Local students enrolled in Reach Cyber Charter School put their science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills to the test Wednesday through the statewide school’s annual Winter STEM Challenge. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade came together at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton to build Rube Goldberg machines for this year’s challenge. The students had to use their engineering and problem-solving skills to conceptualize and build the machines, which are designed to complete a simple task in a complicated fashion. Completed machines will be judged and a winner from each grade level will be determined in February. Nearly 6,000 students across the state are currently enrolled in Reach Cyber Charter School, which is based in Enola, East Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland County.

Students and their families build Rube Goldberg machine for the Reach Cyber Charter School's winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Students and their families build Rube Goldberg machine for the Reach Cyber Charter School’s winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Fifth-grader Peyton Rivera sets her Rube Goldberg machine in motion during the Reach Cyber Charter School's winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. She says working on the machines taught her the importance of continuing to test and try her ideas. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Fifth-grader Peyton Rivera sets her Rube Goldberg machine in motion during the Reach Cyber Charter School’s winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. She says working on the machines taught her the importance of continuing to test and try her ideas. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Ashley Colewell helps her son kindergartner Giovanni Mac set up dominoes for the Reach Cyber Charter School's winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Ashley Colewell helps her son kindergartner Giovanni Mac set up dominoes for the Reach Cyber Charter School’s winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Kindergartner Giovanni Mac set up dominoes for the Reach Cyber Charter School's winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Kindergartner Giovanni Mac set up dominoes for the Reach Cyber Charter School’s winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Robotics coordinator Karen Mcgahee helps third grade student Khali Garcia for the Reach Cyber Charter School's winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Robotics coordinator Karen Mcgahee helps third grade student Khali Garcia for the Reach Cyber Charter School’s winter STEM challenge at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)