Following are application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*November 15 ACADEMICS
VTech and the National PTA sponsor the VTech XLence Awards, which recognize children ages 5 to 11 who maintain good grades, participate in extracurricular activities, and contribute to their communities. Family members, teachers, or friends can nominate students by getting an entry form at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide or from the VTech Web site. The grand-prize winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship; five award recipients each get a $1,000 college scholarship and family computer systems; 25 finalists receive products from VTech’s XL line. Contact: XLence Awards, 36 Maple Pl., Third Floor, Department PP, Manhasset, NY 11030; (312) 297-7585; www.vtechkids.com.
*November 20 SCIENCE
The Intel Corp. offers as much as $1.2 million in awards and scholarships to high school seniors through its Science Talent Search. Students submit reports of science research projects; 40 finalists will receive a weeklong, expenses- paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Science Talent Institute. The top winner earns a $100,000, four-year scholarship. Contact: Intel Science Talent Search, Science Service, 1719 N St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 785- 2255; e-mail sciedu@sciserv.org; www.sciserv.org.
*December 1 ENGINEERING
The National Society of Professional Engineers offers national scholarships for high school seniors who plan to study engineering at a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The Auxiliary Scholarship provides $1,000 per year for four years to a young woman. The Virginia D. Henry Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 prize for a young woman’s freshman year. The Paul H. Robbins Honorary Scholarship gives $2,000 to one student, male or female. Awards may be applied to any ABET- accredited college or university and are based on SAT score, GPA, and an essay. Contact: NSPE Headquarters, Education Services, 1420 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2794; www.nspe.org.
*December 1 ENGLISH
Because kids must know the rules to break them, Cottonwood Press sponsors the Aggravate Your English Teacher Contest. In 750 or fewer words, students should commit the 50 pet peeves discussed
in the book How to Avoid English Teachers’ Pet Peeves. Prizes of $50, $30, and $20 are awarded to the top three winners in grades 5-8, 9-12, and adult. Entries must include at least 90 percent of the pet peeves; some entries will be published in future editions of the book. Contact: Cottonwood Press, 107 Cameron Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525; (800) 864-4297; www.cottonwoodpress.com.
*December 1 GIRLS SPORTS
The Women’s Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing sport and fitness experiences for girls and women, sponsors the Linda Riddle/Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Endowed Scholarship, which provides five girls of limited financial means the opportunity to be college athletes. Female seniors entering a two- or four-year college program full time in fall 2003 may apply. Applicants must have participated on a high school team and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Contact: Linda Riddle/SGMA Endowed Scholarship, Women’s Sports Foundation, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY 11554; (800) 227-3988; www.womenssportsfoundation.org .
*December 1 WRITING PLAYS
Young Playwrights Inc. invites students ages 18 and younger to write original, nonmusical plays for the Young Playwrights Festival, which aims to identify, develop, and encourage young writers. Several plays are accepted for production at the festival; 10 to 12 students are invited to the YPI Writers Conference in New York City, culminating in professionally staged readings of winning plays. Contact: Young Playwrights Festival National Play-writing Competition, 306 W. 38th St., Suite 300, New York, NY 10018; (212) 594-5440; fax (212) 594-5441; e-mail writeaplay@aol.com; www.youngplaywrights.org.
*December 7 FIRE PREVENTION
High school seniors nationwide can write a 700- to 1,000-word essay for the American Fire Sprinkler Association scholarship contest. Entries should describe the history and impact of automatic fire sprinklers and include a bibliography and letter of recommendation. Awards of $1,000 are given to seven regional winners. The first-place winner receives an additional $3,000 scholarship; second- and third-place winners get an additional $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. Applications must be submitted on the Web site. Contact: Scholarship Contest, AFSA, 12959 Jupiter Rd., Suite 142, Dallas, TX 75238; fax (214) 343-8898; e-mail mtucker@firesprinkler.org; www.sprinklernet.org.
*December 7 LITERATURE
The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book and the Weekly Reader Corp. sponsor Letters About Literature 2002. An applicant writes a letter to an author, living or dead, and explains how that author’s work changed the applicant’s thinking about the world. Three national winners—one each in grades 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12—receive $500. Participating affiliates also provide cash awards to top essayists in their state. Contact: Stephanie Shreiber, Weekly Reader Corp., 200 First Stamford Pl., Stamford, CT 06912-0023; (203) 705-3500; e-mail cgourley@epix.net; www.weeklyreader.com/read.
*December 13 ART
Sakura of America announces its eighth annual Cray-Pas Wonderful, Colorful World art contest. Students submit works using oil pastels to compete for prizes for themselves, their schools, and their sponsoring teachers. Entries are judged on creativity, technique, and visual impact, in three grade levels: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. One first-prize winner in each category receives a $200 savings bond, and second- and third-prize winners get $100 and $50 savings bonds, respectively. Winning schools get art supplies; one randomly drawn teacher wins a trip to Hawaii. Contact: Sakura Cray-Pas 2002 Wonderful, Colorful World Contest, 30780 San Clemente, Hayward, CA 94544; (888) 418-0327, ext. 177; www.gellyroll.com.
*December 15 RADIO
Earth and Sky Radio and the National Science Foundation sponsor the annual Young Producers Contest for students. Teams write and record 75-second radio shows on any science/nature topic. Five shows will be broadcast on the show in May. The grand-prize team shares a $1,000 U.S. savings bond; the others each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond. 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.
—Vanessa Dea and Leah Kerkma
