Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
November 28 SCIENCE
The Intel Corp. invites high school seniors to compete for up to $1.2-million in scholarships and awards in its Science Talent Search. Students submit reports of science research projects. Forty finalists receive a laptop computer and go on a weeklong, expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Science Talent Institute. The first-place finalist earns a $100,000 four-year scholarship; second- and third-place finalists win scholarships of $75,000 and $50,000, respectively. Contact: Intel Science Talent Search, Science Service, 1719 N St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 785-2255; e-mail sciedu@sciserv.org; www.sciserv.org.
December 1 ENGINEERING
The National Society of Professional Engineers offers National Scholarships for high school seniors who plan to study engineering at an ABET-accredited college or university. The Auxiliary Scholarship provides one female with $1,000 a year for four years. The Virginia D. Henry Memorial Scholarship is a one-time $1,000 prize given to a female for her freshman year only. The Paul H. Robbins Honorary Scholarship gives $2,000 to any individual. Awards may be applied to any ABET-accredited college or university and are based strictly on SAT scores, GPA, and an essay. For more information, contact: NSPE Headquarters, Education Services, 1420 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2794; (703) 684-2800; www.nspe.org.
December 1 ENGLISH
Because students must know the rules in order to break them, Cottonwood Press invites kids to enter its “Aggravate Your English Teacher” Contest. In 750 words or less, students are urged to commit the 50 pet peeves discussed in the book How to Avoid English Teachers’ Pet Peeves. Prizes of $50, $30, and $20 are awarded to the top three winners in each of three categories: grades 5-8, grades 9-12, and adult. Entries must commit at least 90 percent of the pet peeves; some entries will be published in future editions of the book. Contact: Cottonwood Press, 107 Cameron Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525; (800) 864-4297; www.cottonwoodpress.com.
December 1 GIRLS’ SPORTS
The Women’s Sports Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to enhancing sport and fitness experiences for girls and women, sponsors the Linda Riddle/SGMA Endowed Scholarship, which provides young women athletes of limited financial needs the opportunity to be college athletes. Female high school seniors looking to enter a full-time two- or four-year college program in the fall of 2002 may apply. Applicants must have participated on a high school team and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The amount of the scholarship varies annually. Contact: Linda Riddle Endowed Scholarship, Women’s Sports Foundation, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY 11554; (800) 227-3988; www.womenssportsfoundation.org.
*December 1 LITERATURE
The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book and the Weekly Reader Corp. invite students to enter “Letters About Literature 2002,” an essay contest. Each applicant writes a letter to an author-living or dead-explaining how the author’s work changed his or her thinking about the world. The contest has two categories: grades 4-7 and 8-12. A national winner from each category receives $500. In addition, participating affiliates present cash awards to top essayists in their state. For more information, contact: Cathy Gourley, Weekly Reader Corp., 200 First Stamford Pl., Stamford, CT 06912-0023; (203) 705-3500; e-mail cgourley@epix.net; www.weeklyreader.com/read.
December 1 PLAYWRIGHTS
Young Playwrights Inc. invites students ages 18 and under to write original, nonmusical plays for the Young Playwrights Festival, which aims to identify, develop, and encourage young playwrights. Several plays are accepted for production at the festival, and 10-12 students are invited to the YPI Writers Conference, an intensive play-writing workshop in New York City that culminates in professionally staged readings of the winning plays. Contact: Young Playwrights Festival National Playwright Competition, 306 W. 38th St., Suite 300, New York, NY 10018; (212) 307-1140; fax (212) 307-1454; e-mail writeaplay@aol.com; www.youngplaywrights.org.
December 7 ART
Sakura of America, producer of oil pastels, announces its eighth annual “Cray- Pas Wonderful, Colorful World” art contest. Public and private school students submit work that uses oil pastels to win prizes for themselves, their schools, and the sponsoring teachers. Entries are judged on creativity, technique, and visual impact in three grade levels: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. One first-prize winner in each category receives a $300 savings bond; second- and third-place winners receive $200 and $100 savings bonds, respectively. Winning schools get art supplies and one randomly drawn teacher goes to London. For more information, contact: Sakura Cray-Pas 2002 Wonderful, Colorful World Contest, 30780 San Clemente, Hayward, CA 94544; (888) 418-0327, ext. 177; www.gellyroll.com.
December 7 FIRE PREVENTION
High school seniors nationwide are invited to write an essay for the American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Contest. Each applicant submits an essay of 700 to 1,000 words describing the history and impact of automatic fire sprinklers, a bibliography, and a letter of recommendation. Scholarships of $1,000 are given to seven regional winners. The first-place winner receives an additional $3,000 scholarship; one second-place winner and one third-place winner get additional scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. Applications, guidelines, and past essays are on the Web site. Contact: Scholarship Contest, American Fire Sprinkler Association, 12959 Jupiter Rd., Suite 142, Dallas, TX 75238; fax (214) 343-8898; e-mail mtucker@firesprinkler.org; www.sprinklernet.org.
