Virginia Region 5 STEM Ecosystem Summit

September 21, 2026 | JMU Festival Conference Center

About the Summit

The Region 5 STEM Ecosystem Summit is a one-day event designed to bring together educators, business and industry leaders, workforce partners, higher education, informal STEM providers, community organizations, and students to strengthen STEM education and workforce development across our region.

Through inspiring presentations and collaborative discussions, participants will build connections, share ideas, and identify priorities that will guide the future work of the Region 5 STEM Ecosystem.

Who Should Attend

This event is open to STEM stakeholders across Region 5, including:

K-12 educators and administrators
Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders
Higher education faculty and staff
Business and industry representatives
Workforce development professionals
Informal and out-of-school STEM education providers
Community organizations and nonprofit partners
Government and economic development representatives

Student nomination:

Anyone who works with students may nominate a high school student to attend. Nominees do not need to be top academic performers; instead, they should demonstrate potential, curiosity, and a desire to grow. School divisions may nominate up to two students who would benefit from connecting with STEM leaders, collaborating with peers from across the region, and exploring opportunities to develop their interests and skills.

What to Expect

Morning: plant the seeds

Hear from regional leaders through a series of engaging TED Talk-style presentations highlighting innovative STEM programs, successful partnerships, workforce initiatives, and promising practices from across Region 5.

Featured Presenter:

Virginia Workforce Development
STEM Business and Industry
K–12 STEM Education
Informal STEM Education
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Out-of-School Learning

Afternoon: build the system

Participants will join facilitated breakout sessions to explore themes including:

Access and Equity
Partnership Infrastructure
Teacher Capacity
Student Pathways
Communication and Resource Sharing
Data for Continuous Improvement

High school students will participate in their own breakout group and later join alongside regional leaders, ensuring student perspectives help inform future initiatives.

Event Details

Date: Monday, September 21, 2026

Location: JMU Festival Conference Center. 1301 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Time: 9am to 3:30pm

Cost: Free!!

Registration

Registration is required to attend and due to limited space you may receive a confirmation email at a later date.

Students must be nominated and selected students will be notified.

If you want to sponsor us

Support the next generation of STEM talent by sponsoring the Region 5 STEM Summit. We are seeking Gold Sponsors to help make this impactful event possible. Sponsors receive prominent recognition throughout the event, an opportunity to share industry insights with attendees through a featured presentation, and exhibit space to showcase their organization, career pathways, and workforce opportunities. If your organization is interested in partnering with us, please email us to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can get involved.