Education

FOR YOUR STUDENTS

January 01, 1999 10 min read
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Following is a list of contests, scholarships, and internships for students organized by application deadline. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.

*December 31. Student Publications.
EdPress, an independent professional association for educational publishers, announces the Distinguished Achievement Awards for Excellence in Student Publications, a new national awards program that recognizes outstanding student publishing. Entries are judged according to editorial and design principles, and two winners in each of three categories--elementary, middle, and high school--receive a $500 award, plus $500 in educational materials from EdPress. Winners are presented at the 1999 EdPress Distinguished Achievement Awards banquet on June 11 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact: EdPress, (609) 256-4610; e-mail edpress@aol.com; www.EdPress.org.

*January. Monetary Policy.
The Federal Reserve Bank System is sponsoring the 1999 Fed Challenge, a national economics competition for high school students. Teams of students work with a teacher to recommend a monetary policy for the United States. Teams are judged on formal presentations made before Federal Reserve officials. Regional winning teams receive $4,000 scholarships for each student, plus a $15,000 grant for the team’s school. The national winning team receives $10,000 scholarships for each student, plus a $50,000 grant to set up a school economics laboratory. Winning students are offered internships at Citibank. For more information, contact: Fed Challenge, (877) 333-2454; www.ny.frb.org/pihome/educator/fedchal.html.

January 14. Batteries.
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to design and build devices powered by Duracell batteries for the annual Duracell/National Science Teachers Association Scholarship Competition. There are two categories: grades 6-9 and 10-12. Students may enter individually or in teams of two. Fifty winners in each category receive savings bonds worth between $500 and $20,000. First- and second-place winners, their parents, and their teacher/sponsors are flown to awards events at the NSTA convention in Boston in March 1999. Teachers of the six top prize winners each receive $2,000 gift certificates for computers and accessories, and nearly 100 other teachers win other awards. For more information, contact: Duracell/NSTA Scholarship Competition, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; (888) 255-4242; www.nsta.org/programs/duracell.shtml.

January 15. Web Pages.
Advanced Network and Services Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes technology in education, sponsors ThinkQuest Junior, an international contest that challenges students in grades 4-6 to build educational Web sites that are interactive teaching and learning tools. Winners and their teachers and schools receive scholarships and cash. Contact: Advanced Network and Services Inc.; www.thinkquest.org.

January 27. Peace.
The United States Institute of Peace announces the National Peace Essay Contest for students in grades 9-12. In this year’s competition, students analyze two 20th-century conflicts, at least one of which must be post-World War II, and discuss how preventative measures were taken to avoid violent international conflict. First-place winners from each state receive $750 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/et.html.

January 29. National Honor Society.
National Honor Society chapters may nominate for scholarships two senior chapter members who have shown outstanding character, earned good grades, performed community service, and demonstrated strong leadership skills. Sponsored by the National Honor Society and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, this program awards 250 scholarships of $1,000 each. For more information, contact: National Asso- ciation of Secondary School Principals, Department of Student Activities, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1537; (703) 860-0200; fax (703) 476-5432; e-mail dsa@nassp.org; www.nassp.org.

January 30. Architecture Design.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture sponsors the 1999 National Architecture Design Competition for High School Students. Participants design a community pool for their hometown. The top prize is a five-year scholarship to NJIT’s School of Architecture. Second prize is a five-year, half- tuition scholarship; four third-prize winners receive $250 cash awards. For more information, contact: Craig Konyk, Competition Coordinator, School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102-1982; (201) 596-3080; fax (201) 596-8296; e-mail soacomp@hertz.njit.edu.

January 31. Art And Environment.
The Weather Channel and the Polaroid Education Program are sponsoring the Look Up! Challenge Sky Contest for K-5 students. Students submit artwork, photographs, or poetry inspired by observing the sky; entries are judged on creativity, originality, and effectiveness of message. First-place winners have their work displayed in the Weather Channel’s 1999-2000 Classroom Calendar and receive Polaroid cameras and film. For more information, call (800) 471-5544; www.weather.com/education.

January 31. Civics.
Lutheran Brotherhood sponsors the RespecTeen Speak for Yourself Contest for students in grades 7 and 8. Contestants research a national issue and write a letter about the topic to their U.S. representative. A panel of educators chooses a winner from each participating congressional district to receive a $50 savings bond. State winners receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. For more information, contact: Lutheran Brotherhood, 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415; (800) 984-9427; e-mail Albee.Ellen@luthbro.com; www.luthbro.com.

