Below is information on eight of the better known national competitions along with some of the major prizes each offers.
Mathcounts
- Organizer: MathCounts Foundation
- Established: 1983
- Number of participants: 350,000
- Prizes: $26,000 in scholarships, computer equipment, and trips to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s space camp
Mathematical Olympiad
- Organizer: American Mathematical Competitions
- Established: 1972
- Number of Participants: 366,000
- Prizes: The top eight students get an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, books, calculators, and so forth
National Geography Bee
- Organizer: National Geographic Society
- Established: 1989
- Number of Participants: An estimated 5 million
- Prizes: $50,000 in scholarships
National History Day
- Organizer: National History Day Inc.
- Established: 1974 (local), 1980 (national)
- Number of Participants: 500,000
- Prizes: $101,500 in scholarships and cash awards
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
- Organizer: Scholastic Inc.
- Established: 1923
- Number of Participants: 250,000
- Prizes: $50,000 in scholarships for the top 10 winners
Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee
- Organizer: Scripps Howard Newspapers
- Established: 1925
- Number of Participants: An estimated 8 million
- Prizes: Cash awards from $50 to $5,000, savings bonds, and watches. The champion also gets reference books, computer equipment, and airline tickets for his or her family.
U.S. Academic Decathlon
- Organizer: U.S. Academic Decathlon
- Established: 1970 (local), 1981 (national)
- Number of Participants: 35,000
- Prizes: $30,000 in scholarships along with medals and trophies
Westinghouse Science Talent Search
- Organizer: Westinghouse Electronic Corp.
- Established: 1941
- Number of Participants: 1,600
- Prizes: $205,000 in scholarships
