Educator and School Awards, Contests, Fellowships, and Other Deadlines
Feb. 15—Science & technology: Proposals are due for Hewlett-Packard’s 2007 Technology for Teaching grants. K-12 schools that demonstrate the use of a team-based approach to implementing technology-integration projects are eligible to receive grants of at least $30,000. Proposals must be completed online at www.hp.com/go/hpteach.
Feb. 28—Libraries: Nominations are due for the Sarah Jaffarian School Library Program Award, sponsored by the American Library Association, honoring K-8 school libraries that have conducted exemplary humanities programs in the previous school year. School libraries are invited to nominate themselves by filling out an application online. One winner will receive $4,000. Contact: ALA Public Programs Office, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; (312) 280-5045; e-mail: publicprograms@ala.org; Web site: www.ala.org/ala/ppo/jaffarianaward.htm.
Feb. 28—Foreign language: Applications are due for study-abroad scholarships from don Quijote. High schools, colleges, and universities must present their innovative plans to promote the learning of the Spanish language. Twenty winning institutions will each receive one scholarship for the student of their choice to attend a two-week language course at a don Quijote school in Spain or Mexico. More information is available at www.donquijote.org.
March 1—Risk management: Applications are due for scholarships to pay for attending the Public Risk Management Association’s Conference and Expo in June. The Public Entity Risk Institute plans to award up to 40 scholarships worth $1,000 each to representatives of small local governments, school districts, and nonprofit organizations. School personnel applicants must come from districts with an average daily attendance of 8,000 or fewer. Contact: Public Entity Risk Institute, 11350 Random Hills Road, Suite 210, Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 352-1846; fax: (703) 352-6339; Web site: www.riskinstitute.org/peri.
March 15—Special education: Applications are due for the 2007 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education, sponsored by Heartspring. Professionals who use creativity to reach children with special needs can be nominated or nominate themselves. The winner will receive $1,000 and a trip to a four-day summer session. Contact: Jan Buxton, 8700 E. 29th St. N., Wichita, KS 67226; (316) 634-8792; e-mail: jbuxton@heartspring.org; Web site: www.heartspring.org.
Student Awards, Contests, and Scholarships
Feb. 12—Science & technology: Entries are due for the Christopher Columbus awards, sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Foundation. Middle school students are challenged to identify a community issue and use science to solve it. Students compete in teams of up to four, with a coach. Finalists win a trip to Walt Disney World to compete for savings bonds and a $25,000 grant to help bring their idea to life. Contact: The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, 105 Terry Drive, Suite 120, Newtown, PA 18940-3425; (800) 291-6020; fax: (215) 579-8589; e-mail: success@edumedia.com; Web site: www.christophercolumbusawards.com.
Feb. 12—Science & technology: Entries are due for the DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition, sponsored by the DuPont Center for Collaborative Research and Education. Students in grades 7-12 write essays of 700 to 1,000 words discussing a scientific discovery, theory, event, or technology application that has captured their interest. Awards from $100-$3,000 are given in junior and senior divisions; sponsoring science teachers are also eligible for prizes. Contact: The DuPont Challenge 2007 Science Essay Awards Competition, c/o General Learning Communications, 900 Skokie Blvd., Suite 200, Northbrook, Illinois 60062; (847) 205-3000; Web site: www.glcomm.com/dupont/index.htm.
Feb. 28—Writing: Submissions are due for the Joan Lowery Nixon Award mystery writing contest, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. Students in grades 2-10 compete for $250 prizes. Contact: Mystery Writers of America, 17 E. 47th St., 6th floor, New York, NY 10017; (212) 888-8171; fax: (212) 888-8107; e-mail: mwa@mysterywriters.org; Web site: www.mysterywriters.org/MWAreads.htm.
March 9—Arts education: Entries are due for the 2007 SemperComm Art Competition, sponsored by the SemperComm Foundation. High school students may enter art that works around the theme “For Them” and reflects the foundation’s activities. Three categories of artwork are being accepted: photography, illustration, and mixed media. Winners will be invited to attend the SemperComm Gala in May. Contact: Jessica Gladstone, (703) 923-7613; e-mail: graphics@sempercomm.org; Web site: www.sempercomm.org/sc/main/sempercomm.nsf/content/2007artcompetition.
March 15—Community research: Submissions are due for the International Schools Cyberfair, sponsored by the Global SchoolNet Foundation.Schools or organizations create a Web site based on research about their local communities. This year’s theme is “Empower and Unite.” Projects that tell inspirational stories and best illustrate “future thinking” will be invited to the World Future Society international conference in Minneapolis in July 2007. For complete submission instructions, visit www.gsn.org/GSH/cf/index.html or e-mail: cyberfair2007@globalschoolnet.org.
March 15—Student research: Submissions are due for Doors to Diplomacy, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Teams of 2-4 students and 1-2 adult coaches create a Web site on one of eight categories, such as science and technology; safety and security; or business, trade and economics. Each student team member of the winning team receives a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches’ schools each receive a $500 cash award. For more information, visit www.gsn.org/gsh/doors/index.html or e-mail: diplomacy2007@globalschoolnet.org.