WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 On 6 December 2025, the wrap-up of the STEM School of West Ukrainian National University was held. This educational project lasted two months and brought together the most gifted schoolchildren of Ternopil.

During this time, participants immersed themselves in the world of innovation, digital technologies, creative thinking and teamwork, creating their own STEM projects. Each participant completed learning tasks, demonstrated their acquired competencies, and took part in practical STEM activities. The total duration of the programme was 40 academic hours (1.3 ECTS).

The event began with inspiring words from Viktor Ostroverkhov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research. Addressing the talented young people, prof. Ostroverkhov emphasised the importance of perseverance, the courage to dream and the ability to bring ideas to life. He conveyed greetings from the Rector of WUNU, Oksana Desyatnyuk, and encouraged the schoolchildren to enrol at the university in the future and realise their ambitious plans for the benefit of Ukraine.

During the training, teams of participants prepared their own STEM developments. During the final presentations, learners presented exceptionally interesting and forward-thinking projects that impressed with their relevance and well-thought-out solutions.

The chair of the evaluation committee, Oksana Koval, head of the STEM project, chair of the board of the International Institute of Communications, and director of the Education and Research Centre for Communications, expressed her sincere gratitude to the grant provider, Yurij Wowchuk, head of the VOVK Foundation, and praised the participants' outstanding preparation, motivation, and team spirit.

Based on the results of their studies and project presentations, the students received personal awards and scholarships in their names – as a first step towards realising their dreams.

Yurii Protsyk, a Year 11 student at School No. 24, won the STEM Leader category and was awarded a personal scholarship worth 10,000 UAH.
Demian Syvak, a Year 10 student at the I. Franko Gymnasium, won the STEM Initiator category and was awarded a personal scholarship in the amount of 10,000 UAH.
Oleksii Lesyk, a Year 10 student at the I. Franko Gymnasium, won the STEM Performer category and was awarded a personal scholarship of 5,000 UAH.
Andrii Kushnir, a Year 11 student at School No. 24, won the Creative Solution category and was awarded a personal scholarship of 5,000 UAH.

Team victories in the STEM project finals:
1st place – the NOTES project team (innovative e-governance for schools) – Khrystyna Chornopyska – winner in the Research Potential category, 10th grade student at the I. Franko Gymnasium, and Denys Tkachuk – winner in the Creative Innovator category, 10th grade student at the I. Franko Gymnasium. The winners received awards and scholarships in the amount of 2,000 UAH each.

2nd place – the Dreamers team with the project Dream – Application of the Future, consisting of: Anna Lemyk – winner in the Crisis Manager category – student of the WUNU College, Diana Pyzh, winner in the Scientific Curiosity category, a 9th grade student at School No. 23, and Yurii Protsyk, an 11th grade student at School No. 24. The team members received awards and scholarships in the amount of 2,000 UAH each.

Three teams shared third place:
Sparkling Heads with their project Smart Street Lighting – Serhii Kovalskyi – winner in the Digital Designer category (School No. 23) and Oleksii Lesyk (I. Franko Gymnasium),
Future STEM with the project Online Store System – Viktoria Ishchyshyn, winner in the Development Potential category (School No. 24), and Oleksandr Volkov, winner in the Project Thinker category (I. Franko Gymnasium),
NOVA SPARK with the project City Ecology through UML. Visual Modelling of the Site - Veronika Nebesna – winner in the STEM – Team Player category (School No. 23), Demian Syvak (I. Franko Gymnasium) and Andrii Kushnir (School No. 24).
Each team member received a scholarship of 1,000 UAH, certificates and gifts.

At the conclusion of the event, the young people shared their impressions and enjoyed a celebratory cake, as the WUNU STEM project marked its first anniversary.

‘Studying at STEM School was a valuable experience for me: interesting practical classes, support from teachers, and a motivating atmosphere created conditions that encouraged me to develop. I gained useful knowledge and confidence in my skills. Thank you, STEM School, for this wonderful opportunity to grow,’ said Andrii Kushnir.

‘Throughout my STEM studies, I was always interested because I was constantly learning something new, and it was also fun to work in teams on projects,’ said Demian Syvak.

‘Thank you to all the teachers and organisers of the STEM School who helped make this course interesting and exciting. I gained some really cool experience, knowledge and lots of positive emotions,’ said Diana Pyzh.

The atmosphere was filled with warm hints of nostalgia: during two months at the STEM school, the participants truly bonded and gained more confidence in their abilities.

The organisers express their sincere gratitude to the entire team that worked on the implementation of STEM School 2025. The rector of WUNU awarded Oksana Koval, head of the STEM project, Diana Boiko, coordinator of STEM School 2025, and teachers Mariia Bryhadyr, Oksana Bashutska, Nazar Ivanitskyi, Diana Krysak, Viktoriia Korobii, Valentyn Malenchak, as well as organisational managers Mariia Shesterniak and Ihor Romanets.

The project has successfully completed another stage, but every finish is, in fact, a start. We are moving forward, relying on the experience we have gained, the strength of our team, and the inspiration that has been born during this period of work.

A new chapter in the international STEM project awaits us.
In 2026, together with the VOVK Foundation, the BlueCheck Ukraine charitable foundation, and the International Institute of Communications NGO, we are launching a new phase of the Ukrainian-American STEM project. We promise it will be even more powerful, creative, and innovative.