STEM Competitions

TAME is looking forward to a return to in-person Divisional STEM Competitions beginning in January 2022. However, we are aware that conditions can change and will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely. The safety of all participants in our events is important to the TAME Team.

TAME students in grades 6 – 12 who are active members of a registered TAME Club and registered by the October 27th deadline can compete in a Divisional Competition.

For information about Divisional Competitions in your area, check your local Chapter.

Students from different TAME Clubs throughout the Chapter meet up to solve problems, connect with their peers, and explore STEM through a variety of activities developed by the TAME State Office and local Chapter leaders.

To participate in TAME activities like Divisional Competitions, you need to be a member of a TAME Club. Our clubs are free and require only six students, an Adult Sponsor, and regular meetings about STEM.

IMPORTANT: To be a TAME Club Member, you need to complete the Student Registration by October 27th. If your TAME Club isn’t listed on the registration form, contact your TAME Club Sponsor to make sure that your TAME Club has been registered.

Once registration has closed, the TAME State Office will contact your Club Sponsor, who will confirm whether your TAME Club will participate in the Divisional STEM Competition.

TAME appreciates the value of hard work and practice in success. To help our students better prepare for our annual STEM Competitions, TAME provides practice tests, past Engineering Design Challenges, Engineering Adventure activities, and advice on competing like a scientist.

If you’d like to practice for the Engineering Design Challenge, TAME’s Blog features Engineering Adventures, and you can visit TAME’s Engineering Activity board on Pinterest for design challenge ideas that you can practice with friends in the classroom or try with your family in your own living room.

There are practice math and science tests available here to get ready to compete.

The Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) is committed to providing accessible activities and events.  We know that to do so we may need to make reasonable and necessary accommodations to our STEM Competition structure.  We have developed a formal policy regarding academic accommodation requests to ensure that they are handled consistently.

Accommodation requests must be submitted to the TAME State Office by a Club Sponsor, no later than thirty days before the event.  Please read the full policy here before submitting a request.

Invitations to TAME’s annual State STEM Competition are coordinated by the Chapter leadership.  Students who are invited to attend the State event will be notified by their Club Sponsor.  Students may be selected based on their performance at Divisionals, or as part of a student contest such as the Creative Design Contest.

TAME activities are free to students. There is no fee to register or compete in STEM Competitions.

In a typical year when events are offered in person, 300 high-achieving students are invited to compete in the State STEM Competition. State participants take a timed math test OR a timed science test covering the topics taught in math and science classes offered at their school. A favorite of many students is the State Engineering Design Challenge, in which we bring together students from diverse backgrounds to engineer a solution to a real-world problem in a timed competitive setting. See past State Design Challenges here.

In the evening, attendees will have a chance to participate in a variety of activities with students from all across the state.

At the State STEM Competition, TAME sponsors cover all costs, including transportation, food and lodging, and great giveaways and prizes. The Competition celebrates TAME students’ achievement in STEM and is a chance to meet like-minded peers and mentors from across Texas.

In fairness to all students, it is TAME policy that all participants must take part in all the scheduled events of the STEM Competition. You must participate in the activities for your Divisional STEM Competition on its scheduled day. Students who do not participate in the full Divisional STEM Competition may not be eligible to attend the State STEM Competition.

We understand there may be schedule conflicts and ask that students make a choice between other plans and the STEM Competition, rather than trying to do both. This is to ensure a level playing field and consistent experience for all our students.

Students who ignore this policy may be disqualified from the STEM Competition.

Each year, TAME announces the theme for the State STEM Competition. TAME Club Members from across the state are invited to take part in TAME’s Creative Design Contest. There are two ways to enter:

• Suggest a hashtag related to the theme of the event. The winning hashtag will be used on social media by TAME Staff, State STEM Competition attendees, and TAME Sponsors.
• Submit a t-shirt design related to the theme of the event. The winning design will be featured on t-shirts, event programs, and other promotional materials that will be distributed to hundreds of participants at the State STEM Competition.

See past Creative Design Contest winners here.

Each winner is awarded a cash prize, and if the winning student is in grade 6-12, they also receive a special invitation to the State STEM Competition.

Check our Competition Schedules & Results page for updates on the State STEM Competition.

In a typical year when events are offered in person, for the 300 students who accept the invitation to the annual State STEM Competition, TAME will arrange transportation, food, and entertainment at no cost to students. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the event is free for all.

Students MUST travel with their TAME Chapter to and from the event and participate in all parts of the event. Students may not leave early or travel separately.  

Food will be provided to all students and chaperones with meals at the event and during travel. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available for those who have requested them.

Due to limited space and safety constraints, parents/guardians, family, and spectators are not able to attend the State STEM Competition. This allows us to ensure the security of all participants.

Family at home can watch the action unfold in real time as TAME live-tweets photos, videos, and updates about the event. Follow TAME on Twitter and Instagram and cheer on TAME students with #LonestarSTEM.

Results will be posted to the TAME website as soon as possible after each event. Please see our Competition Schedules & Results page for updates.