Wahluke students head to 2026 Future Problem Solving World Finals

“Reading should be fun for everyone. It should be something that everyone wants to do.” 

Arleny Cardenas 

MATTAWA — Two Wahluke seventh graders are on their way to Indiana University Tuesday to showcase a literacy initiative they designed to boost reading motivation across their school district – and they’re doing it on one of the biggest stages available to young problem solvers. 

Alexis Tapia Cruz and Arleny Cardenas, both students at Wahluke Intermediate School, will represent Washington at the 2026 Future Problem Solving World Finals after earning a spot in the international Community Projects Showcase. Their project, Read Across Wahluke, tackles a challenge they uncovered through student led research: a steep decline in reading engagement. 

According to the team’s findings, “only 28 percent of surveyed students considered reading to be fun,” a statistic highlighted in the district’s press release.  

Their deeper data analysis revealed even more concerning trends.  

In their project video, Cardenas notes that “0 percent of students reported reading daily outside of school,” while Tapia Cruz adds that “fewer than 50 percent of students indicated that they enjoyed reading.” 

The students responded by designing a year long, school‑wide reading initiative that blends goal‑setting, accountability, incentives and expanded access to library resources.  

“Our solution is a structured school-wide reading initiative that combines goal setting, accountability, and incentive-based motivation,” Tapia Cruz explains in the video.  

Cardenas adds that the project aims “to establish long-term sustainable reading habits” and help students view reading as “both valuable and enjoyable.” 

Their goal is ambitious: increase voluntary reading participation to 30 percent within a year. 

Superintendent Andy Harlow said the students’ return to the FPS World Finals is a testament to their determination. He said both students competed last year as sixth graders but didn’t place. However, he said they are more prepared this year than they were last.  

“This year has just been all about trying to get back,” Harlow said. “For them to be able to do this and get back, they’re really excited, and the difference this year is they know what to expect.” 

Harlow said the students’ growth since last year has been remarkable.  

“To see them still this determined and looking forward to this is pretty neat.” 

The send‑off parade for the team took place Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. before they departed for Indiana. 

Harlow said the students’ work fits into a broader district effort to strengthen literacy outcomes – an area where Wahluke has historically faced challenges. 

“We’ve always struggled,” he said, noting that in his final year as junior high principal, “67 percent of our incoming sixth graders were two grade levels below in reading.” 

But he believes the district is turning a corner thanks to stable staffing, reconfigured elementary grade bands, new curriculum, expanded summer school funded by the Ballmer Group, and now, student driven initiatives like Read Across Wahluke. 

“We don’t know where this is going to actually lead, but it certainly is a huge step in the right direction,” Harlow said. “Students taking control and doing this research and trying to find answers is going to be maybe the same or even stronger than traditional teacher led efforts.” 

As the students head to Indiana, Harlow said he hopes they savor the experience. 

“It’s really exciting that we get to create these opportunities for our students and to enjoy every moment of the entire process,” he said. “Good luck, but just really enjoy the process.” 

He also praised the staff supporting the program, including teacher Blake Beyer.  

“He really has gone above and beyond to support this program,” Harlow said. 

For Harlow, the students’ achievement is part of a larger story about Wahluke’s growing presence in regional and national competitions. 

“In this small community, where we feel so isolated, we’ve got kids going and competing in regional and state and national competitions,” he said, pointing to recent successes in band, FFA, athletics and other programs. 

As Tapia Cruz and Cardenas prepare to present their work alongside students from 11 countries and 33 U.S. states, their message remains simple and hopeful. 

“Reading should be fun for everyone,” Cardenas says in the project video. “It should be something that everyone wants to do.” 

    Alexis Tapia Cruz (left) and Arleny Cardenas (right) hand out candy to Wahluke Elementary School students during a send-off parade Tuesday. The two are competing at the 2026 Future Problem Solving World Finals at Indiana University with a project that focuses on boosting reading across the school district.