A symbol (*) marks deadlines that have not appeared in a previous issue of Education Week.
CALLS FOR PAPERS
Student leadership: The Center for Field Services and Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell requests abstracts/proposals for papers on student leadership in schools, K-12, to be considered for publication in a new journal. Possible topics include: technology, governance, service learning, academic support, peer tutoring, curriculum, philanthropy. Also looking for review of literature, resource guide, and annotated bibliography. Proposal or outline should not exceed three pages. Contact: Judith Boccia, CFSS, U.Mass., 1 University Ave., Lowell, Mass. 01854; (508) 934-4650; fax: (508) 934-3002; e-mail: bocciaj@woods.uml.edu.
June 30--Reading and writing: The editors of Imagery and Composition: Classrooms, Curriculum, and Lives are calling for essays that investigate mental imagery in contexts that impinge on the teaching of writing and reading. The goal of this collection is to redress the imbalance across composition studies. Those who wish to submit an essay are urged to focus their writing on the intersection of theory and teaching. Submit three copies of a 3,000-5,000-word essay (15-20 pages, including bibliography) in Modern Language Association format. Contact: Linda T. Calendrillo, Department of English, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill. 61920.
FEDERAL GRANTS
* April 4--Bilingual education: The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for new awards under its Systemwide Improvement Grants for Bilingual Education Program. The program provides grants to implement districtwide bilingual education programs or special alternative instructional programs to improve, reform, and upgrade relevant programs and operations. Local education agencies, community-based organizations, and state education agencies are eligible to apply for an estimated 40 awards of up to $650,000 each. Contact: Cecile Kreins, James Lockhart, or Harry Logel, USDE, 600 Independence Ave. S.W., Room 5090, Switzer Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20202-6510; (202) 205-5568.
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Feb. 3--ExploraVision awards: Entries are due for the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards, sponsored by the Toshiba Corp. and the National Science Teachers Association. The competition, open to K-12 students, asks students to work in teams of three or four to envision what a form of technology might look like in 20 years. Twelve teams--four first-place and eight second-place--will be selected as national winners. Each student on the first-place teams will win a $10,000 savings bond; each second-place team member will win a $5,000 savings bond. Every student and adviser who enters wins a gift, and teacher-advisers of winning teams win Toshiba equipment for their schools. Contact: Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards, NSTA, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22201; (800) EXPLOR-9 or (703) 243-7100.
Feb. 28--Horace Mann scholarships: Applications are due for the Horace Mann Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Horace Mann Cos. The program offers $40,000 in awards to high school seniors who are children of public school employees; the total includes one $20,000 scholarship, three $4,000 scholarships, and eight $1,000 scholarships. To be eligible, a student must be a college-bound senior whose parent or legal guardian is public school or college employee. The student must have at least a B average and score at least 23 on the ACT or 1,000 on the SAT. Contact: HMSP, P.O. Box 20490, Springfield, Ill. 62708; Web site: www.horaceman.com.
* March 1--Parke-Davis Scholarship: Entries are due for the 1997 Parke-Davis Epilepsy Scholarship Award, sponsored by Parke-Davis Inc. The one-year scholarship, open to high school seniors and college students, honors exceptional students with epilepsy. Each award is an unrestricted scholarship of $3,000. Applicants mus be under a physician’s care for epilepsy and must submit an application with two letters of recommendation and a verification of academic status. Contact: Parke-Davis Epilepsy Scholarship Award, c/o IntraMed Educational Group, 1633 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10019, Attn: John Bayliss; (800) AWARD-PD.
March 7--Essay contest: Entries are due for the Kaplan/Newsweek “My Turn” Essay Contest, sponsored by Kaplan Educational Centers and Newsweek magazine. High school students are asked to submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay on their solution to issues that will affect the quality of life in 21st-century America. Ten winners will be awarded with $1,000 scholarships; the first-prize winner will also receive free Kaplan PSAT, SAT or ACT course, book or software product. In addition, the winners and 20 honorable mentions will be published in the Newsweek Education Program book My Turn Essays: Student Reflections. Contact: KEC, (800) KAP-TEST.
* March 17--Skirball essay contest: Entries are due for the Skirball Essay Contest, sponsored by the Skirball Institute on American Values of the American Jewish Committee. Students in grades 10-12 are asked to submit essays on the theme “Opportunities for Education in the United States--Past, Present, and Future.” Students are to discuss to what extent the United States has achieved equal educational opportunities for all students, and what still needs to be done. The first prize is $5,000, the second prize is $1,000 and the third place prize is $500. Contact: SIAV, 635 S. Harvard Blvd., Suite 214, Los Angeles, Calif. 90005; (213) 381-1719; fax: (213) 381-1078.
