Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*Open CARING
The Caring Institute seeks nominations of students 18 and younger who demonstrate extraordinary compassion, caring, and selflessness. Each of five winners receives a $2,000 college scholarship, an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a place in the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans. Nomination forms are available on the Web site. Contact: Ariane Holm, Caring Institute, 228 7th St. S.E., Washington, DC 20003; (202) 547-4273; fax (202) 547-4510; e-mail inquiries@caring- institute.org; www.caring- institute.org.
*Open COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Points of Light Foundation, in partnership with the Prudential Insurance Company of America, presents the Prudential Youth Leadership Institute, a service and leadership curriculum for high school students that provides hands-on experience at community problem-solving. Participants are chosen at the local level and complete 30 hours of curriculum work, hands-on field exercises, and community service projects that they choose, create, and implement. Contact: Laura Raine Rittner, Points of Light Foundation, 1400 I St. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 729-8151;e-mail lraine@pointsoflight.org; www.pyli.org.
*Open CREATIVITY
Creative Kids magazine, a product of Prufrock Press, publisher of literature to support the education of gifted children, requests submissions from students ages 8 to 14. Original cartoons, songs, stories of 800 to 900 words, puzzles, photographs, artwork, games, activities, editorials, poetry, and plays are accepted. Teachers or students submit up to three works each, per envelope, labeled with the child’s name, birth date, grade, school, and home address; a self-addressed, stamped envelope should be included with each submission. Students whose materials are selected for publication receive a free copy of the Creative Kids issue in which their work appears. Contact: Submissions Editor, Creative Kids, P.O. Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813; www.prufrock.com/pruf r ock_jm_createkids.cfm.
*Open CREATIVITY
Teen Ink invites students ages 13-19 to submit art, poems, stories, essays, editorials, and reviews of movies, books, music, colleges, and Web sites for publication in its magazine. There is no charge for submissions or to be published, and the author of any manuscript or artwork selected for publication receives a free copy of the issue containing his or her work and a Teen Ink pen and note pad. More information and submission guidelines are available on the Web site; works may also be submitted via the Web site, or by e-mail or regular mail. For more information, contact: Teen Ink, P.O. Box 30, Newton, MA 02461; (617) 964-6800; editor@teenink.com; www.teenink.com.
*Open PEN PALS
World Pen Pals promotes international friendship and cultural understanding among young people around the world. Students in 5th grade and above are invited to request an overseas pen pal; parental consent is required for participants younger than 13. Teachers may request a brochure about class participation. Contact: World Pen Pals, P.O. Box 337, Saugerties, NY 12477; phone and fax (845) 246-7828; www.world-pen- pals.com.
*November 15 BEETLES
The Coleopterists Society invites children in grades 7-12 to apply for its Youth Incentive Award, which recognizes young people studying beetles. One or two winners are selected annually, one each in the junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12) categories, for proposed activities or projects about beetles. Proposals are evaluated on degree of creativity, educational benefit to the applicant, scientific merit, feasibility, and budgetary planning. Students may only apply individually but are strongly encouraged to find an adult adviser. Award recipients receive grants of up to $150 and a one-year subscription to the society’s journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin. Contact: Dr. David G. Furth, Entomology, NHB, MRC 165, P.O. Box 37012, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012; (202) 357-3146; fax (202) 786-2894; e- mail furth.david@nmnh.si.edu; www.coleopsoc.org.
*November 15 PEACE POSTER
Lions Clubs International invites 11- through 13-year-old students to participate in its 2003-04 Peace Poster Contest. Contestants submit a poster created in pencil, crayon, pen, marker, paint, or chalk and depicting this year’s theme, “Create a Brighter Tomorrow.” The grand-prize winner receives $2,500 and an expenses-paid trip to the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. Participating schools and youth groups must be sponsored by a Lions club, and poster kits must have been purchased by the club no later than Oct. 1. Contact: Lions Clubs International, (630) 571-5466; e-mail peaceposter@lionsclubs.org; www.lionsclubs.org.
*November 19 SCIENCE
The Intel Science Talent Search is a science contest for high school seniors. To be eligible, students must submit an individually researched project. From 300 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be selected to attend the Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C., where students will exhibit their research at the National Academy of Sciences. A four-year, $100,000 scholarship will be awarded to the top winner. 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 RADIO
Earth and Sky Radio and the National Science Foundation sponsor the annual Young Producers Contest forstudents. Teams write and record75-second radio shows on any science/nature topic. Five shows will be broadcast on the radio in May. The grand-prize team shares a $1,000 U.S. savings bond; the others each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond. For more information, contact: Young Producers Contest, P.O. Box 2203, Austin, TX 78768; (512) 480-8773; fax (512) 477-4474; e-mail info@earthsky.org; www.earthsky.org.