*December 14 COMPUTER ARTS
Imation Corp., a work-flow solutions company for the information-management and image-management industry, invites high school students to participate in its annual Computer Arts Scholarship Program, which honors students’ original works of computer-generated art. Public and private high schools may nominate one candidate per 1,000 students to the national competition. The top 100 entries receive national certificates of excellence, and 25 of these are chosen to receive $1,000 scholarships. For more information, call (888) 466-3456, or go to www.imation.com.
*December 15 RADIO
Earth and Sky Radio and the National Science Foundation invite K-12 students to enter the annual Young Producers Contest. Teams of students write and record 75-second radio shows on a science or nature topic of their choice. Five shows are chosen for broadcast on Earth and Sky in May 2002. The winning team shares a $1,000 U.S. savings bond; each runner-up team splits a $500 U.S. savings bond. Contact: Young Producers Contest, P.O. Box 2203, Austin, TX 78768; (512) 480-8773; fax (512) 477-4474; e-mail contest@earthsky.com; www.earthsky.com.
*December 31 YOUNG INVESTORS
Stein Roe Mutual Funds invites students in grades 5-12 to participate in its Young Investor Essay Contest. Essays on the importance of money and investing are judged on content, writing style, and mechanics in four grade levels: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12. First-, second-, and third-place winners are selected in each category. First-place winners receive $5,000 in Young Investor Fund shares. Second- and third-place winners get $2,500 and $1,000 in shares, respectively. For more information, contact: The Young Investor Essay Contest, Stein Roe Mutual Funds, One S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606; (800) 403-KIDS; www.steinroe.com.
*January-March ART AND WRITING
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards honor students currently enrolled in grades 7-12, recognizing approximately 50,000 regional winners. Nationally, 1,100 students’ individual works receive Pinnacle, Gold, or Silver Awards in each of 16 art and eight writing categories. High school seniors may also submit a body of art or writing for Portfolio Awards. In June, national award recipients are honored at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Corcoran Gallery features the winning art. Scholastic annually bestows nearly $250,000 in cash awards on the national and regional level. In addition, seniors who submit portfolios compete for scholarships from over 40 institutions and organizations totaling $1.5 million. Deadlines vary depending on regions. For more information, contact: Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; (212) 343- 6493; e-mail A&WGeneralInfo@Scholastic.com; www.scholastic.com/artandwriting .
*January 2 YOUNG NATURALISTS
To promote excellence in science and communication through artwork and writing, the American Museum of Natural History hosts the Young Naturalist Awards. Students plan expeditions that provide new data, questions, specimens, or observations on topics including biology, earth science, and astronomy. Data and experiences can be displayed through either narrative essays or field- journal entries. Twelve students in grades 7-12 earn $500 to $2,500 in cash awards and are invited on an expenses-paid trip to New York City. The museum publishes the winning entries in a nationally distributed catalog and on its Web site. An additional 36 finalists receive cash awards of $50, and 300 semifinalists win non-cash awards and a certificate of recognition. Contact: American Museum of National History, Young Naturalist Awards, Alliance for Young Artists and Writers Inc., 555 Broadway, Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999; (212) 343- 6493; e-mail A&WgeneralInfo@scholastic.com.
*January 4 SCHOLARSHIP
Students in grades 9 and up can apply for the Frank H. Buck Scholarship, administered by the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation. The scholarship, which may be used to alleviate the costs of private high school, college, graduate school, or a specialized program, helps defray costs that any other financial aid or scholarships the recipient receives do not cover, including tuition, books, room and board, and travel to and from school. Students who demonstrate strength of character, enterprise, personal initiative, and all-around merit are encouraged to apply. Applications must be requested no later than November 19. Contact: Frank H. Buck Scholarships, P.O. Box 5610, Vacaville, CA 95696- 5610; e-mail Febapps@aol.com; www.buckscholarships.org.
*January 7 WRITING
Writing! magazine announces the 11th annual Writing! contest. Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to enter an original piece of prose or poetry on the theme of decisions.Entries are judged in two grade divisions-junior, grades 6-8, and senior, grades 9-12. There are three categories in each division: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Awards are given for first, second, and third place in each category for both age groups. First- prize winners in all categories receive $150 and publication in Writing! The names of second-prize winners, who get $100, and third-prize winners, who earn $50, are also announced in the magazine. For more information, contact: Allan Lenhoff, Writing! Contest, 900 Skokie Blvd., Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062-4028; (847) 205-3154; e-mail alenhoff@glcomm.com.
*January 11 MOST VALUABLE STUDENT
The Elks National Foundation encourages high school seniors nationwide to apply for one of 500 Most Valuable Student scholarships, including two top prizes of $60,000, given over four years to one male and one female recipient. Other awards include the runner-up prize of $40,000 over four years and the third- place prize of $20,000 over four years, each going to both a male and female student. An additional 494 scholarships of $1,000 a year for four years also are awarded. Students are judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Applications can be obtained from local Elks lodges, the Web site, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the foundation. Contact: Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614; (773) 755-4732; e-mail scholarships@elks.org; www.elks.org.