* March 17--Video contest: Entries are due for the Weekly Reader Corporation/Panasonic Company Video Voyages Contest. Students in grades 4-12 are asked to create videos that explore personal, local, national, historical, or future themes in VHS format and are no longer than 10 minutes. Two sets of prizes are awarded on the elementary and secondary levels. Each first-prize team’s school will receive a Panasonic camcorder, a four-head VCR, a 20-inch color television set, and T-shirts for the team. Contact: Video Voyages Contest, Weekly Reader Corp., 245 Long Hill Road, P.O. Box 2791, Middletown, Conn. 06457-9291.
March 22--Computer contest: Entries are due for the “Re-Boot Your Mind” contest, sponsored by the Business Software Alliance. Students in grades 6-12 are asked to design a computer screen saver that encourages respect for software-management ethics and to write an essay on software protection. Students, teachers, and schools will be eligible to win computer software from BSA companies. The grand-prize winner’s screen saver will be posted on the Internet. Multiple awards in several categories will be available. Contact: Kim Willard, (202) 530-5127; fax: (202) 872-5501; e-mail: kimw@bsa.org; or Diane Smiroldo, (202) 872-5500; fax: (202) 872-5501; e-mail: dianes@ bsa.org; Web site: http://www.bsa.org.
April 1--Video contest: Entries are due for the “Thoughts and Dreams” competition, sponsored by Videonics, the Video Editing Co. All middle and high school students in grades 7-12 are invited to participate by submitting a short student-produced video communicating their thoughts and dreams. Ten schools will be awarded prizes. One school will receive a grand prize of $2,000 and a complete editing studio; two second-prize schools will win editing studios; one school in each of three categories will be awarded a digital video mixer; four honorable-mention schools will each receive a TitleMaker. Videos must be five minutes or less on a VHS tape; entries must be produced by students. Contact: (800) 338-EDIT; e-mail: info@videonics.com; Web site: http://www.videonics.com
April 1--Writing contest: Entries are due for the Read and Watch: The Ditchdigger’s Daughters Writing Contest, sponsored by Read Magazine and the Family Channel. Students in grades 6-12 are asked to write an essay of no more than 600 words describing a character strength or weakness he or she shares with one of the characters in The Ditchdigger’s Daughters, written by Yvonne Thornton. A grand-prize winner and two national finalists will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond from the Family Channel; the grand-prize winner will also be presented with $1,500 cash award. Contact: Read Magazine, (860) 638-2400.
April 14--Playwrights with disabilities: Entries are due for the 1997 Playwright Discovery Program, sponsored by Very Special Arts. Individuals with disabilities, ages 25 and under, are invited to submit a script that addresses how disabilities shape the human experience. Two winners will be have their plays produced and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Contact: VSA, Playwright Discovery Program, Education Office, JFKCPA, Washington, D.C. 20566; (800) 933-8721; TTY: (202) 737-0645; e-mail: rachel@vsarts.org.
April 15--Fund-raiser scholarships: Entries are due for the “Actions Speak” National Scholarship Programs, sponsored by the Association of Fund Raisers and Direct Sellers and the Future Business Leaders of America. The awards recognize the special efforts of high school students involved in supporting their schools and communities through fund-raising efforts. One $5,000 and five $800 college scholarships are available to eligible graduating seniors. Each student must submit a description of the school and/or community fund-raising project; an official transcript of high school grades; two letters of recommendation; and any additional information that would be useful to the judges. Contact: Actions Speak, c/o FBLA, 1912 Association Drive, Reston, Va. 20191.
April 21--Adventure grants: Expedition proposals are due for Adventure Grants sponsored by Outside magazine and Hi-Tec. The grants allow students ages 12 to 17 to create an idea for the adventure of their dreams; the winning team is provided the funding and logistical support for a real expedition, which will take place during the summer of this year. Contact: John Alderman, (505) 989-7100; e-mail: jalderman@outsidemag.com; Web site: http://outside.starwave.com.
May 15--Wal-Mart scholarships: Applications are due for the Wal-Mart Competitive Edge Scholarship, sponsored by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The scholarship is awarded to 240 college-bound students who have a strong interest in science and technology, good academic standing, and a record of community involvement. Contact: Keely Beene, Community Programs, W-MSI, 702 Southwest 8th St., Bentonville, Ark. 72716-9002.
TEACHER FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
March 1--James Madison fellowship: Applications are due for the James Madison Memorial Fellowship, sponsored by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. The fellowship is awarded to in-service secondary school teachers of American history, American government, and social studies in grades 7-12, and to graduating or graduated collegians who wish to become secondary school teachers in those subjects. Each year at least one award of up to $24,000 covers tuition, fees, books, room, and board associated with study leading to a master’s degree in American history, political science, or education with concentrations in the framing, principles, and history of the U.S. Constitution. Stipends cover five years of part-time study by teachers or two years of full-time study by recent baccalaureates. Contact: JMFP, P.O. Box 4030, Iowa City, Iowa 52243-4030; (800) 525-6928; fax: (319) 337-1204; e-mail: recogprog@act-act4po.act.org.