*December 1 ENGLISH
Because kids must know the rules to break them, Cottonwood Press sponsors the Aggravate Your English Teacher Contest. In 750 words or fewer, students should 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 grades 5-8, 9-12, and adult. Entries must include 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.
*Decemb e r 1 GIRLS SPORTS
The Women’s Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing sport and fitness experiences for girls and women, sponsors the Linda Riddle/Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Endowed Scholarship, which provides five girls of limited financial means the opportunity to be college athletes. Female seniors entering a two- or four-year college program full time in fall 2004 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. Contact: Linda Riddle/SGMA Endowed Scholarship, Women’s Sports Foundation, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY 11554; (800) 227-3988; www.womenssportsfoundation.org .
*December 1 STEREOTYPES
Teachers Against Prejudice announces its fourth annual essay contest, open to all students in grades 5-12. Essay questions, which relate to issues of bias and stereotype, are posted on the TAP Web site. Prizes will be awarded in separate categories for middle and high school students. First and second place winners receive $150 and $75 U.S. Savings Bonds, respectively. Winners will be notified on February 1, 2004, and winning essays will be posted on the TAP Web site. Contact: TAP, P.O. Box 8644, New Haven, CT 06531; (203) 801-0257; fax (203) 801-0258; e-mail contest@teachersagainstpreju d ice.org; www.teachersagainstprejudice.org .
*December 1 WRITING PLAYS
Young Playwrights Inc. invites students ages 18 and younger to write original, nonmusical plays for the Young Playwrights Festival, which aims to identify, develop, and encourage young writers. Several plays are accepted for production at the festival; 10 to 12 students are invited to the YPI Writers Conference in New York City, culminating in professionally staged readings of winning plays. Contact: Young Playwrights Festival National Play-Writing Competition, 306 W. 38th St., Suite 300, New York, NY 10018; (212) 594-5440; fax (212) 594-5441; e-mail writeaplay@aol.com; www.youngplaywrights.org.
*December 2 ENGINEERING
The National Society of Professional Engineers offers national scholarships for high school seniors who plan to study engineering at a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The Auxiliary Scholarship provides $1,000 per year for four years to a young woman. The Virginia D. Henry Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 prize for a young woman’s freshman year. The Paul H. Robbins Honorary Scholarship gives $2,000 to one student, male or female. Awards may be applied to any ABET- accredited college or university and are based on SAT score, GPA, and an essay. Contact: NSPE Headquarters, Education Services, 1420 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2794; www.nspe.org.
*December 6 LITERATURE
The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book, Target Corp., and Weekly Reader Corp. sponsor Letters About Literature 2004. Applicants write to an author, living or dead, and explain how that author’s work changed their thinking about the world or themselves. Three national winners—one each in grades 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12—receive a $500 Target gift card. Participating affiliates also provide cash awards to top essayists in their state. Contact: Center for the Book, (202) 707-5221; e-mail lalessay@epix.net; www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letter s .html.
*December 9 ASTHMA
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics invite students to enter the 13th Annual Living with Asthma Poster Contest to encourage children to show how they control their asthma. Classrooms can enter as a unit, or students with asthma can enter individually in three age categories—grades 1-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Three individual winners get U.S. savings bonds ($500, $250, and $100 each) and gift certificates from a national retailer. The winner’s school also receives free asthma educational materials. The top classroom receives a pizza party and T- shirts for the entire class; the top three classroom winners get gift certificates for classroom supplies. Entries must be created in color on a plain white sheet of 8.5-by-11 paper or larger. Imagination and creativity are encouraged. Additional details and the official entry form are available on the Web site. Contact: Poster Contest, AAAAI Executive Office, 611 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202; (414) 272-6071; e-mail postercontest@aaaai.org; www.aaaai.org/patients/just4kids/postercontest/postercontest.stm.
*December 12 ART
Sakura of America announces its ninth annual Cray-Pas Wonderful, Colorful World art contest. Students submit works using oil pastels to compete for prizes for themselves, their schools, and their 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 $200 savings bond, andsecond- and third-prize winners get $100 and $50 savings bonds, respectively. Winning schools get art supplies; one randomly drawn teacher wins a trip to Hawaii. For more information, contact: Sakura Cray-Pas 2004 Wonderful, Colorful World Contest, 30780 San Clemente, Hayward, CA 94544; (800) 776-6257, ext. 177; www.sakuraofamerica.com.
*December 16 STUDY ABROAD
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program through AFS Intercultural Programs, a learning exchange program, provides 70 full scholarships to high school students studying in Germany for one year. Students must be residents of Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. An additional 10 scholarships are available to students from Washington, D.C., and New York City through the German American Solidarity Fund. Contact: AFS Admissions, 506 S.W. 6th Ave., Second Floor, Portland, OR 97214; (800) AFS-INFO; e-mail congressbundestag@afs.org; www.usa.afs.org.
—Lillian Hsu, Marianne Hurst, and Aviva Werne
