Local high schools send 20 Teams to next round of Nickless Innovation Award
Up to $77.5K in scholarships for students, STEM education grants for schools at stake in 13th annual competition.
Organizers of the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award have announced that 20 teams representing five local high schools will spend the next several months conducting research and developing detailed plans to address the respective problems they identified during Phase One of the competition.
The annual award, open to students ages 13 to 18 in Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties, aims to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. Students are encouraged to work in teams, think creatively, and develop practical solutions to issues affecting their communities and the wider world. Past project topics have ranged from alternative energy and healthcare to environmental science and emerging technologies.
In Phase One, registered teams were required to select a specific problem and submit a two-page abstract outlining a proposed project to address it. The 20 teams moving forward each receive a $1,000 grant to support their research, testing, and project development. Final reports are due March 31, 2026.
Teams advancing to Phase Two represent:
- Herbert Henry Dow High School, Midland: two teams
- Freeland High School: three teams
- John Glenn High School, Bay City: one team
- Midland High School: one team
- Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy: 13 teams
The competition, presented by the Nickless Family Charitable Foundation, will culminate in a daylong public showcase on April 25, 2026, at Saginaw Valley State University. Each team will present its project to judges and community members, and three winning teams will be announced at the end of the event. Up to $77,500 in scholarships and STEM education grants will be awarded.
The first-place team will receive up to five $5,000 student scholarships and a $20,000 STEM grant for its school. Second place will receive up to five $2,500 scholarships and a $10,000 grant, and third place will receive up to five $1,000 scholarships and a $5,000 grant.
This year marks the 13th cycle of the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award. Since its launch in 2013-14, the competition has provided $763,500 to students and schools, including $378,500 in student scholarships and $385,000 in STEM grants. More than 550 students have participated in nearly 180 Phase Two projects during the program’s first 12 years.
The award was created by the Nickless Family Charitable Foundation in honor of Arthur H. Nickless, a local innovator and former owner of Wolverine Telephone Company. The competition continues to support STEM learning opportunities throughout the region. More information is available online.
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