Challenge Locations - CEF in STEM

During the Regional Challenge, teams (3-4 students) work together to answer timed multiple-choice and short-answer questions. If you are interested in participating in-person and have questions, please find the contact information for your Regional Challenge Organizer below.

2026 Locations will continue to be updated throughout the Fall Semester as Challenge Organizers are finalizing their details.

Illinois

Des Plaines

Northwest Chicago Suburbs Regional Challenge
Presented by – Honeywell/UOP
Tentative: Mid February
Location: Oakton Community College
Challenge Organizer: Raelynn Miller – raelynn.miller@honeywell.com

Palos Hills

South Cook County Regional Challenge
Hosted by: Palos-Orland Area Branch AAUW, Chicago Drug & Chemical Association
March 2nd, 2026 @ 5 pm
Location: Moraine Business and Conference Center, Building M
9000 W. College Parkway
Palos Hills, IL 60465
Challenge Organizer: Mary Schoenheider – mathkatt@sbcglobal.net

Indiana

Indianapolis

Indianapolis Regional Challenge
Presented by – Corteva Agriscience
Challenge Organizer: Ashley Dreesen – ashley.dreesen@corteva.com

Louisiana

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Louisiana State University
Tentatively: February 21 or 28
Location: Louisiana State University
Challenge Organizer: Victor Garcia-Lopez – vglopez@lsu.edu

Hammond

Tangipahoa Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Southeastern Louisiana University and Tangipahoa Schools
Tentative: February 13, 2026
Challenge Organizer: Glenda Husser – glenda.husser@tangischools.org

Ruston

You Be the Solution Challenge @ Louisiana Tech University
Hosted by – SCILS Region 8 LASTEM Center
January 30, 2026 | 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Location : Louisiana Tech University – University Hall Lobby
Ruston, LA 71272
Challenge Organizer: Cathi Cox-Boniol – ccb91110@gmail.com

Shreveport-Bossier

Region 7 LASTEM Center Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Bossier Parish Community College/Region 7 LASTEM Center
Challenge Organizer: Heather Kleiner – hkleiner@bpcc.edu

Massachusetts

Boston

Massachusetts Regional Challenge
Hosted by – AIChE, Koch Institute
Challenge Organizer: Hugh McLaughlin – hsmclaughlin@verizon.net

Michigan

Adrian

Lenawee Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Lenawee ISD in conjunction with Lenawee Chemical Collaborative
February 17, 2026
Challenge Organizer: Jackie Murray – jackie.murray@lisd.us

Detroit

Detroit Regional Challenge
Presented by – PVS Nolwood Chemicals Inc.
Challenge Organizer: Taylor Cichoski – tcichoski@pvschemicals.com

Midland

Great Lakes Bay Regional Challenge
Presented by – Dow Chemical, Corteva, DuPont, and Hemlock Semiconductor
Challenge Organizer: Junying Liu – junying.liu@dow.com

Monroe

Monroe County Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Monroe County ISD
February 26, 2026 @ 9 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Monroe County Intermediate School District – River Raisin Rooms 1-4
1101 S Raisinville Rd
Monroe, MI 48161
Challenge Organizer: Nicole Belair – nicole.belair@monroeisd.us

Mississippi

Meridian

East Mississippi Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Meridian Community College
February 6, 2025 @ 8:00 am
Location: Meridian Community College Dulaney Room – Webb Hall
910 Highway 19 North
Meridian, MS 39307
Challenge Organizer: Chandler Chance – cchance@meridiancc.edu

Missouri

St. Louis

St. Louis Regional Challenge
Presented by – Brenntag
Challenge Organizer: Tim Heidenry – Tim.Heidenry@brenntag.com

New Jersey

Rahway

New Jersey Regional Challenge
Presented by – BASF
Tentative: February 21, 2026 @ 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Rahway Recreation Center
275 E Milton Ave
Rahway, NJ 07065
Challenge Organizer: Shantel Johnson – shantel.johnson@basf.com

North Carolina

Charlotte

Charlotte Regional Challenge
Presented by – BASF
Challenge Organizer: Stephanie Carouthers – stephanie.carouthers@basf.com

Ohio

Akron and Cleveland

Akron and Cleveland Regional Challenge
Presented by – Akrochem Corporation
Challenge Organizer: Renee Horvatich – reneehorvatich@akrochem.com

Pennsylvania

Collegeville

Broader Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Regional Challenge
Presented by – The Dow Chemical Company
Challenge Organizer: Kirsten Bell – kbell6@dow.com

Ephrata

Ephrata Regional Challenge
Presented by – Brenntag
Challenge Organizer: Bryan Page – bryanrpage91@gmail.com

Reading

Berks County Regional Challenge
Presented by – Brenntag
Challenge Organizer: Bryan Page – bryanrpage91@gmail.com

Tennessee

Cleveland

Southeast TN Regional Challenge
Hosted by – Bradley County Schools
Tentative: February 20, 2026
Location: PIE Innovation Center
2215 Parker St NE
Cleveland, TN 37311
Challenge Organizer: Arlette Robinson – arobinson@bradleyschools.org

Texas

Dallas

Dallas Regional Challenge
Presented by – Brenntag North America
Challenge Organizer: Amanda Stevens – amanda.stevens@brenntag.com

Southeast Houston

Southeast Houston Regional Challenge
Presented by – LyondellBasell
Tentative: February 28, 2026 @ 10 am
Location: LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical Energy and Technology – Suite 300
7901 W. Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77507
Challenge Organizer: Alex Angelina – alex.angelina@lyondellbasell.com

West Virginia

Institute

West Virginia Regional Challenge
Hosted by – West Virginia State University
Location: West Virginia State University
Challenge Organizer: Dr. Eyas Mahmoud – eyas.mahmoud@wvstateu.edu