January 31. Float Design.
The International House of Pancakes encourages students ages 6-12 to enter its “Dream Up Our Float” contest. Students must draw a float and write a 50-word description according to the theme: “How Will Life Be Different in the 21st Century?” The winner receives an expenses-paid trip for four to the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl, plus the opportuntity to ride on the float in the parade. For more information, contact: Andrea Slavin, 525 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203; (818) 240-6055; fax (818) 553-2009.

January 31. Travel.
EF Educational Tours announces the EF Global Citizen Awards, a scholarship program for high school seniors. Ten U.S. students and two Canadian students each receive a $1,000 scholarship and a 10-day, expenses-paid educational tour of Europe. Applicants must be nominated by their schools and write an essay about what it means to be a global citizen. For more information, contact: Global Citizen Program, EF Educational Tours, EF Center Boston, One Education St., Cambridge, MA 02141-1883; (800) 637-8222; e-mail scholarships@ef.com; www.eftours.com.

February 3. Technology.
Toshiba Corp., in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association, seeks applicants for its Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards. Teams of three or four K-12 students submit descriptions of technology as it might exist 20 years in the future. Each student on four first-place teams wins a $10,000 savings bond; students on the eight second-place teams win $5,000 savings bonds. The teacher-advisers of the 12 finalist teams and their schools win Toshiba equipment. Team members, their parents, and their advisers also win a trip to Washington, D.C., for the awards ceremony. For more information, contact: Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; (800) 397-5679 or (703) 243-7100; e-mail exploravision@nsta.org; www.nsta.org/programs/explora.htm.

*February 15. Art And Poetry.
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, the Library of Congress Center for the Book, and International Rivers Network announce the fourth annual River of Words International Environmental Poetry and Art Contest. K-12 students are encouraged to submit poetry or art with watershed themes. The contest is designed to build community awareness and support of watershed protection. Winners are chosen in four age categories in both poetry and art. One international winner and eight national grand-prize winners and their parents are honored at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact: River of Words, P.O. Box 4000-J, Berkeley, CA 94704; (510) 433-7020; fax (510) 848-1008; e-mail row@irn.org; www.irn.org.

*February 19. Bridge Building.
The K’NEX Education Division, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and Holt Education, a retailer of educational products, are sponsoring a national “Bridges Across America” Design Competition. Teams of K-12 students are invited to use K’NEX toy rods and connectors to construct the lightest bridge that supports the most weight. The four-month competition begins with individual school competitions during National Engineers Week in February and continues with district, city, semifinal, and final levels. One national prize will be awarded in each of four categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. This prize includes $1,200 in classroom gift certificates, plus computer equipment for the winning students and their schools. The competition ends in June at the Astronaut Memorial Foundation Education Center at the NASA Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. For more information, contact: K’NEX Education Division, P.O. Box 700, Hatfield, PA 19440-0700; (888) 222-5639; e-mail abcknex@voicenet.com; www.knex.com.

February 28. Web Pages.
Advanced Network and Services Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes technology in education, sponsors ThinkQuest, an international contest that challenges students ages 12-19 to build educational Web sites that are interactive teaching and learning tools. Winners and their teachers and schools receive scholarships and cash awards. For more information, contact: Advanced Network and Services Inc.; www.thinkquest.org.

*March 2. Business Plan.
Independent Means Inc., a company that produces programs and products promoting girls’ financial inde- pendence, invites 13- to 21-year- old women to create their own business plan for the 1998-99 National Business Plan Competition for Young Women. Three winners receive an expenses-paid trip to a major U.S. city for an awards ceremony and a women’s business conference. For more information, contact: Independent Means Inc.; (800) 350-1816.

*March 15. Handwriting.
Peterson Directed Handwriting is sponsoring the National Cursive Handwriting Contest for students in grades 3-8. One winner from each grade receives a $50 U.S. savings bond and a framed certificate. All entries that are judged excellent are elected to the National Cursive Handwriting Honor Society and are awarded a certificate of recognition. Contestant writing samples should contain at least four lines of writing. Grade 3 entries may be done in pencil; entries from grades 4-8 must be written in ink. Entries are judged on such characteristics as letter formation, forward slant, size, and spacing. For more information, contact: Peterson Handwriting, P.O. Box 249, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 837-4900; e-mail mrpencil@peterson-handwriting.com; www.peterson-handwriting.com.

*March 19. Inventions.
The National Science Teachers Association and Sears, Roebuck and Co. have launched the second annual Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. This program encourages students in grades 3-8 to design, build, or modify a tool. Twelve regional winners each receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; the national winner is awarded an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Contact: Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; (888) 494-4994; e-mail younginventors@nsta.org; www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.htm.

--John Cochran

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