Yuma Student Eniah Endriga Named 2026 National STEM Champion for Invasive-Weeds Project

Eniah Endriga was selected as a finalist from thousands of student submissions nationwide and named the sole 2026 National STEM Champion from Arizona — a distinction that puts the Harvest Preparatory Academy student in a class of 55 middle and high school champions drawn from across the country.

With an acceptance rate of less than 5%, the National STEM Festival ranks among the most competitive early talent platforms in the world. Notably, more than 60% of the 2026 winners are young women. Endriga's selection puts Yuma on a map of youth innovation that spans nearly every corner of the country.

Her project cuts close to home. "Those three invasive weeds, red brome, buffelgrass, and stinknet, I want them to know that these invasive weeds really cause great harm, so if they have that in their backyard, or in their house, I think it's best to remove them from there," says Endriga. The research analyzes how forest fires accelerate the spread of those species, and the work she has done may even help keep local backyards safe from fires. She did not work alone: "Eventually, I, with the help of my mentor from the U.S. Forest Service, created management solutions to reduce that invasive weed spread," says Endriga.

When the announcement came, the reaction was unguarded. "Really, really good. I'm so excited. I was not expecting it," she said.

Endriga and a guardian will travel to the third annual National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., on June 24-27, with an expense-paid trip covering lodging and travel to showcase her work to leaders across business, government, and academia, as well as the public at a free Build Day expo on June 27.

Harvest Preparatory Academy is a public charter school in Yuma with a track record of pushing students onto national stages in science and technology competitions. Endriga's win extends that record in a field with direct environmental stakes for the Sonoran Desert region, where buffelgrass and red brome already fuel catastrophic fire seasons.

For students in Yuma who have their own ideas but haven't acted on them, Endriga offered direct advice: "To reach out to people because you could have these many ideas in your head, but if you don't talk about it, or if you don't reach out to others who could potentially help you, that idea won't be executed."

Her own path to Washington began with exactly that kind of outreach, a connection to a U.S. Forest Service mentor that turned a local environmental concern into the project that made her Arizona's only champion this year.