FOR YOUR STUDENTS
Following application dates for student contests, scholarships, and internships. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*January-March ART AND WRITING
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards honor students currently enrolled in grades 7-12, recognizing about 50,000 regional winners. Nationally, 1,000 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 works 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., and the Corcoran Gallery of Art displays selected winning art. The awards annually bestow nearly $250,000 in cash on the national and regional levels. In addition, seniors who submit portfolios compete for scholarships totaling $1.5 million from more than 40 supporting institutions and organizations. Deadlines vary depending on regions; all entry information is available online. For more information, contact: Scholastic A&W Awards, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; (212) 343-6493; e-mail a&wgeneralinfo@scholastic.com; www.scholastic.com/artandwriting .
*February ECONOMICS
The Federal Reserve System presents the Fed Challenge 2003, a national economics competition for high school students. Teams of five students work with a teacher/coach to recommend a monetary policy for the United States. Teams are judged on formal presentations before Federal Reserve officials. Citibank will award $25,000 to the Fed Challenge 2003 national championship team, $5,000 to the faculty adviser, and $10,000 to the school for an economics laboratory. Lesser awards will go to each national finalist and semifinalist team, their faculty advisers, and their schools. Citibank will also present a $2,000 Incentive Award to the highest-achieving team in each participating Reserve District that is either competing for the first time or has not advanced beyond the first round of intra-District competition in the previous three years. Only high schools within the Federal Reserve Districts of Boston, New York, Richmond, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City (Omaha Branch), and Dallas are eligible. For more information, contact: Robert D. Diamant, Economic Education Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty St., New York, NY 10045-0001; (212) 720-6107; e-mail robert.diamant@ny.frb.org; www.ny.frb.org/pihome /educator/fedchal.html.
*February-March WRITING/ILLUSTRATING
PBS stations and Reading Rainbow are accepting entries for the Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Children in grades K-3 can let their imaginations run wild as storybook writers and illustrators. Stories can be nonfiction, 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 local stations, contact: Diane Miller, (800) 228-4630; www.pbskids.org/readingrai nbow/contest.
*February 8 YOUNG COMPOSERS
BMI, a not-for-profit American performing rights organization, and the BMI Foundation present the 51st annual Student Composer Award Competition. Students who submit original music are eligible for cash awards of $500 to $5,000. There are no limitations on instrumentation, style, or length of work. Participants must be citizens of countries in North America, Latin America, or the Caribbean and younger than 26 years old as of December 31, 2002. Contact: Ralph N. Jackson, Director, BMI Student Composer Awards, 320 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019; e-mail classical@bmi.com; www.bmi.com/bmifoundati on/studentcomp.asp.
*February 12 SCHOLARSHIPS
The Horace Mann Co., an Illinois-based firm that sells insurance and retirement annuities to educators, invites college-bound 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. Applicants must have a B average and a score of at least 23 on the ACT or 1100 on the SAT. Twenty-six awards are given: one $10,000 scholarship, five $4,000 scholarships, and 20 $1,000 scholarships. Contact: Horace Mann Companies, Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 20490, Springfield, IL 62708-0001; (217) 789- 2500; www.horacemann.com.
*February 15 ART AND POETRY
River of Words, a poetry and art program co-founded by former Poet Laureate Robert Hass and Berkeley writer Pamela Michael and affiliated with the Library of Congress Center for the Book, announces the eighth annual International Environmental Poetry and Art Contest. K-12 students are encouraged to submit poetry or art on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to build community awareness and support of watershed protection while helping youngsters develop a greater sense of connection to their home ground. Poetry is accepted in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. Two-dimensional art is accepted in all media. Winners are chosen in four age categories in both poetry and art. One international winner, eight national grand-prize winners, and their parents will be honored at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Contact: River of Words, P.O. Box 4000-J, Berkeley, CA 94704; (510) 548-POEM; fax (510) 548- 2095; e-mail info@riverofwords.org; www.riverofwords.org.
*February 15 CHEMISTRY
The American Chemical Society Scholars Program invites African American, Hispanic, and Native American high school seniors and college undergraduates to apply for scholarships of up to $3,000. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and demonstrate financial need. They also must be high achievers in chemistry or other chemical sciences and intend to major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or other related sciences in preparation for careers in the chemical sciences or chemical technology. Contact: American Chemical Society Scholars Program, Department of Diversity Programs, 1155 16th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (800) 227-5558, ext. 6250; e-mail scholars@acs.org; www.chemistry.org/scholars.
