Following is a list of contests, scholarships, and internships for students organized by application deadline. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*Open. Environmental Projects.
The Captain Planet Foundation, a philanthropy of the TBS network’s animated television series, promotes environmental activities for young people. The foundation provides grants of between $250 and $2,500 for hands-on projects that help children learn about environmental issues. Contact: Chrissy Sapp, Captain Planet Foundation, One CNN Center, 10 South, Atlanta, GA 30303; (404) 827-4130; www.turner.com/cpf.
February 1. History Scholarship.
Graduating high school seniors planning a college major in American history are eligible for the American History Scholarship offered by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The award pays $2,000 each year for up to four years. Second-place awards of $1,000 each year for up to four years may also be given. Scholarships are awarded based on applications and the students’ transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word statement outlining their plans. For an application, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006-5303.
February 1. Plastic.
The American Plastics Council, a trade association representing the U.S. plastics industry on resource-conservation issues, announces the National Plastics Reuse It Contest. School classes are encouraged to design creative and practical ways to reuse a plastic item. The contest has three categories: elementary, junior high, and high school. The winning class in each category receives $1,000 for projects, class equipment, or other resources. Individual students may enter the contest by submitting 10 ways to reuse a plastic item. One individual winner receives $3,000, and 10 runners-up receive $250 each. The most unusual reuse idea is awarded $2,000. For more information, call the American Plastics Council at (800) 777-9500 or go to www.plasticresource.com.
February 1. Use Less Stuff.
The ULS Report, a bi-monthly newsletter devoted to solving environmental problems related to packaging and solid waste, is sponsoring the Use Less Stuff Contest for children ages 6-12. Students are encouraged to enter waste-reduction ideas that they’ve used at home, school, or within their communities. A panel judges the entries based on originality, practicality, and waste-saving potential. Four regional finalists win Rollerblade in-line skates; one grand-prize winner receives a new bicycle. For more information, contact: The ULS Report, P.O. Box 130116, Ann Arbor, MI 48113; (313) 668-1690; fax (313) 930-0506; e-mail uls@cygnus-group.com; www.cygnus-group.com.
February 15. Chemistry Scholarships.
The American Chemical Society Scholars Program invites African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian high school seniors to apply for scholarships of up to $2,500. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and must demonstrate financial need. They also must be high achievers in chemistry or other chemical sciences, and they must intend to major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a chemical-related science in preparation for a career in the chemical sciences or chemical technology. For more information, contact: the American Chemical Society at (800) 227-5558, ext. 6250, or go to www.acs.org.
*February 16. International Summit.
Disney Adventures Magazine and the Just Think Foundation, in association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, invite teams of two students ages 7-14 to enter a contest that will send five winning teams to represent the United States at the Fifth Annual Children’s Summit at Disneyland in Paris. Participating students design a community project based on the theme, “Growing Up.” For more information, call the U.S. Children’s Summit Contest at (800) 728-0430 or go to www.justthink.org.
February 28. Web Pages.
Advanced Network and Services Inc., a not-for-profit organization that promotes the use of technology in education, sponsors ThinkQuest, an international contest that challenges students ages 12-19 to build World Wide Web sites that are interactive teaching and learning tools. Winners and their teachers and schools receive scholarships and cash awards totaling more than $1 million. To receive a CD-ROM and further details about the contest, contact: Advanced Network and Services Inc. at www.advanced.org/thinkquest.
*March 1. Adventure.
Outside magazine is sponsoring the Outside Adventure grants. Teams of up to six students ages 12-17 are invited to submit proposals for the adventure or expedition of their dreams. A panel of explorers will judge how the ideas combine exploration, adventure, potential for success, and benefit to the natural world. One team will be selected to go on its proposed adventure. Team members will keep journals and take photographs that will be posted on-line. A free guide for teachers is available for how to use this program in classrooms and schools. For more information, contact: John Alderman, Outside magazine, (212) 972-4650; e-mail jalderman@outsidemag.com.
*March 1. Cartoons.
NewsCurrents, a weekly current events program produced for schools by Knowledge Unlimited Inc., announces the NewsCurrents Student Editorial Cartoon Contest. Students in grades K-12 are invited to create a cartoon that will be judged on the basis of clarity, originality, and knowledge of the subject. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be named in three categories: K-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Winners will receive savings bonds, and the top 100 cartoons will be featured in the forthcoming book Editorial Cartoons By Kids, 1998. Contact: Knowledge Unlimited, NewsCurrents Editorial Cartoon Contest, P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701; (800) 356-2303.
*March 1. Epilepsy Scholarship.
