Following are application deadlines for awards, honors, and contests available to teachers. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*Open PHOTOGRAPHY
Starlight Cameras, makers of Merlin Pinhole Cameras and darkroom kits, give a complimentary camera to a school every week. To request a camera, darkroom kit, and instruction book, teachers e-mail short descriptions of their schools’ photography programs; the school’s address should be included. For more information, contact: Jim Kosinski, Starlight Cameras, P.O. Box 540, Cherry Valley, NY 13320; (607) 264-3480; e-mail merlin@paintcancamera.com; www.paintcancamera.com.
March 31 DISNEY AWARDS
The Walt Disney Company asks students, parents, administrators, teachers, and community members to nominate K-12 teachers who ignite the spark of creativity in their classrooms for Disney’s American Teacher Awards. Each nominee completes an application packet provided by the Walt Disney Company, and a national committee of educators chooses about 30 honorees. Each wins $10,000, and his or her school receives $5,000. The honorees also participate in a summer professional-development program, enabling them to maximize their abilities as innovative teacher leaders. In addition, the Outstanding Teacher of the Year receives a $25,000 honorarium; his or her school receives $10,000. Starting February 1, nominations may be made by calling (877) ATA-TEACH or logging on to www.disneylearning.org.
April 6 PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, annually recognizes organizations for performance excellence in five categories, including education. Public and private elementary and secondary schools are eligible to receive the awards. Up to three winners are chosen based on such criteria as student learning achievements and improvements in education design and delivery, leadership, and strategic planning. For more information, contact: Baldrige National Quality Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Administration Building, Room A600, 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1020; (301) 975-2036; fax (301) 948-3716; e-mail nqp@nist.gov; www.quality.nist.gov.
April 14 CABLE TELEVISION
Time Warner Cable announces its National Teacher Awards. Educators from state-accredited private or public schools in Time Warner Cable service areas are eligible. Candidates submit examples of innovative classroom activities developed using cable programming or the Internet. Twenty teachers or teacher teams receive $1,000 and expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. Contact the local Time Warner Cable company or: Bonnie Hathaway, Time Warner Cable, Corporate Communications, 290 Harbor Dr., Stamford, CT 06902; (203) 328-0620; e-mail bonnie.hathaway@twcable.com.
April 15 INCLUSION
AbleNet Inc., which designs devices to assist people with disabilities, announces its Tristar Award. The award recognizes educators who demonstrate vision and innovation in using simple technology to enable people with severe disabilities to participate in activities at home, school, work, and in the community. Individuals or teams of two or more people may apply. The winner receives a $500 AbleNet gift certificate, $500 for travel to the group’s Closing the Gap conference, and a $1,000 gift certificate for the submitting school. Second- and third-place prizes also are awarded. For more information, contact: AbleNet Inc., 2002 Tristar Award, 1081 10th Ave. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414-1312; (800) 322-0956; fax (612) 379-9143; e-mail customerservice@ablenetinc.com; www.ablenetinc.com.
April 29 ESSAY CONTEST
The Harry Singer Foundation, an organization that promotes responsibility and involvement in public policy, invites teachers to write essays answering the question “What do we do when adults refuse to be good role models for their children?” in 1,000 to 2,000 words. The grand-prize winner receives $5,000; 10 awards of $100 also are granted. For more information, contact: Essay Contest, Harry Singer Foundation, P.O. Box 223159, Carmel, CA 93922; (831) 625-4223; fax (831) 624-7994; e-mail staff@singerfoundation.org; www.singerfoundation.org.
April 30 HEROES
ING Northern Annuity, a national insurance company, seeks applicants for the Education’s Unsung Heroes Awards. Full-time K-12 educators, paraprofessionals, and school staff who have initiated effective teaching programs are eligible. One hundred finalists win $2,000 to further their projects. Three winners receive an additional $25,000, $10,000, or $5,000 for their projects. For more information, contact: Kathy Walton, Education’s Unsung Heroes Awards, Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, 1505 Riverview Rd., St. Peter, MN 56082; (800) 426-7050, ext. 62888; www.unsungheroes.com.
