Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*Early Fall GOVERNMENT
The United States Senate Youth Program, funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, selects 104 high school juniors and seniors for a trip to Washington, D.C., to study the branches of national government. Winners also receive a $2,000 college scholarship. To apply, elected student-government officers take their state’s qualifying test. Two winners from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense dependents schools are selected for the week-long trip to Washington in March. Deadlines for the test vary by state. For more information, contact the Hearst Foundation at (800) 841-7048.
October 1 MUSIC COMPOSITION
The Delius Association of Florida and Jacksonville University announce the 15th Annual High School Composition Contest. Students in grades 10-12 are eligible to submit compositions for up to eight musicians using piano, organ, band or orchestra instruments, or voices. The first-prize winner receives $200; the second-prize winner, $100. Contact: Delius Composition Contest for High School Composers, College of Fine Arts, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394; (904) 745-7370.
October 2 ART
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts announces its Arts Recognition and Talent Search Program, open to high school seniors or artists ages 17 and 18. The foundation selects 125 students to travel to Miami for workshops and auditions and receive hotel accommodations, meals, ground transportation, and cash awards ranging from $100 to $3,000. About 20 of the artists are named Presidential Scholars in the Arts and are honored at the White House. Awards are based on merit in one of nine art forms. Applicants pay a $35 entry fee. Contact: National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, (800) 970-2787; www.artsawards.org.
October 31 COMMUNITY SPIRIT
The National Association of Secondary School Principals announces the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The awards annually recognize middle-level and high school students who have demonstrated outstanding initiative or leadership in their communities. Schools may select one honoree for every 1,000 students enrolled. One high school student and one middle-level student in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are named state honorees and receive $1,000, a silver medallion, and an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Ten state winners (five high school and five middle-level students) are named national honorees and receive an additional $5,000, a gold medal, and a trophy for their schools. Program packets are available in schools in September. Contact: National Association of Secondary School Principals, Department of Student Activities, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1537; (703) 860-0200 or (800) 253-7746; fax (703) 476-5432; e-mail spirit@principals.org; www.prudential.com/community/s pirit.
October 31 RICE KRISPIES TREATS
K-6 students, along with their teachers and parents, are invited to create a Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats sculpture and compete for a $10,000 grand prize for their school. Sculptures must be made with Kellogg’s brand Rice Krispies or Cocoa Krispies and are judged on educational value, creativity, structure, and team approach. First, second, and third runners-up win $5,000, $4,000, and $3,000, respectively; four honorable mentions win $2,000 each. For more information, contact: Kellogg’s contest hotline at (800) 962-0065.
October 31 SCHOLARSHIPS
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation offers merit-based scholarships to college-bound seniors. Students are evaluated on leadership abilities, academic achievements, and motivation to succeed. Fifty are chosen as national scholars and receive $20,000 college scholarships. Another 200 students are designated regional scholars and receive $4,000 each. For more information, contact: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, (404) 733-5420 or (800) 306-2653; www.thecoca- colacompany.com.
November 1 GARDENING
The National Gardening Association welcomes applicants for its Youth Garden Grants Program. Gardening programs involving at least 15 children ages 3-18 are eligible to win one of 300 grants, each worth more than $750 in tools, seeds, plants, and garden products. For more information, contact: Garden Grants Dept., PS, National Gardening Association, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403; (802) 863-5251, ext. 205; www.kidsgardening.com.
*November 1 POLITICS
Weekly Reader, publisher of classroom periodicals, invites students to participate in a contest exploring political issues. Students in grades 1-6 create artwork, multimedia displays, and audio/videotapes about issues affecting their communities. The entries will be delivered to the president at the time of the inauguration. Two winning classrooms—one from grades 1-3 and one from grades 4-6—receive $500 for class materials; 10 winning classrooms—five from grades 1-3 and five from grades 4-6—receive $100 for class materials. Contact: Weekly Reader Corp., 200 First Stamford Pl., P.O. Box 120023, Stamford, CT 06912-0023; www.weeklyreader.com.
November 1 VOLUNTEERISM
Target Corp. invites high school seniors and graduates ages 24 or younger to apply for its Target All-Around Scholarships. Scholarship criteria include volunteer and community service; five students receive $10,000, and more than 1,900 win $1,000. Applications are available at Target stores. Contact: Target All-Around Scholarship Program, (800) 316-6142; www.target.com.
November 12 CHILDREN’S ART
Pentel of America Ltd., a manufacturer of writing instruments and art materials, is sponsoring the 30th International Children’s Art Exhibition. Entrants must have been between ages 3 and 15 on January 1, 2000, and submit entry forms and two-dimensional drawings, paintings, collages, or woodcut designs. Contact: ICAE Coordinator, International Children’s Art Exhibition, Pentel of America Ltd., 2805 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90509; (800) 421-1419, ext. 269; www.pentel.com.
