K'Nex Stem Challenge

The STEM Design Challenge in Pennsylvania is an annual competition for grades 4-8, often featuring K'NEX, where teams design and build solutions to real-world problems.  

The STEM Design Challenge began in 2010 as a competition at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Homestead, PA with 37 teams. Since then, it has grown to a Pennsylvania statewide competition with over 5,000 students competing each year.

Each year, in the fall, students are given a challenge. They have until March/April to design a prototype in response to the challenge. Along with a prototype, the teams will need to create a blueprint, a design notebook, and a presentation.

This program is generously supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific.  

We sponsor at least one team for the 4th-5th grade division annually.  The Oakview teams have had great success over the years qualifying for the state competition many years as well as winning first place in 2024!