Following is a list of contests, scholarships, and internships for students organized by application deadline. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*Open. Children’s Books.
Raspberry Publications Inc., publisher of children’s books written and illustrated by young people, invites K-12 students to submit manuscripts for possible publication. Authors receive a standard book contract and royalties. For submission guidelines, contact: Raspberry Publications Inc., P.O. Box 925, Westerville, OH 43086-6925; (800) 759-7171.
April 1. Automotive Scholarships.
The National Hot Rod Association, in conjunction with Sears Craftsman and Racerz Sports Shoe Co., invites high school seniors to apply for scholarships. The Sears Craftsman program awards 21 scholarships of $1,000 each. The Racerz Legends of Drag Racing High School program awards seven scholarships of $300 each. Preference is given to students planning a career in the technological, industrial, or marketing fields of the automotive industry. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating from public, private, or parochial high schools between Jan. 1 and June 30. Contact: Pat Talaska, Program Manager, National Hot Rod Association Youth and Education Services, 2035 Financial Way, Glendora, CA 91741; (626) 963-7695, ext. 364.
April 1. Community Service.
The Computer Learning Foundation sponsors the Adopt-a-Community Group Merit Competition. To enter, students work with a nonprofit community group and build a Web site to highlight the group’s mission and work. Two teams of students win the grand prize: an Apple Power Macintosh computer and Microsoft software for their schools. Two additional teams win second prize: a Cisco Micro Webserver for their schools; three third-place teams win software. For more information, contact: Computer Learning Foundation, Dept. CT97, P.O. Box 60007, Palo Alto, CA 94306-0007; www.computerlearning.org.
April 1. Investing.
The Coalition of Black Investors is sponsoring a K-12 essay contest to stress the need for African Americans to save and invest. Essays of no more than two pages should answer the question: “Why should we save money?” First-, second-, and third-prize winners are named in three grade categories: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. A $100 savings bond is awarded as the top prize in the K-5 category, a $150 savings bond in the 6-8 category, and a $200 savings bond in the 9-12 category. Second prize in each category is a $50 savings bond, and third prize is a copy of An Introduction to Business for African American Youth, by Abner McWhorter. For more information, contact: Carol Davis, Coalition of Black Investors Student Essay Contest, P.O. Box 30553, Winston-Salem, NC 27130-0553; (910) 922-6240; e-mail cobinvest@aol.com.
*April 1. Science Contest.
The Lanacane Itch Information Center, in cooperation with the Association of Science-Technology Centers, sponsors the Lanacane Itching To Know Science Contest. The theme for this year’s contest is weather and how it affects our daily lives. Students in grades K-6 are invited to submit a weather-related question. Ten questions will be selected as winners, and their authors will each receive $200 worth of prizes and software. For more information, contact: Lanacane Itch Information Center (Contest Materials), P.O. Box 328-LC, White Plains, NY 10602-0328; e-mail Itchrelief@aol.com; www.lanacane.com.
April 15. Ayn Rand Contest.
High school juniors and seniors are invited by the Ayn Rand Institute to enter an essay contest on Rand’s novel The Fountainhead. One first-prize winner receives a $10,000 award. Five second-prize winners receive $2,000 each, and 10 third-prize winners receive $1,000 each. The 800- to 1,600-word essay must focus on one of three topics specified by the institute. For more information, contact: Fountainhead Essay Contest, Ayn Rand Institute, P.O. Box 6004, Inglewood, CA 90312; www.aynrand.org/contents.
April 15. Software Contest.
Pierian Spring Software announces its third annual student project contest. This year’s contest will recognize K-12 students for their creative work with Digital Chisel 3, new software for creating and publishing multimedia projects and interactive Web pages. One first-place winner receives a $1,000 savings bond. Five second-place winners each receive a Pierian Spring Software product for the school of their choice and a Pierian Spring Software product for their own use. Ten third-place winners each receive a five-user pack of any Pierian Spring Software product for the school of their choice. For more information, contact: Pierian Spring Software, 5200 S.W. Macadam, Suite 570, Portland, OR 97201; e-mail info@pierian.com; (800) 472-8578.
*April 30. Korea.
The Korea Society announces the 1998 Essay Contest on Korea. Designed to enhance the understanding of Korea in the modern world, the contest is open to both high school teachers and students. Contestants write on a topic chosen by the center; each essay should run no fewer than three pages and no more than six. The grand prize for the teacher winner is $1,500; the student winner receives $1,000. The grand-prize winning teacher and student also get an expenses-paid, one-week trip for two to Korea. Other monetary prizes are awarded to first-, second-, and third-prize winners. Contact: the Korea Society, 950 Third Ave., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022; (888) 355-7066; e-mail ny@koreasociety.org.
*April 30. Drug And Alcohol Prevention.
Students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest sponsored by the NO-ADdiction campaign, a nonprofit initiative working to prevent drug and alcohol use among students. In 300 words or fewer, students must explain why they have chosen not to use drugs or alcohol and what they have done to further prevention efforts in their schools or communities. Participating schools will hold their own competition and select one essay to be forwarded for national judging by a celebrity panel of judges. Ten students will receive $3,000 each from the NO-ADdiction Scholarship Fund for post-secondary education. Contact: NO-ADdiction Campaign, P.O. Box 4628, Miami Lakes, FL 33014-0628; (800) 662-3342; e-mail NoAd@aol.com.
May 1. Publishing.
