The Design & Pitch Challenges in STEM Middle School project, led by NC State College of Education Associate Professors of Mathematics Education Erin Krupa and formerly by Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor Emerita Jere Confrey, has won the 2026 International Society for Technology in Education’ Educators’ Pick Best of STEM Awards in the Best of STEM for CTE Champions: Invention Education category.
Design & Pitch Challenges in STEM are rooted in existing mathematics curricula and encourage middle and high school students to build, test and refine prototype STEM products, design business plans to demonstrate viability and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. 
“This is great news and a testament to a strong long-term collaboration,” Krupa said. “We are excited that the curricular materials we developed continue to be recognized for engaging students in deep mathematics learning, all while having fun developing products that solve real world issues.”
Begun in 2021 with a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation, materials related to Design & Pitch competitions, which are now co-led by Associate Professor Robin Anderson, were previously selected as the first-place winner in the Educator’s Pick for the Social Impact Award: Developing Citizen Scientists category at the 2022 Best of STEM Awards.

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