The 16^th annual STEM Trifecta Challenge welcomed about 800 VBCPS students to the Virginia Beach Convention Center on May 14.

The all-day event – organized by the office of technical and career education (TCE) – provided students with hands-on educational challenges in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr.  spoke at the opening ceremony and commended participants for exploring creativity and new technologies.

“Take advantage of this opportunity,” he told them. “You are all going to be winners!”

Bayside Elementary fifth grader Mason May was selected to assist with the event’s ribbon cutting to officially begin the competition.

Mason said he was “excited, nervous, and happy” to help the school superintendent onstage.

His team, the “Neo Alpha Wolves,” were ready to put their robot to the test, he said.

Teams from 49 schools competed in robotics, maker and cybersecurity challenges.

A career fair was added this year. TCE Director Dr. Sara Lockett said the purpose was to expose students to a wide variety of job opportunities in STEM fields and the maritime industry that is vital to the region.

Students met and interacted with industry representatives when not competing and could win prizes by getting their passports stamped at each stop.

First, second and third place awards were presented at the end of the day for each challenge in the elementary, middle and high school levels.

2025 STEM Trifecta winners:

Cyber

High School:

1^st Goobers v2.0, ATC

2^nd rm-rf/, Kempsville High

3^rd 5 Count Nuggets, ATC

Middle School:

1^st MouseGate, Princess Anne Middle

2^nd Tech Titans, Corporate Landing Middle

3^rd DJ Formaldehyde, Lynnhaven Middle

Elementary School:

1^st SpheroBots, King’s Grant Elementary

2^nd The Code Crackers, Creeds Elementary

3^rd Digital Ducklings, Shelton Park Elementary

Robotics

High School:

1^st Infamous, First Colonial High

2^nd Tech Center, TC

3^rd Mechanical Princesses, Princess Anne High

Middle Schools:

1^st Team Twinkle, Salem Middle

2^nd Artificial Unintelligence, Corporate Landing Middle

3^rd Glamgineers, Salem Middle

Elementary:

1^st The Destroyers, Kings Grant Elementary

2^nd Monsieur Rabot, Ocean Lakes Elementary

3^rd Big Brain Minions, Kingston Elementary

Maker

High Schools:

1^st Kevin Jiang, Ocean Lakes High

2^nd Carson Fitch, Kempsville High

3^rd Trent Sutryk, Kempsville High

Middle:

1^st Maxwell Jordan, Salem Middle

2^nd Makaila Fleming, Salem Middle

3^rd Laurelai Roznowski, Salem Middle

Elementary

1^st Electric Dino Nuggets, Three Oaks Elementary

2^nd Wind Howlers, Three Oaks Elementary

3^rd Bettie F. Williams #1, Bettie F. Williams Elementary