event during National Engineers Week aims to inspire future engineers

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District will host its annual STEM competition for students across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho during National Engineers Week, scheduled for Feb. 23–27, 2026. The featured activity is the 'Paper Tower' challenge, where student teams will compete to build the tallest paper structure capable of supporting a two-pound weight.

Why it matters

The outreach effort is part of the Corps' broader commitment to strengthening the future STEM workforce by investing in students and fostering interest in engineering careers. The hands-on project is designed to connect classroom concepts with real-world engineering applications and encourage collaborative problem-solving.

The details

The weeklong event will bring Corps professionals into direct contact with students to share their career experiences and highlight opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The 'Paper Tower' challenge is meant to show students that engineering is about solving real problems that affect real people, like protecting communities from floods, keeping rivers open for navigation and commerce, and helping produce clean, renewable energy.

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District's STEM competition will take place during National Engineers Week, scheduled for Feb. 23–27, 2026.

The players

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District

A district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that serves Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and is hosting the annual STEM competition for students.

Lt. Col. Katie Werback

The commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District.

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What they’re saying

“Engineering is about solving real problems that affect real people, like protecting communities from floods, keeping rivers open for navigation and commerce, and helping produce clean, renewable energy.”

— Lt. Col. Katie Werback, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District (dailyfly.com)

“Students do not need to be 'perfect at math' to pursue engineering, encouraging those who enjoy building, problem-solving, or understanding how things work to consider the field.”

— Lt. Col. Katie Werback, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

More information about the district's National Engineers Week activities is available on the Walla Walla District website.

The takeaway

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is actively working to inspire the next generation of engineers by hosting hands-on STEM competitions for students, showcasing the real-world impact of engineering and encouraging those with a passion for problem-solving to consider the field.