Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*January-April SCIENCE FAIR
Discovery Communications Inc., in partnership with Science Service, encourages students in grades 5-8 to participate in the second annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge. Students who enter a local or regional International Science and Engineering Fair are eligible; judges at these fairs nominate individuals for the contest. Forty finalists win a trip to Washington, D.C., for the competition, held at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History. Scholarship money and prizes totaling $40,000 are awarded. One top winner receives a $10,000 scholarship; second- and third-place winners receive $5,000 and $3,000, respectively. Contact: Discovery Communications Inc., 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814; www.discoveryschool.com/dysc.
*February 1 AMERICAN HISTORY
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution offers a scholarship to a high school senior planning a college major in American history. The $8,000 award is distributed over four years. Students must be sponsored by local DAR chapters, which set their own eligibility standards. Contact: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Office of the Committees and Scholarships, 1776 D St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006; (202) 628-1776.
February 1 WRITING CONTEST
Fulcrum Publishing announces its 1999-2000 Kids Writing Contest, “Twisted Tales and Falsified Fables: Reader’s Theatre Folktales.” K-12 students are encouraged to submit a new ending to their favorite fairy tale in the form of a theater script. Winners will be published in a Fulcrum book. For more information, contact: Twisted Tales, Fulcrum Publishing, 350 Indiana St., Suite 350, Golden, CO 80401-5093; www.fulcrum-resources.com.
February 2 TECHNOLOGY
Toshiba Corp., in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association, seeks applicants for the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards. Teams of two to 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 four second-place teams win $5,000 savings bonds. The teacher-advisers of the 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.toshiba.com/tai/exploravision.
February 12 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Horace Mann Co., an Illinois-based firm that sells insurance and retirement annuities to educators, invites college-bound high school seniors to apply for the Horace Mann Scholarship Program. For students to be eligible, their parents or legal guardians must be employed by a U.S. public school or college. Eligible students also must have a B average and a score of at least 23 on the ACT or at least 1100 on the SAT. Sixteen awards are given: one $20,000 scholarship, five $4,000 scholarships, and 10 $1,000 scholarships. For more information, contact: Horace Mann Companies, Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 20490, Springfield, IL 62708-0001; (217) 789-2500; www.horacemann.com.
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 fifth 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. Contact: IRN, Attn: ROW Contest, P.O. Box 4000-J, Berkeley, CA 94704; (510) 433-7020; fax (510) 848-1008; e-mail row@irn.org; www.irn.org.
February 15 CHEMISTRY SCHOLARSHIPS
The American Chemical Society Scholars Program invites African American, Hispanic, and Native American high school seniors and college undergraduates to apply for scholarships of up to $2,500. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and must demonstrate financial need. They also must be high achievers in chemistry or other chemical sciences, and they must intend to major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a chemical-related science in preparation for a career in the chemical sciences or chemical technology. For more information, contact: Robert Hughes, American Chemical Society Scholars Program, 1155 16th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (800) 227-5558, ext. 6250; www.acs.org/minorityaffairs/scholars.html.
February 15 TRAVEL
EF Educational Tours announces the EF Global Citizen Awards, a scholarship program for high school juniors. 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. 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 29 KOREAN STUDIES
The Korea Society invites students in grades 8-12 to submit essays discussing the Korean War’s impact on the modern history of Korea; relations among the United States, Korea, and other East Asian countries; or the development of the Korean American community. Cash prizes are awarded; a grand-prize winner also gets a weeklong trip for two to Korea. For more information, contact: Yong Jin Choi, Director, Korean Studies, Korea Society, 950 Third Ave., 8th Fl., New York, NY 10022; (212) 759-7525, ext. 17; e-mail korea.ny@koreasociety.org.
March 1 CARTOONS
NewsCurrents, a weekly current events program produced for schools by Knowledge Unlimited Inc., announces the NewsCurrents Student Editorial Cartoon Contest. Students in grades K-12 enter cartoons that are judged on clarity, originality, and knowledge of the subject. First-, second-, and third-place winners are named in three categories: K-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Winners receive savings bonds, and the top 100 cartoons are featured in the forthcoming book Editorial Cartoons by Kids, 2000. Contact: Knowledge Un limited, NewsCurrents Editorial Cartoon Contest, P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701; (800) 356-2303; www.knowledge_unlimited.com.
*March 1 EPILEPSY SCHOLARSHIP
Parke-Davis, a national pharmaceutical company, invites nominations for the Parke-Davis Epilepsy Scholarship for college students and college-bound high school seniors. Nominees must have a record of academic and extracurricular excellence and must be undergoing treatment by a physician for epilepsy. Sixteen $3,000 scholarships are awarded. For more information, contact: Jane Byun, Parke-Davis Epi lepsy Scholarship Award, c/o Intra Med Educational Group, 230 Park Ave. S., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10003; (212) 614-4100.
*March 1 ESSAY CONTEST
Kaplan Educational Centers and Newsweek magazine invite college-bound high school students and college freshman to submit original essays of 500-1,000 words for the annual “My Turn” Essay Contest. Ten high school students and three college freshman each receive $1,000 for educational needs. These winners, plus 20 honorable-mention honorees, will be published in a book entitled “My Turn” Essays: Student Voices. Applications may be obtained through high school guidance counselors or any Kaplan Educational Center. For information for high school applicants, contact: Kap lan/Newsweek, “My Turn” Essay Contest, 888 7th Ave., New York, NY 10106. For information for college applicants, contact: Kaplan/News week, “My Turn” Essay Contest, Attn: Education Programs, 251 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019. Or call (800) KAP-TEST.
*March 10 INVENTIONS
The National Science Teachers Association and Sears, Roebuck, and Co. sponsor the annual Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. This program encourages students in grades 2-8 to design, build, or modify a tool. Twelve finalists each receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; two winners are awarded an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Contact: Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201; (888) 494-4994; e-mail younginventors@nsta.org; www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.htm.
March 17 AWARDS PROGRAM
The National Association of Secondary School Principals runs the National Association of Student Councils/National Organization on Disability Awards Program, a competition to recognize student councils that have worked to involve those with disabilities in student activities. One middle or junior high school and one senior high school each receive a $500 award. The competition is supported by J.C. Penney Co. and the National Organization on Disability. For more information, contact: NASSP, Department of Student Activities-NASC/NOD, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1537; (703) 860-0200, ext. 325; fax (703) 476-5432; e-mail dsa@nassp.org; www.nassp.org.
--Jennifer Pricola