March 1--Science grant: Entries are due for the Ms. Frizzle Award, sponsored by Scholastic Inc. The award, named for the character at the helm of The Magic School Bus book series and television series, asks K-6 educators to answer the question “What would you do if you had the resources to create an exemplary science program?” The elementary school teacher who submits the winning grant proposal will receive a grant valued at $10,000 to develop and implement his or her special science program--$5,000 in cash, $5,000 in books and other Scholastic educational resources--and a trip to the National Science Teachers Association annual conference in April 1998. In addition, two honorable-mention awards will include $1,000 each in books, software, and other products. Contact: Ms. Frizzle Award, Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012; (212) 343-6801.
April 1--Environmental ethics: Applications are due for scholarships available for traditional and nontraditional teachers for a hands-on field course, Teaching Environmental Ethics, June 22-29 and July 27-Aug.3, 1997. The course, sponsored by the Four Corners School in Monticello, Utah, will give teachers skills to help students form an environmental ethic and learn how to act on it. Contact: FCS, P.O. Box 1029, Monticello, Utah 84535; (801) 587-2156.
April 1--NewCurrents award: Entries are due for the NewsCurrents Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Knowledge Unlimited. The award recognizes teachers who use the weekly NewsCurrents program most effectively with their students. The winning teacher will receive a $1,000 cash award and a certificate of recognition. Contact: NewsCurrents, (800) 356-2303.
* April 30--Teacher grant: Entries are due for the 1997 BET on Learning Teacher Grant Competition, sponsored by Black Entertainment Television. The competition is open to teachers grade 6-12 at state accredited public or private U.S. schools and is designed to reward teachers who incorporate the use of electronic media in the classroom. Entries will based on content and purpose, creativity and innovative approach, integration of subject matter, and benefit of cooperative learning to students. A grand prize award of $1,500 and a one year subscription to Emerge magazine, along with a TV and VCR to go to the winner’s school. The second prize is $1,000 and a one year subscription to Emerge. Contact: Holly Cypress, BET, (202) 608-2076.
Teaching in Lithuania: The American Professional Partnership for Lithuanian Education, an organization working to help Lithuania build a new educational system, is seeking volunteer American teachers of English who can spend an academic year or semester teaching in Lithuania. APPLE, an nonprofit organization, cannot provide travel expenses; housing and salary in local currency will be provided by the Ministry of Education in Lithuania. There is no specific deadline for application. Contact: APPLE, Dalile Polikaitis, 1501 Valecroft Ave., Westlake Village, Calif. 91361; phone/fax: (805) 496-9711.
OTHER DEADLINES
* Feb. 7--Service awards: Nominations are due for the Ellen Lurie and Josephine Shaw Lowell Community Service Awards, sponsored by the Community Service Society of New York, a private, nonprofit group that advocates on the behalf of the poor in the areas of education, housing, health care, and income maintenance. The Ellen Lurie Award of $15,000 is given to three honorees working for social change in nonprofit organizations, either as a staff members, board members, or volunteers; the Josephine Shaw Lowell Award of $15,000 is given to a woman who best embodies Josephine Lowell’s goal of service and empowerment. Contact: CSS, Department of Communications, 105 E. 22nd St., New York, N.Y. 10010; (212) 614-5415.
Feb. 10--Charles A. Dana Award: Nominations are due for the 1997 Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievements in Education, created to focus public attention on innovative ideas for strengthening American education. The $50,000 award honors individuals whose innovations have demonstrated potential for improving the quality of preschool and K-12 education. Contact: CADAPAE, Office of the President, Education Commission of the States, 707 17th St., Suite 2700, Denver, Colo. 80202-3427; (303) 299-3628; fax: (303) 296-8332; e-mail: bmondragon@ecs.org.
* March 17--McGraw education prize: Nominations are due for the 1997 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, sponsored by the McGraw Hill Companies. Each year up to three $25,000 prizes are awarded to individuals who have made a difference in American education and whose programs and ideas can serve as effective models for the education of future generations. Contact: Elaine Doyle, Program Coordinator, (212) 512-3853; fax: (212) 512-3514. Web site: http: www.mcgraw-hill.com.
April 28--Nestl‚ bake-sale contest: Entries are due for the Nestl‚ Toll House Bake Sale Contest, sponsored by Nestl‚ USA. Schools holding spring bake sales are invited to compete against schools nationwide to win a grand prize of $10,000. Four schools selected as runners-up will receive $1,000 each. Winning schools will be selected on criteria that include school spirit, event marketing efforts. and the ratio of funds raised to the number of students enrolled in the school. Contact: C. Holevas, NTHBSC, 1800 Century Park East, Suite 200, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067.