November 24 PHOTOGRAPHY
The LaMotte Co., provider of environmental-education equipment, offers students a chance to win free equipment for their schools or other educational programs through its Environmental Education Photo Contest. Students or teachers submit photographs showing students working with LaMotte testing equipment; entries must include a brief description of how students use the equipment. First-, second-, and third-prize winners are awarded $500, $250, and $100 merchandise certificates, respectively; honorable mention winners receive a $50 certificate. Contact: LaMotte Co., P.O. Box 329, Chestertown, MD 21620; (800) 344-3100 or (410) 778-3100; e-mail ese@lamotte.com; www.lamotte.com.
*November 29 SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
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. For more information, contact: Intel Science Talent Search, c/o Science Service, 1719 N St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 785-2255; e-mail sciedu@sciserv.org; www.sciserv.org.
*December 1 ANIMAL PROTECTION
The Fund for Animals, a national animal protection organization, announces two essay contests for students. Elementary and middle school students describe what it feels like to be a deer in hunting season in essays of 200 words or fewer (grades 4-5) or 500 words or fewer (grades 6-8). High school students write essays of 750 words or fewer and answer the question, “Why should animal cruelty laws protect dogs and cats but not animals who live in the wild?” 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. For more information, contact: Project Respect, Fund for Animals, 8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 585-2591; fax (301) 585-2595; e-mail lmiller@fund.org.
*December 1 ART
Puffs facial tissue, a product of Procter and Gamble, sponsors the Puffs Back-to-School Design the Box Contest, inviting K-6 kids to create a design with the theme, “What I like best about school.” Entries, which may be done in crayon, marker, pencil, pen, chalk, or paint, are judged based on the appropriateness of the design, originality, and charm. The grand-prize winner receives a $25,000 savings bond for college and a Gateway personal computer, along with a digital camera for the classroom. Three first-place winners receive Gateway personal computers, and all winners get a year’s supply of Puffs. For more information, contact Puffs at (800) 77-PUFFS or visit www.puffs.com.
*December 1 FIRE PREVENTION
High school seniors nationwide are invited to write an essay for the American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Contest. Essays should be 700 to 1,000 words and include a bibliography and letter of recommendation. Students describe fire sprinkler systems and tell why they are important to their community. 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 available on the Web site. Contact: Scholarship Contest, American Fire Sprinkler Association, 12959 Jupiter Rd., Suite 142, Dallas, TX 75238; (214) 349-5965; fax (214) 343-8898; www.sprinklernet.org.
*December 1 LITERATURE
The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book and the Weekly Reader Corp. invite students to enter Letters About Literature 2001, an essay contest. Students write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how the author’s work changed their 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. Contact: Weekly Reader Corp., 200 First Stamford Pl., Stamford, CT 06912-0023; (203) 705-3500; lcweb.loc.gov/loc/cfbook /letters.html.</ p>
*December 1 PEACE POSTER
Lions Clubs International invites students ages 11-13 to participate in its 2000-2001 Peace Poster Contest. Contestants submit a poster—created in pencil, crayon, pen, marker, paint, or chalk—depicting this year’s theme, “United in Peace.” The grand-prize winner receives $2,500, plus an expenses-paid trip with two family members to the awards ceremony at the Lions Club International convention in Indianapolis. Participating schools must be sponsored by a Lions Club, and poster kits must be purchased by December 1. Contact: Lions Clubs International, (800) 288-8846; e-mail peaceposter@lionsclub.org; www.lionsclubs.org.
*December 1 YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS
Young Playwrights Inc. invites students ages 18 and under to write original, nonmusical plays for the Young Playwrights Festival. The festival aims to identify, develop, and encourage young playwrights to create new work for the theater. Several plays are accepted for production at the festival, and 10-12 students are invited to the YPI Writers Conference, an intensive playwriting workshop in New York City that culminates in professionally staged readings of the winning plays. For more information, contact: Young Playwrights Festival National Playwright Competition, 321 W. 44th St., Suite 906, New York, NY 10036; (212) 307-1140; fax (212) 307-1454; e-mail writeaplay@aol.com; www.youngplaywrights.org.
*December 15 RADIO
Earth and Sky Radio, in conjunction with the National Science Foundation, invites K-12 students to enter its annual Young Producers Contest. Teams of students write and record a 75-second radio show on a science or nature topic of their choice. Five shows are chosen for broadcast on the Earth and Sky Radio series. The winning team shares a $1,000 U.S. savings bond; each runner-up team splits 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 contest@earthsky.com; www.earthsky.com.
*December 31 ESSAYS
Stein Roe Mutual Funds invites students in grades 5-7 to participate in its Young Investor Fund Essay Contest. Essays on the importance of money and investing are judged on content, writing style, and writing mechanics. First-, second-, and third-place winners are selected for each grade. 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. Contact: The Young Investor Fund Essay Contest, Stein Roe Mutual Funds, One S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606; (800) 403-KIDS.
—Mesha Williams