Parke-Davis, a national pharmaceutical company, invites nominations for the 1998 Parke-Davis Epilepsy Scholarship for 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. Fourteen $3,000 scholarships will be awarded. Contact: Parke-Davis Epilepsy Scholarship Award, c/o IntraMed Educational Group, 1633 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10019; (800) 292-7373.
*March 1. Letters About Literature.
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Weekly Reader Corp. invite students to enter Letters About Literature ‘98, an essay contest. Students write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how the author’s work changed their thinking of the world. The contest has two categories: grades 4-7 and 8-12. The winning essayist in each category receives a $1,000 savings bond. Twenty-two state affiliates of the Center for the Book also present cash awards to the top essayists in their state. To receive a copy of the contest guidelines and entry coupons, contact: Weekly Reader Corp., 200 First Stamford Pl., Stamford, CT 06912-0023; (203) 705-3500.
*March 15. Handwriting.
Peterson Directed Handwriting is sponsoring the National Cursive Handwriting Contest for students in grades 3-8. One winner from each grade will receive a $50 U.S. savings bond and a framed certificate. All entries judged excellent will be elected to the National Cursive Handwriting Honor Society and will be awarded a certificate. Contestant writing samples should contain at least four lines of writing. Grade 3 entries may be in pencil; entries from grades 4-8 must be in ink. Entries are judged on such characteristics as letter formation, forward slant, size, and spacing. For an entry form and more information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Peterson Handwriting, P.O. Box 249, Greensburg, PA 15601. Entry requests can also be sent by fax to (412) 836-4110. For more information, go to www.peterson-handwriting.com.
*March 19. Inventions.
The National Science Teachers Association and Sears, Roebuck and Co. have launched the second annual Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. This program aims to encourage students in grades 4-6 to use their imaginations and creativity to design, build, or modify a tool. Twelve regional winners each will receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; the national winner will be awarded an additional $5,000 U.S. savings bond. Contact: Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000; (888) 494-4994; e-mail younginventors@nsta.org; www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman.htm.
*March 21. Underage Drinking.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving announces various contests on the theme, “Stand Strong, Stay Sober.” The MADD poster contest is open to children in grades 1-12. Children in grades 4-12 are eligible for the essay contest; entries should be about 250 words and written in English or Spanish. The black-and-white photography contest is open to students in grades 7-12. The public-service advertisement video contest is also open to students in grades 7-12; videos must be 30 seconds long and be accompanied by an audiotape. Work must be original and done by a single student; no joint efforts will be accepted. The four contests are subdivided into a total of 11 grade categories; national first-place winners are named in each and receive a $1,000 U.S. savings bond and an expenses-paid trip to an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Also, the 11 second-place winners each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond, while the 11 third-place winners receive a $250 U.S. savings bond. Contact: MADD National Office, Programs Department, 511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, TX 75062; (214) 744-6233.
*March 31. CyberFair.
Cisco Systems, GTE, and the Global SchoolNet Foundation sponsor the International Schools CyberFair ‘98. K-12 students participate by creating Web sites about their community. School-generated sites in eight different categories—including local leaders, history, music, art, business, and environment—are evaluated by students using a Web tool developed by Global SchoolNet. All schools receive recognition and prizes for their participation. To participate, a teacher or administrator must register by February 28. Call (760) 721-2972 or go to www.gsn.org/cf.
*April 1. Essay Contest.
The Ayn Rand Institute sponsors an essay contest for high school freshmen and sophomores on Rand’s novella Anthem. The best essayist receives a $1,000 award. Ten second-prize winners receive $200 each; 20 third-prize winners receive $100 each. Essays must run between 600 and 1,200 words and focus on one of three topics chosen by the institute. For more information, contact: Anthem Essay Contest, Ayn Rand Institute, P.O. Box 6099, Inglewood, CA 90312; www.aynrand.org/contests.
*April 1. Service Award.
The Hitachi Foundation, a nonprofit and philanthropic organization, seeks nominations for the 1998 Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community. The award recognizes high school seniors who have distinguished records of community leadership and service. As many as 11 winners will receive $5,000 each and participate in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.; roughly five finalists each receive $1,000. For more information, contact: Yoshiyama Award, P.O. Box 19247, Washington, DC 20036-9247; (202) 457-0588.
*April 15. High School Fund Raisers.
The Future Business Leaders of America and the Association of Fund Raisers and Direct Sellers have established the Actions Speak National Scholarship Program. One $5,000 college scholarship and four $1,000 scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors. Applicants submit a description of a fund-raising project, an official transcript of high school grades, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants must be members of a local FBLA chapter. For more information, contact: Actions Speak, c/o FBLA, 1912 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191; (703) 860-3334.
—Julie Hope Kaufman