*January 11 SCHOLARSHIP
High School juniors with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale are encouraged to apply for the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship, to be used toward any type of post-high school education or training. Sponsored by Discover Card, in cooperation with the American Association for School Administrators, the award recognizes students who have excelled in areas beyond academics. Up to nine state and national prizes are awarded at $2,500 and $25,000, respectively. For more information, contact: Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship, AASA, P.O. Box 9338, Arlington, VA 22219; (703) 875-0728; fax (703) 841-1543; e-mail info@aasa.org.
*January 14 ANIMAL PROTECTION
The Fund for Animals, a national animal protection organization, sponsors the National Humane Essay Contest. Elementary school students answer the question “How does an animal who is caught in a steel-jaw leg-hold trap feel?” in 100 words or fewer (grades 3-4) or 200 words or fewer (grades 5-6). Older students address the following situation: “You have found out that your father is planning to give your mother a fur coat for her birthday. What arguments would you use to persuade them to choose a gift that did not require the suffering and death of animals?” Students in grades 7-9 write 500 words or fewer; 10th-12th graders respond in no more than 1,500 words. In each age group, first-prize winners receive a $100 U.S. savings bond, and second-prize winners receive a $50 U.S. savings bond. Background material on fur and trapping may be obtained from the fund. For more information, contact: National Humane Essay Contest, Fund for Animals, 8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 585-2591; fax (301) 585-2595; e-mail fundinfo@fund.org.
*January 15 POETRY
The Weekly Reader Corp. requests submissions for the 14th annual Bowler Poetry Prize, sponsored by its literary magazine READ and the family of Ann Arlys Bowler in memory of the young poet. Students in grades 6-12 are asked to “reflect on a time when you felt intensely alive,” and write a poem. Six winners have their poems published in READ, and each receives $100 and a medal of honor. Semifinalists receive $50 and a certificate of excellence; they also have their poems published on the READ Web site. For more information, contact: Jennifer Kroll, Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest, READ, 200 First Stamford Pl., Stamford, CT 06912-0023; (203) 705-3499; e-mail jkroll@weeklyreader.com; www.weeklyreader.com/read.
*January 23 PEACE
The United States Institute of Peace announces the National Peace Essay Contest for students in grades 9-12. Applicants examine the role of the military in international peacekeeping operations. First-place winners from each state receive $1,000 college scholarships and compete for national awards of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 for first, second, and third place, respectively. First- place state winners are also invited to attend an expenses-paid awards program in Washington, D.C., in June. Contact: United States Institute of Peace, 1200 17th St. N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 429-3854; e-mail essay_contest@usip.org; www.usip.org/ed.html.
*January 25 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
The National Honor Society and the National Association of Secondary School Principals award 200 scholarships of $1,000. Society chapters nominate two senior members who have shown outstanding character, earned good grades, performed community service, and demonstrated strong leadership skills. Contact: Wanda Carroll, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Department of Student Activities, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1537; (703) 860-0200, ext. 252; fax (703) 476-5432; e-mail dsa@nassp.org; www.nassp.org.
*January 31 COMMUNITY
The Bayer Corp. and the National Science Foundation encourage teams of three to four students in grades 6-8 to identify a problem in their community and come up with an innovative solution for the Bayer/NSF Award. Ten finalist teams each receive a $250 grant and an expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Walt Disney World, where winners are selected. Three teams split $36,000 in saving bonds; one of these earns an additional $25,000 grant from the Columbus Foundation to develop their idea in the community. For more information, call (800) 291-6020, or visit www.bayernsfaward.com.
*January 31 FUTURE TEACHERS
Phi Delta Kappa International offers Scholarship Grants for current high school seniors whose intended college major is education. Thirty-three prospective educator prizes are awarded: three top prizes ranging from $5,000 to $2,000 and 30 $1,000 gifts. Applicants are judged on academic standing, essays, letters of recommendation, and school and community activities. Contact: Phi Beta Kappa International, P.O. Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402-0789; (800) 766-1156; fax (812) 339-0018; e-mail headquarters@pdkintl.org; www.pdkintl.org/studser/sschol. htm.
*February 1 BOOKS ON TAPE
Students in grades 5-12 have the chance to hear their writing read professionally when they enter the “Books on Tape Challenge.” The contest, which has no set topic or word limit, encourages students to write an original piece about anything of importance to them; they also can submit a school assignment. All entrants receive a certificate of achievement. One winner from each grade has his or her work recorded by a professional Books on Tape narrator and gets a portable compact disc player. Teachers are encouraged to submit their students’ work. Contact: Shawn Elliott, Books on Tape Inc., P.O. Box 7900, Newport Beach, CA 92658; (800) 541-5525, ext. 326; www.school.booksontape.com.
—Kathryn Murray and Sarah Wassner