Landmark Editions Inc. announces the 1998 National “Written and Illustrated by . . .” Awards Contest for Students. Youngsters may enter their original books in one of three age categories: 6-9, 10-13, or 14-19. One winner from each category is awarded a publishing contract; winners receive an expenses-paid trip to the Landmark offices in Kansas City, Mo., where the staff will assist in the final preparation of their text and illustrations. Authors are paid royalties annually on sales. Entry fee: $1. For guidelines and more information, send a self-addressed, business-size envelope with 52 cents postage to: 1998 NWIB Awards Contest, c/o Landmark Editions Inc., P.O. Box 270169, Kansas City, MO 64127.
*May 1. Smoke-Free.
The Smoke-Free Class of 2000, a project sponsored by the American Lung Association and aimed at high school students graduating in the year 2000, is organizing a teens-only Web Site Design Contest. Nonsmoking 10th grade students are invited to submit a design for the official Smoke-Free Class of 2000 Web Site. The winner receives a free computer, courtesy of the American Lung Association and McNeil, marketers of Nicotrol. For more information, call your local Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA or go to www.lungusa.org/smokefreeclass.
*May 1. Vegetarian.
The Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit organization, invites students ages 18 and under to submit essays on a diet that does not include fish, meat, or poultry. The two- to three-page essays may be based on research, interviews, and/or personal beliefs and experiences. A $50 U.S. savings bond will be awarded to one winner in each of the following age categories: 8 and under, 9-13, and 14-18. For more information, contact: Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203; (410) 366-VEGE; www.vrg.org.
*May 1. Young Playwrights.
Very Special Arts, an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, invites individuals with disabilities to enter the 1998 Playwright Discovery Program. Entrants submit an original script that focuses on some aspect of a disability. Work by a playwright 18 years old or younger is selected for production at the Kennedy Center in the fall of 1998. The winner also receives scholarship funds and a trip to Washington, D.C., to view the production. For more information, contact: Very Special Arts, 1300 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036; (800) 933-8721; TTY (202) 737-0645; fax (202) 737-0725; e-mail playwright@vsarts.org.
*May 29. Female Athletes.
Mervyn’s, a California-based department store chain, and the Women’s Sports Foundation, a national nonprofit education organization, are sponsoring scholarships for female high school seniors involved in sports. One hundred students will receive $1,000 scholarships based on their athletic, academic, and community activities and financial need. To apply or request more information, visit your local Mervyn’s department store or contact the Women’s Sports Foundation at (800) 227-3988.
*May 31. Young Inventors.
Learning Triangle Press, McGraw-Hill’s children’s science imprint, invites inventors ages 10-16 to enter the Learning Triangle Press SciTech Invention Sweepstakes. Contestants submit an entry form with a nonreturnable photograph of their invention. Multiple entries are accepted and judged on practicality, creativity, and originality. Five finalists are selected and asked to submit their invention for judging; one winner receives a $500 prize. Application forms and information are located in the back of two books for young inventors: Turn on the Lights From Bed! and Put a Fan in Your Hat!, both by automation engineer Robert Carrow. These books are available for $24.95 each in hardback and $14.95 in paperback. Contact: Lydia Rinaldi, McGraw-Hill, 11 W. 19th St., New York, NY 10011; (212) 337-5045.
*June 1. Arts.
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts honors high school seniors and artists ages 17 and 18 in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search. The foundation recognizes outstanding efforts in visual arts, dance, theater, writing, photography, and music composition and performance. Awards ranging from $100 to $3,000 are given to 125 students selected to take a one-week, expenses-paid trip to Miami for workshops and auditions. Students applying by June 1 pay a $25 entry fee; those applying between then and Oct. 1 pay a $35 fee. Entrants submit slides of their artwork, video or audiotapes of their performances, or writing samples. For more information, contact: Arts Recognition and Talent Search, 800 Brickell Ave., Suite 500, Miami, FL 33131; (800) 970-2787 or (305) 377-1148.
*June 1. Kids’ Magazine.
Creative Kids Magazine seeks nominations of children ages 8-14 to participate on the magazine’s student advisory board. Board members advise the magazine staff and sometimes contribute stories or art. Teachers or parents submit a letter of recommendation to nominate students. The students also write a letter explaining their interest in the advisory-board position and complete a creative project illustrating why they are good candidates. For more information, guidelines, and a nomination form, contact: Creative Kids Advisory Board, P.O. Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813; (800) 998-2208, ext. 312; e-mail Kids@prufrock.com.
*June 1. Peace.
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation announces its 1998 Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest. The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the U.N. General Assembly will be Dec. 10, 1998. High school students should submit essays of 500 to 1,000 words on the importance of human rights and responsibilities as we approach the 21st century. Essays will be judged on subject knowledge, originality of ideas, development of point of view, insight, clarity, organization, and grammar. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively. For more information, contact: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 123, Santa Barbara, CA 93108; (805) 965-3443; e-mail wagingpeace@napf.org; www.wagingpeace.org.
*June 5. Multiple Sclerosis.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America invites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to participate in PROJECT: Learn MS, a scholarship essay competition. Students must write an essay of 500 to 1,000 words answering three questions about multiple sclerosis and issues affecting people with disabilities. One student will receive a $5,000 scholarship; three students will win a $1,000 scholarship. Entrants must obtain at least one sponsor willing to contribute $7.50. Students who raise additional funds for the MSAA receive a variety of prizes, including color televisions, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. For more information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: PROJECT: Learn MS, 706 Haddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
—Julie Hope Kaufman
