IJAS Regional Student Registration is Now Open on zFairs! - Due on Feb 15
IJAS Regional Fair Information
Important Notice: Regardless of regional fair dates, student/project registration to IJAS is due by February 15, 2026, 11:59PM CT. All students participating through a regional fair must submit their abstract and required safety/endorsement forms through zFairs by this deadline. All registration information can be found in the relevant tabs on the zFairs home page. Link to zFairs: ijasregional.zfairs.com
Regional Contact Information and Regional Fair Dates
All students wanting to participate in the IJAS State Exposition series must first compete and qualify at their Regional Fair. Students must compete in the region where they live or the region where the school or group is registered with IJAS.
IJAS membership information is under the "Membership" tab on the IJAS website.
Region 1 - Central
Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford Counties
Regional Chair - Andrew Kluesner (IJASRegion1@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 14, 2026 Poster & Paper Session - Western Illinois University (WIU) - Student Union
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $10 per project, this will be invoiced to the school member or individual member on Feb 16th.
Region 2 - Chicago & Metropolitan Area Non-Public Schools
East of Route 83, North of Route 12/20, South of 1-90 to O'Hare Field, West of Lake Michigan
Regional Chair - John Bobek & Ali Uslu (IJASRegion2@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 7, 2026 - Paper Session - Horizon Science Academy
March 14, 2026 - Poster Session - Northeastern Illinois University
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: See the Region 2 Website for details and directions for Regional Membership
Region 3 - Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
Region 4 - East Central
Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Piatt, and Vermillion Counties
Regional Chair - Emily Dawson (IJASRegion4@ijas.org)
Regional Fair - March 28, 2026 Location TBD
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $10 per project, this will be invoiced to the school member or individual member on Feb 16th.
Region 5 - Northern
Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Davies, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago Counties
Regional Chair - Rachel Kurtz (IJASRegion5@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 21, 2026 - Poster & Paper Session - Cambridge Lakes Charter School
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $20 per project for poster session and $20 per project for paper session,
this will be invoiced to the school member or individual member on Feb 16th.
Region 6 - North Suburban
North Half of Cook and DuPage Counties (Route 20 extended is the dividing line), and Lake County
Regional Chair - Vacant (email emily.dawson@ijas.org if interested)
Paper Session Chair - Christina Palffy
Regional Fair
March 4, 2026 - Paper Session - Stevenson High School
March 7, 2026 - Poster Session - Wheeling High School
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $25 per STUDENT for poster session and $25 per STUDENT for paper session,
this will be invoiced to the school member or individual member on Feb 16th.
Region 7 - Southeastern
Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby,
and Wabash Counties
Regional Chair - Emily Dawson (IJASRegion7@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 30, 2026 - Poster and Paper Session -
Ramsey Junior High School - 4-7 pm
702 W. 6th Street, Ramsey, IL
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $10 per project, this will be invoiced to the school member or individual member on Feb 16th.
Region 8 - Southern
Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Wayne, White, and Williamson Counties
Regional Chair - Vina Castelli (IJASRegion8@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
February 24, 2026 - Poster & Paper Session - Southern Illinois University
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: Please see regional website and/or regional emails for details
Region 9 - South Suburban
Southern Half of Cook and DuPage Counties (Route 20 Extended is the dividing line) and Will County
Regional Chair - Jann Hawkins & Sue Ellen Gerchman (IJASRegion9@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
Paper Session - March 7, 2026 - North Central College
Poster Session - March 14, 2026 - North Central College
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: Please refer to the regional website for fees and payment instructions
Region 10 - Southwestern
Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, Green, Hancock, Macoupin (North of Route 16), Montgomery (North of Route 16), Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, and Scott Counties
Regional Chair - Kassie Henry (IJASRegion10@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 14, 2026 - Lincoln Land Community College
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: Please refer to the regional website for fees and payment instructions
Region 11 - Joliet Area Non-Public Schools
Parochial and Private Schools in DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, and Will Counties (Including the Diocese of Joliet schools)
Regional Chair - Kathy Winter& Annamarie Boyle (IJASRegion11@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 13, 2026 - University of St. Francis
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: Please refer to the regional website for fees and payment instructions
Region 12 - Edwardsville Area
Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin (South of Route 16), Madison, Monroe, Montgomery (South of Route 16), St. Clair, and Washington Counties
Regional Chair - Ellie Crowden (IJASRegion12@ijas.org)
Regional Fair
March 21, 2026 - Southwestern Illinois College
Registration due February 15, 2026, through the zFairs Portal
Regional Registration fee: $5 per project and will be invoiced to the member school or the individual member.