Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*February-March ART AND WRITING
Scholastic Books announces the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for students currently enrolled in grades 7-12. The contest recognizes approximately 50,000 regional winners. Nationally, 1,100 students’ individual works receive Pinnacle, Gold, or Silver Awards in each of 16 art and eight writing categories. High school seniors may also submit a body of art or writing for Portfolio Awards. In June, national award recipients are honored at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Corcoran Gallery features the winning art, and the Washington Monarch Hotel hosts a reading to celebrate writing-award winners. Scholastic annually bestows nearly $250,000 in cash awards on the national and regional level. In addition, seniors who submit portfolios compete for scholarships totaling $1.5 million. Deadlines vary depending on regions. For more information, contact: Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; (212) 343-6493 or (212) 343-6892; e-mail A&WGeneralInfo@Scholastic.com; www.scholastic.com/artandwriting .
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. Thirty-one awards are given: one $20,000 scholarship, 10 $4,000 scholarships, and 20 $1,000 scholarships. For more information, contact: Horace Mann Co., Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 20490, Springfield, IL 62708-0001; (217) 789-2500; www.horacemann.com.
*February 15 SCHOLARSHIP
Datatel Scholars Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the computer software company, offers a scholarship to students attending or planning to attend a Datatel client college or university or working at a Datatel noneducation client site and enrolled in any college or university in the upcoming academic year. Applicants send a list of achievements, a personal essay summarizing educational goals and objectives, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. Children of Vietnam veterans planning to attend a Datatel client college or university are also eligible for the Angelfire Scholarship; applicants submit a personal essay describing how the Vietnam War affected them and their educational goals. All scholarships range from $700 to $2,000, depending on the undergraduate tuition of each school. The number of awards given depends on the number and quality of applicants. To determine if a school is a Datatel client, visit the Web site. For more information, contact: Datatel Scholars Foundation, 4375 Fair Lakes Ct., Fairfax, VA 22033; (800) 486-4332; e-mail scholars@datatel.com; www.datatel.com.
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. 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 28 ESSAY
Optimist International invites high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 from all over North America to write short essays that answer the question: Are we losing our freedom? Optimist Clubs send local winners to district contests to compete for expenses-paid trips to a youth leadership conference at Valley Forge, Pa. District winners also participate in the national essay contest, which awards scholarships worth $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 to first-, second-, and third- place winners, respectively. In addition to the scholarship, the first-place winner receives an expenses-paid trip with his or her parents to the annual Optimist International convention. For more information, contact: Optimist International, 4494 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, M0 63108; (800) 500- 8130, ext. 224; e-mail programs@optimist.org; www.optimist.org.
*February 28 SCHOLARSHIP
Wells Fargo announces a scholarship program for all college-bound high school seniors. Two hundred and fifty scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded upon completion of enrollment at a college or university. Scholarships are distributed by random drawings, and applications are available online. For more information, call Wells Fargo Education Financial Services at (800) 658-3567 or go to the Web site, www.wellsfargo.com.
*March WRITING AND ILLUSTRATION
PBS and Reading Rainbow are accepting entries for the Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, inviting children in grades K-3 to let their imaginations run wild as storybook writers and illustrators. Stories can be nonfiction or fiction, prose or poetry, and must be accompanied by a minimum of five original color illustrations. A panel of local community judges evaluates entries based on originality, creative expression, storytelling, and integration of copy and illustrations. Local winners from each grade are selected to participate in the national competition. Prizes for national winners include a computer, printer, VCR, and Reading Rainbow library set. Deadlines vary according to individual stations. For more information, including contact information for state stations, visit the Web site, gpn.unl.edu/rainbow.
March 1 CARTOONS
NewsCurrents, a weekly current events program produced for schools by Knowledge Unlimited Inc., announces its 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, 2001. For more information, contact: Knowledge Unlimited, NewsCurrents Editorial Cartoon Contest, P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701; (800) 356-2303; www.knowledgeunlimited.com.
*March 1 EPILEPSY
Pfizer, a national pharmaceutical company, invites nominations for the Pfizer 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: Paul Darrah, Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship Award, IntraMed Educational Group, 230 Park Ave. S., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10003; (212) 614-4100; paul_darrah@nyc.sudler.com.
*March 1 ESSAYS
Kaplan Inc. and Newsweek magazine invite college-bound high school students to submit original essays of 500-1,000 words for the annual My Turn essay contest. Ten high school students each receive $1,000 for educational needs. The winning entries, plus 10 honorable mentions, may be published by Newsweek Education Program. Applications may be obtained through high school guidance counselors or any Kaplan Inc. test-preparation center. For more information, contact: Kaplan/Newsweek, My Turn Essay Contest, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10106; (800) KAP-TEST.
*March 1 GRAPHICS COMMUNICATIONS
The directors of the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation annually sponsor a national competition for students interested in professional and executive careers in the graphics communications industry. Full-time high school seniors or high school graduates who have not yet attended college may apply for one of the 300 scholarships worth from $1,000 to $1,500. Candidates are judged on high school academic records, class rank, recommendations from school authorities, extracurricular activities, and academic honors. For more information, contact: Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, 200 Deer Run Rd., Sewickley, PA 15143-2600; (412) 741-6860, ext. 309; fax (412) 741-2311; e-mail ptsf@gatf.org; www.gatf.org.