April 30 SOCIAL STUDIES
The National Council for the Social Studies honors outstanding social studies programs through the Social Studies Programs of Excellence Award. Programs must be nominated through state councils for the social studies. Awards are given in three grade categories: K-6, 5-9, and 9-12. Winners receive a commemorative gift for their schools, teacher certificates, and the opportunity to present at the NCSS annual conference. Because deadlines vary, applicants should contact their state council award coordinator for details. Contact: Ana Post, Manager of Recognition Programs and Special Projects, NCSS, 8555 16th St., Suite 300, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 588- 1800, ext. 114; fax (301) 588-2049; e-mail apost@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org /awards/curriculum.html.
*May 15 HISTORY
The History Channel presents the Award for Outstanding Contribution in History Education to a teacher, media specialist, district or state History Day coordinator, judge, or volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional service to and participation in the National History Day program. One winner receives $3,000, a history video library, and a television and VCR for classroom use. Criteria include success in involving students in the program, interest in professional development, and service to both the National History Day program and the field of history. For more information, contact: History Channel Award, National History Day, 0119 Cecil Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; (301) 314-9739; www.nationalhistoryday.org.
*May 17 AEROSPACE
The Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award, offered by the Aerospace Education Foundation, honors one public, private, or parochial K-12 teacher who furthers the concepts of aerospace technology through innovative classroom programs. The award includes a $1,000 stipend and a trip to Washington, D.C., where the winner is recognized at the Air Force Association National Convention. Each applicant must have a letter of endorsement by an AFA sponsor and a letter of support from an administrator. Contact: Aerospace Education Foundation, 1501 Lee Hwy., Arlington, VA 22209; (800) 291-8480; fax (703) 247-5853; e-mail AEFstaff@aef.org; www.aef.org/awards/christa.html.
*May 24 FOREIGN LANGUAGES
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages asks national, state, and regional members to nominate educators for its Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education. Nominees must be K-12 foreign language teachers or administrators with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience. They also must be members of the council with at least three years’ standing and spend at least half of each school year teaching a foreign language. The winner receives a $500 cash award and a plaque. Contact: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 6 Executive Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701-6801; (914) 963-8830, ext. 227; www.actfl.org.
*June 1 FIRE SAFETY
The National Fire Protection Association and the family of Rhea Reiss, a longtime advocate of fire safety education, seek nominations for the sixth annual NFPA Teacher of the Year Award. Full- or part-time classroom teachers or day-care providers in public, private, or parochial school systems that have used the NFPA’s “Risk Watch” or “Learn Not to Burn” educational materials are eligible. One grand-prize winner and the individual who nominates him or her receive education materials and an expenses-paid trip to the NFPA’s fall conference in Atlanta. For more information, contact: Amy Shadrick, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269; (617) 984-7285; e-mail ashadrick@nfpa.org; www.riskwatch.org.
*June 1 SOCIAL STUDIES
The National Council for the Social Studies sponsors the Exemplary Research in Social Studies Award to acknowledge and encourage scholarly inquiry into significant issues and possibilities for social studies education. Eligible research must have been published between June 2001 and May 2002, focus on social education, advance the teaching and learning of social studies, and satisfy a number of other criteria. The award includes a commemorative gift, annual conference presentation session, and publicity. For more information, contact: NCSS, 8555 16th St., Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 588-1800, ext. 106; e-mail information@ncss.org; www.ncss.org/awards.
*June 29 OUTSTANDING TEACHERS
USA Today seeks nominations for the All-USA Teacher Team. The 20 teachers chosen for the First Team are featured in the newspaper and receive trophies; their schools get $2,500. Second and Third Team teachers also are named. All nominees must be certified K-12 teachers in the 2001-02 school year, have four years of full-time teaching experience, and meet other criteria. Self-nominations are not accepted. Contact: Carol Skalski, USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108-9995; (800) 872-2216 or (703) 854-5890; e-mail allstars@usatoday.com; www.allstars.usatoday.com.
—Rose Gordon
