Hempfield High School senior Ethan Albright was named 2026 grand champion at the North Museum Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF) on March 12 at Millersville University. He was chosen from among participating students in grades six through 12 from 23 Lancaster and Lebanon County schools. At the 2025 NMSEF, Albright distinguished himself as Senior Division champion.

Albright and his winning 2026 project, "Bugged Out: A Novel Approach to Reforestation," competed among more than 250 student finalists, an increase of 39% over 2025 participation levels and the largest level of participation since prior to the pandemic. The Senior Division champion for 2026 is Lancaster Country Day School senior Benedikt Kienle, whose project was "New Green Chemistry Iridium Catalysts."

Both students are eligible to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix from Saturday, May 9, through Friday, May 15. The event will feature 1,700 pre-college students from around the world. Should a NMSEF champion choose to attend, the North Museum underwrites the ISEF registration fee. If the grand champion and senior champion choose not to attend, the senior reserve champion is eligible to attend ISEF.

Finalists also include Senior Division reserve champion Emily Stauffer, a Warwick High School senior whose project was "Rats on Roughage: The Effects of Dietary Fiber on Rattus norvegicus"; Junior Division champion eighth-grader Alex Anspach from St. Leo the Great for "A Natural Solution: Using Polysaccharide Based Polymers in Fenugreek to Remove Microplastics from Water"; and Junior Division reserve champion seventh-grade student Charlie Teachworth from Lancaster Country Day School for "How Staging Affects the Power of a Gauss Accelerator."

More than 70 expert judges from a wide cross-section of local educational institutions and STEM-focused businesses reviewed the students' projects. The NMSEF is one of six fairs in Pennsylvania associated with ISEF.

The 2026 NMSEF is sponsored by Electron Energy Corporation, Kenvue, Eurofins, the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, Matt Glick, Lancaster Area Sewer Authority, The Stangl Foundation, and Millersville University. Those interested in sponsoring future science fairs to keep them free to all students may contact Scott Downs, director of development and strategic partnerships, at sdowns@northmuseum.org.

The North Museum has managed the Science & Engineering Fair in Lancaster County since 2009. The NMSEF has been a part of science education in Lancaster County for more than 70 years, inspiring thousands of young researchers to learn about science and engineering. The mission of North Museum of Nature & Science is to enable knowledge of nature and science by inspiring individuals, engaging communities, and connecting organizations.