LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 13, 2026) – More than 3,000 students and educators from more than 240 schools will gather in Hot Springs next week for EAST Conference 2026, the annual showcase of student innovation, community service, and technology-driven problem solving. The event, taking place March 17–19 at the Hot Springs Convention Center, marks the 30th anniversary of the EAST Initiative and will feature student technology demonstrations, project competitions, and presentations highlighting how students are improving communities across Arkansas and beyond. This year’s theme, “Our Greatest Hits,” highlights three decades of student-led innovation while highlighting the future of community-focused technology education.
“If you know EAST, you know our students are more than just learners - they are visionary changemakers,” said Matt Dozier, President and CEO of EAST Initiative. “EAST Conference is where innovation, collaboration, and creativity take center stage. As we celebrate 30 years of EAST, we’re honoring the past while amplifying the future these students are building.”
Six Schools to Receive Top EAST Honors
Six schools will be recognized during the conference’s Opening Session with the prestigious Founder’s and Cornerstone Awards, which honor programs that best demonstrate the three core principles of EAST: Student Growth and Engagement, Community and Collaboration, and Project Sophistication and Innovation.
2026 Founder’s Award Recipients
Lamar High School (Lamar, AR)
Calico Rock High School (Calico Rock, AR)
Buffalo Island Central High School (Monette, AR)
2026 Cornerstone Award Recipients
Student Growth and Engagement – Nettleton STEAM Intermediate (Jonesboro, AR)
Community and Collaboration – Lincoln Middle School (Lincoln, AR)
Project Sophistication and Innovation – Fountain Lake Charter High School (Hot Springs, AR)
Alumni Panel Celebrates Three Decades of EAST
The conference will open with a special alumni panel featuring EAST graduates from each decade of the program’s history.
Jason Everett, a member of the first EAST class in 1995 at Greenbrier High School and immediate past chair of the EAST Initiative Board of Directors. Everett is now a successful insurance agency owner; Jason Blake, a 2007 EAST graduate from Harrisburg High School who later served as an EAST educator and now works as Director of Training Services for EAST Initiative; and Emma and Sarah Bailin, 2011 graduates of Little Rock Central High School, now work at the forefront of technology and innovation. Sarah began her career at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), where she contributed to several Star Wars projects and the groundbreaking virtual reality experience Carne y Arena. The project received a Special Achievement Academy Award. Emma Bailin now works as a Senior Data Engineer at Zscaler, a leading cloud enterprise security company.
Conference Led by Student Leadership Team
A defining feature of EAST Conference is that students help run the event itself. This year, 62 EAST student leaders from across Arkansas will coordinate major aspects of the conference, assisting with competitions, presentations, logistics, attendee engagement and hosting educational breakout sessions.
For more information about EAST Conference 2026, including schedules and registration, visit:
https://www.eastconference.org/
Media Note:
Members of the media are encouraged to attend Wednesday, March 18, which will feature the conference’s largest student project showcases, competitions, and anniversary programming.
Visual opportunities for media include:
• Students demonstrating robotics, virtual reality, GIS mapping, and 3D printing projects
• Large-scale student project showcases featuring community solutions
• The EAST alumni panel celebrating 30 years of impact
• Award presentations honoring top EAST programs
• Interviews with students solving real-world problems in their communities
Media interested in attending or scheduling interviews with students, alumni, or EAST leadership are encouraged to coordinate in advance.