OKEECHOBEE — Mrs. Kristi Nolte’s class at North Elementary has been recognized by the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) as a recipient of the prestigious FSI Rising Trailblazer Award, honoring the school’s outstanding creativity, innovation, and early engineering thinking through student-led STEM projects.

The award recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional promise in applying semiconductor concepts to real-world challenges. North Elementary students impressed FSI judges with several imaginative and purposeful inventions designed to improve everyday life and support others in their community.

Among the student-created projects were the Hotshot 6000, an affordable heat-based tool; DCH Boots, designed to support mobility for children with disabilities; Press-In-Chill, a device intended to help relieve stress; and the All-Seeing Shirt, created to assist visually impaired individuals.

“These projects showcase the creativity, compassion, and problem-solving skills of our students,” said Superintendent Dylan Tedders. “We are incredibly proud of the innovative thinking demonstrated by these young learners and grateful for opportunities that inspire students to explore STEM concepts at an early age.”

Representatives from the Florida Semiconductor Institute visited North Elementary School on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to celebrate students and present the award, along with classroom prizes that included LEGO sets and robots.

The recognition event also included a video production, which captured footage and student interviews highlighting the program and its impact. The content will be used to promote STEM education and showcase innovative student learning across the state of Florida.

The Florida Semiconductor Institute praised Mrs. Nolte’s class program as a strong example of how early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can spark curiosity, confidence, and future career interests in students.

Okeechobee County Schools continues to provide engaging learning opportunities that encourage students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make meaningful connections between classroom learning and the world around them.