*March 1 HANDWRITING
Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers announces a National Handwriting Contest for students in grades 1-6. Six national champions, one from each grade, receive a $500 U.S. savings bond, a pen, and a T-shirt, as well as prizes for their parents, teachers, classmates, and principals. One grand national champion receives prizes worth more than $1,000. Entries are judged based on size, shape, slant, and spacing. The contest is open to all students using the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting method. For more information, contact: Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, P.O. Box 16764, Columbus, OH 43216-6769; (800) 924-9233; www.zaner-bloser.com.
March 1 KOREAN STUDIES
The Korea Society invites students in grades 8-12 to submit essays discussing the impact of the Internet on the relationship between Korea and America, the challenges facing U.S. companies that do business in the Korean market, or the similarities and differences between teens in Korea and the United States. Cash prizes are awarded; a grand-prize winner also gets a weeklong trip for two to Korea. Contact: Director, Korean Studies, Korea Society, 950 Third Ave., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022; (212) 759-7525, ext. 25; www.essayonkorea.org.
*March 1 SCHOLARSHIP
Local Wal-Mart stores offer Sam Walton Community Scholarships to college-bound high school students. Each of the 2,300 college scholarships are worth $1,000 and may be put toward the first year’s tuition, books, or on-campus room and board. Each Wal-Mart store distributes applications to high school counselors in January. Wal-Mart also offers $6,000 Walton Foundation Scholarships to 100 children of full-time employees, and high school seniors who are themselves employees are eligible for Associate Scholarships. All applicants are judged on financial need, academic record, and ACT/SAT scores. Contact: Wal-Mart Foundation, Scholarship Programs, 702 S.W. Eighth St., Bentonville, AR 72716-9740; (800) 530-9925; www.walmartfoundation. org/scholarships.html.
*March 1 SCIENCE
The Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute, a month-long program that invites gifted high school seniors to conduct research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, offers full scholarships and travel expenses to 20 participants. For three weeks, students work in campus laboratories with leading Israeli scientists and graduate students; they spend the last week doing field research in the Judean Desert. The program also includes weekend visits to major cities and participation in social activities. For more information, contact: Debbie Calise, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, 130 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10022; (212) 895-7906; e-mail debbie@acwis.org.
*March 1 SMALL BUSINESS
Padgett Business Services announces a scholarship for college-bound high school seniors, regardless of their intended fields of study. Applicants must be dependents of small-business owners who employ fewer than 20 individuals, own at least 10 percent of the stock or capital in the business, and are active in the day-to-day operations of the organization. Applicants also must be U.S. or Canadian citizens. Scholarships range from $500 to $4,000. For more information, contact: Maryann Aguilera, 160 Hawthorne Park, Athens, GA 30306; (706) 548-1040; e-mail scholarship@smallbizpros.com or webmaster@pbs-c.com; www.pbs- c.com/scholarship.htm.
*March 2 SPACE DAY
Space Day 2001 launches a series of Design Challenges for youngsters in grades 4-6 in preparation for the international celebration of space on May 3, 2001. Under teachers’ supervision, teams of four to six students use math, science, and technology skills to create solutions to three real challenges encountered by people living and working in space. Twelve teams are deemed “stellar” and recognized at a Space Day celebration at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. For more information, contact Paula Correa, (202) 833-8121; spaceday2001@aol.com; www.spaceday.com.
*March 12 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 and build a tool. Ten finalists each receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; two winners are awarded an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Their schools also receive prizes. For more information, 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/craftsma n.htm.
*March 14 INTERNET CHALLENGE
ThinkQuest Junior, a classroom-based competition that encourages students in grades 4-6 to take a meaningful interest in computers and technology, invites teams of two to six students and one to two coaches to create educational Web sites on a variety of subjects, including arts and literature, science and mathematics, sports and health, and social studies. First-, second-, and third-place awards are given in each of five categories. Student prizes range from $500 to $1,500 per student, while winning coaches receive $1,000 to $2,500. For more information, contact: ThinkQuest, 200 Business Park Dr., Suite 301, Armonk, NY 10590; (914) 765-8332; www.thinkquest.org.
*March 15 HANDWRITING
Peterson Directed Handwriting is sponsoring the National Cursive Handwriting Contest for students in grades 3-8. Entries are judged on such characteristics as fluent control of letter formation, forward slant, size, proportion, and spacing. One winner from each grade receives a $50 U.S. savings bond and a framed certificate. All entries judged “excellent” are elected to the National Cursive Handwriting Honor Society and are awarded a certificate of recognition. 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. For more information, contact: Peterson Handwriting, P.O. Box 249, Greensburg, PA 15601-0249; (724) 837-4900; e-mail mrpencil@peterson- handwriting.com; www.peterson-handwriting.com.
—Kate Ryan