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Some of these competitions are available for students to do individually and from home, while others require or encourage a team. Please talk to Mrs. Williams if you are interested in any of them or if you decide to pursue any of these outside of school. If enough people are interested in a group project, it may be something that we can do at school together.
December Deadlines
January Deadlines
LITTER HAWK YOUTH AWARD PROGRAM
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is announcing the Litter Hawk Youth Award Program, a recognition program for students in kindergarten through 6th grade to share how they keep Pennsylvania beautiful through art, words or video. In response to Pennsylvania’s new anti-littering education campaign, PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters, the theme is: Show Us How Every Litter Bit Matters to You. Two entries will be awarded in each grade level. First place will receive a $50 gift card. First runner-up will receive $25 gift card. All participants will be recognized with certificates. The deadline to participate is January 31. Winners will be announced in April in time for your Earth Day celebrations. For more information and an application, visit https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/grants-awards/awards/litter-hawk/.
“Are you interested in publishing a book? The National Youth Foundation is accepting books about local heroines written and illustrated by students in grades K-8.” Book entries must be postmarked by January 9, 2025.
Click on the link to the left to learn more!
Please see Mrs. Williams with any questions.
Contest Rules
Each entry must incorporate the theme of Local Heroines.
From the time of submission, entries become the property of the National Youth Foundation and will not be returned.
All students must be in grades K to 8 and live in the United States.
Both the text and art must be solely created by the students. Typed text is preferred, but not required.
One book entry per person.
Each submission must include one page of art for each page of text, except for the cover, back and dedication pages. The back and dedication pages are optional.
Each book must be between 20 and 30 pages. The cover, dedication and back pages do not count towards this number
The book entry must be postmarked by January 9, 2025
An entry form must be submitted with each book entry (see website)
Individual entry forms must be signed by each student participant and their parent or legal guardian.
Students can work individually or in teams (maximum of 22 students).
The book must be submitted in the order of publication.
The pages should be numbered on the back in light pencil.
All pages must be submitted on 8 ½” x 11″ or 9″ x 12″ paper.
Mail your complete entry to: National Youth Foundation, 873 East Baltimore Pike, Box #644, Kennett Square, PA 19348
The winners will be announced on our social media on or before March 31, 2025.
February Deadlines
“Every year, the EngineerGirl website hosts a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world. The EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students to write a piece that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements. Write a short story which celebrates the contribution(s) of a woman and/or non-white engineer.” Deadline for submissions is February 1st.
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
March Deadlines
“The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources, contributing to the overarching goals of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. The Challenge is open to primary and secondary school students 11-19 years old, with scholarships of up to $500 awarded to the winning entries.” The application deadline is March 3, 2025.
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this!
“The theme for the 2025 Science without Borders® Challenge is “Marine Keystone Species.” Keystone species play a crucial role in keeping ocean ecosystems healthy and balanced. To apply for this year’s contest, students should submit artwork featuring a keystone species that lives in the ocean, highlighting this creature’s vital role in its marine ecosystem.
“A Rube Goldberg Machine is made from found or discarded household items. These contraptions come from landfill, rather than contributing to it and are essentially green machines! The Institute is proud to offer the only STEM competition in the world that requires zero cost to build and participate. Anyone, anywhere, with nothing more than a pile of junk and a great imagination can build an award-winning Rube Goldberg Machine. This year’s theme is “How creative can you be with your food? Build your lunch with Lunchables!” (sponsored by Lunchables).” The competition is in April.
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
April Deadlines
American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay Contest
“The Americanism Essay Contest was created to teach students the value of patriotism and what it means to be Americans. Thousands of students participate in the program each year and help promote a lifelong respect of our flag and country.”
“Each year, the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) sponsors an Americanism Essay Contest for students in grades 3-12, including students with special needs. Grade levels are divided into six classes. One award in each of the six classes will be presented in each division. Winners will receive $50 and a $50 donation in the student’s name will be made to the Children of WarriorsNational Presidents’ Scholarship fund. National winners will be posted at www.ALAforVeterans.org after convention. Essay Title: “What does patriotism mean to you?”
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
Students Ideas for a Better America
“Got a great idea? Or, a better way to do something? The National Museum of Education is looking for creative students (PreK-12+College)!”
“Enter any idea for a new way to demonstrate an educational concept, an idea for a new product, or an improvement for an existing product or procedure. Monetary prizes are awarded each month! This is an ongoing contest and there is no deadline!”
*Winning entries are National winners* You are also then eligible to apply for induction into the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors.
“You could be the next Thomas Edison! What a GREAT resume-builder, AND a wonderful addition to your scholarship and university applications!”
(Be sure to click on the REDIRECT LINK)
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
“The National History Bee and Bowl are buzzer-based history quiz competitions for elementary, middle, and high school-aged students throughout the USA. The Bee is a competition for individual students; the Bowl is a team event (though single-player teams are allowed).”
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
“The United States Geography Championships was founded in the summer of 2012 as a nationwide competition to test the geography skills of American students and to help foster geography education throughout the United States. The competition aims to reward students who have devoted themselves to studying their world, and its countries and peoples, as a thorough knowledge of geography is essential to being an educated citizen today. Aside from fostering an appreciation of knowledge of our world.”
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
“The National Science Bee is a science-themed, buzzer-based academic quiz competition for individual students in elementary school, middle school and high school. Consisting of both qualifying stages and a National Championships, competing students have a chance to put their science knowledge to use against other students in their respective age divisions in an engaging quiz tournament setting.”
Please let Mrs. Williams know if you have any questions or if you choose to do this.
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