* February 15 TRAVEL
EF Educational Tours announces the EF Global Citizen Awards, a scholarship program for college- bound seniors. 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 are selected based on an essay discussing what it means to be a global citizen. Application materials and the complete essay question are available on the Web site. For more information, contact: Marisa Talbot, Global Citizen Program, EF Educational Tours, EF Center Boston, 1 Education St., Cambridge, MA 02141-1883; (617) 619-1591; e-mail marisa.talbot@ef.com; www.eftours.com/globalcitizen.
*February 28 SCHOLARSHIPS
CollegeSTEPS is a Wells Fargo scholarship program to prepare high school students for college. Enrolled students receive e-postcards with advice, including completing the FAFSA, studying for the ACT and SAT, and deciding on a university. Participants are also eligible for one of 100 $1,000 scholarships awarded to high school students in random drawings throughout the academic year. Contact: Wells Fargo Education Financial Services, (800) 658- 3567; www.wellsfargo.com/collegesteps .
*March 1 EDITORIAL 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 submit cartoons addressing current topics in the news. Cartoons are judged on clarity and originality. They must be thoughtful and clearly reflect students’ views and opinions. Teachers must certify that cartoons are students’ original work. First-, second-, and third- place winners are named in each of three grade categories. Winners receive savings bonds, and the top 100 cartoons are featured in the forthcoming book Editorial Cartoons by Kids. Contact: Knowledge Unlimited, NewsCurrents Editorial Cartoon Contest, P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701; (800) 356-2303; www.ku.com.
*March 1 EPILEPSY
Pfizer, a national pharmaceutical company, invites nominations for the Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship for college-bound high school seniors and college students. Nominees must have a record of academic and extracurricular excellence and must be undergoing epilepsy treatment by a physician. Sixteen $3,000 scholarships are awarded. Contact: Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship Award, c/o Eden Communications, 515 Valley St., Maplewood, NJ 07040; (800) AWARD-PF; www.epilepsy-scholarship.com.
*March 1 ESSAYS
Kaplan Inc. and Newsweek magazine invite college-bound high school students to submit original essays of 500 to 1,000 words for the ninth annual “My Turn” essay competition. First- and second-place winners receive $5,000 and $2,000, respectively, for college tuition; eight additional winners get $1,000. The 10 winning entries, plus another 10 honorable mentions, will be considered for publication in Newsweek’s “My Turn” column. Applications are available through high school guidance offices or any Kaplan Inc. test preparation center. Contact: Kaplan/Newsweek, My Turn Essay Contest, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10106; (800) KAP-TEST; www.kaptest.com/essay.
*March 1 SCHOLARSHIPS
As part of its International Scholarship program, Padgett Business Services Foundation offers $500 regional scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are dependents of small-business owners. Parents or guardians must employ fewer than 20 individuals, own at least 10 percent of the stock or capital in the business, and be active in the day-to-day operations of the organization. College-bound students who are U.S. or Canadian citizens may apply. Winners are chosen based on academic strength, extracurricular activities, and 100-word essays describing their career aspirations and are eligible for an additional $4,000 in scholarship money. Contact: Johnmark Battaglia, 160 Hawthorne Park, Athens, GA 30306; (706) 548-1040; e-mail scholarship@smallbizpros.com.
*March 1 SCIENCE RESEARCH
The Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute, a monthlong program that invites 75 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 social activities and weekend visits to major cities. Contact: Debbie Calise, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, 130 E. 59th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022; (212) 895-7906; fax (212) 895-7993; e-mail debbie@acwis.org; www.weizmann.ac.il/ youthact/english/sumin.htm.
*March 3 SPACE TECHNOLOGY
Space Day 2003 has launched a new series of Design Challenges for students in grades 4-8 in preparation for the Space Day celebration on May 1. This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Future of Flight,” will honor the history of aviation and aerospace accomplishments to inspire future explorers and inventors. Under teacher supervision, teams of two or more students use math, science, and technology skills to create solutions to three real challenges of living and working in space. Eighteen teams are deemed “stellar” and recognized at a Space Day celebration at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Contact: Allan Childers, (202) 833-8121; e-mail info@spaceday.com; www.spaceday.com.
*March 4 YOUNG INVENTORS
The National Science Teachers Association and Sears, Roebuck and Co. sponsor the annual Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, encouraging students in grades 2-8 to design and build a tool. Ten finalists each receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; two winners, one in grades 2-5 and one in grades 68, are awarded an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Six second-place regional winners from each grade division receive $500 savings bonds; a dozen third-place regional winners get $250 savings bonds. Their schools also receive prizes. 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/craftsman .
—Vanessa Dea and Jaime Alberts
