We proudly announce the participation of 31 students from Paros in the Final Phase of the National STEM Competition 2026, which took place on April 26, 2026, in Athens and brought together nearly 2,000 students from across the country in one of the largest educational robotics and STEM events in Greece.
For the students of a small Cycladic island, participation alone was already a major achievement. Competing on a national stage against teams from large urban centers required months of demanding preparation, continuous training sessions, technical development, teamwork, persistence, and dedication.
Behind every robot, every presentation, and every competition round stood countless hours of exhausting preparation, experimentation, problem-solving, and collaboration.
The participation of these 31 parian students represents far more than a competition presence. It is a strong message that island communities can and must have equal access to knowledge, innovation, emerging technologies, and modern STEM education.
At a time when geographic isolation often creates educational inequalities, the students of Paros proved that talent, determination, and opportunity can bridge distances.
The National STEM Competition became not only an educational experience, but also a living example of how STEM education can empower students from remote island regions, strengthen confidence, cultivate critical thinking, and create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
The emotional intensity, pressure, waiting times, demanding schedules, and highly competitive environment challenged every participating child. Yet these are exactly the experiences that shape resilience, maturity, teamwork, and self-belief.
The students returned not only with distinctions, but with something even more important: the realization that they belong in environments of innovation, research, technology, and high-level educational competition.
The results achieved by the teams of the Paros Innovation Center carry special importance for island communities. They demonstrate that students from the Cyclades can compete successfully at the highest national level when given access to modern educational tools, mentorship, and opportunities.
The success of these teams confirms the importance of investing in STEM education within remote and island regions and reinforces the vision of creating equal educational opportunities for every child, regardless of geography.
The following distinctions were achieved during the competition:
2nd Place — Open Junior High School Category
“Prototype Energy Production Solutions from Human Power to Artificial Intelligence”
Students:
Christina Papanagiotaki
Dimitris Tziotis
Ilias Tziotis
Team:
WattWise Students
The team achieved 2nd Place in the Open Junior High School Category with an innovative project focused on future-oriented energy production solutions.
2nd Place — Elementary School 3athlon Category
Students:
Emmanouil Gemeliaris
Matthaios Stavrianos
Anastasios Skaramagkas
Grigoris Tilkeridis
Team:
STEMathlon Squad Paros
The team achieved 2nd Place in the Elementary School 3athlon Category.
5th Place — Elementary School Soccer 2×2 Educational Robotics Category
Students:
Iasonas Papadopoulos
Theodoros Papanagiotakis
Team:
Quantum Strikers
The team achieved 5th Place in the Elementary School Soccer 2×2 Educational Robotics Category.
From Paros to the national stage, these students proved that innovation, creativity, and excellence have no geographic limits.
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