Class of 2027 Notes 10-3

Competitions & Programs by Deadline

Competitions

• The Buckley Institute's 2025 essay contest submissions are due October 5, at 11:59 PST.

• Congressional App Challenge 2025 due October 30, but you should complete your registration and set up your account now. 

  • Winning apps may be displayed on the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. 

• Bennington Young Writers Awards contest submissions due November 1, application opens early September. 

  • Categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction

  • Winners in each category receive up to $1000. 

  • All submitters must obtain teacher sponsorship. 

• The Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest submissions due November 6 by regular mail. Rules are here. The winning essay will move to the state-level competition. 

• 2025 Learn More Indiana529 Contest K-12 survey entries due November 21, at 11 p.m. EST. 5 surveys will be randomly drawn for a $1000 deposit into an Indiana529 account. 

• New The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation essay contest entries are due December 10, Human Rights Day. 

  • The question: Many claim climate change poses a threat to human rights. Do you agree? Provide a clear explanation of the reasons you think specific proposals to deal with the issue are beneficial or harmful. 

  • Prizes of $5,000, $2500, and $1250 offered

  • Flyer for U.S. residents or citizens 

  • Note the need for a teacher to verify the authenticity of your work. 

• New Presidential AI Challenge projects due Jan 20, 11:59 p.m. Local Time

  • Groups of 1-4 students and a Supervising Adult (>= 18 yrs old) must submit consent and release forms to AI.Challenge@science.doe.gov and must register at the link found here. 

  • Teams choose from two tracks:

    • Track 1: proposal for how AI can address a community challenge.

    • Track 2: build a solution with AI that addresses a community challenge.

  • Projects winning at the National Level earn $10,000 per team member. 

  • Participation Guidebook

Programs 

• Interested in Purdue engineering? Attend the Exploring Engineering at Purdue session, October 20. The program is for parents and students, and there are early-bird sessions starting on October 19. Click the link above to sign up for more information. 

• New The University of Dayton is hosting an Engineering Day on November 15. Space is limited, the application period will close on November 7 or when the spots fill up. 

• New Purdue Student Engineering Foundation's Advancing Prospective Engineering Xperiences (APEX) registration due ASAP; space is limited!

  • The completely free, day-long event takes place November 15, 9:30-3, and is open to any high school student.

  • Limited to 180 participants who want to learn about engineering industries, participate in hands-on acvities, hear from industry professionals, interact with engineering students. This year's theme is Motorsports Engineering.

  • Particpants will receive lunch and a gift! 

• New Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) applications due December 3.

  • Completely free; travel costs and possible stipend covered for those in need 

  • Program runs June 21-July 25

  • Open to rising juniors and rising seniors

  • US and international students may apply

  • Two lanes of study: CBS--explore intellectual and cultural contributions of people of African descent; AOS--use lit, history, art, and other disciplines to explore how various forms of power shape social structures.

• New Next Gen Latino Leadership Program application due January 16, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST

  • The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute CHCI has an all-expenses paid leadership experience designed just for high school students. Spend a week exploring Washington, D.C., attend civic engagement and leadership workshops, and build life-long friendships. Start your application here by registering for an applicant account and completing your NextGen Program application. Flyer here.

• Pre-College Programs are available throughout the year. This list is not exhaustive. 

College App and Search Resources

• Sign up for Signature School lunchtime college visits through Schoology's Class of 2027 page. All juniors must attend at least one lunchtime college visit. 

• Interested in attending a Service Academy for a full ride plus room, board, and textbooks? Applications for a congressional nomination to the four Service Academies requiring such a nomination are due on October 1 of senior year. Here is some more information:

  • Congressman Mark Messmer is accepting applications through this form. He provides a checklist, and a Service Academy fact sheet. 

• Sign up for College Fairs Online and enter a drawing for a $1000 scholarship. The more you engage, the more chances you earn.

• Admissions Beat, a podcast wherein an Ivy League Dean demystifies the college search and application process

• The College Tour, Seasons 1-9 on Amazon Prime, spreadsheet of all episodes here. Free college search classes here.

• Big Future's College Search Guide

Scholarship and Financial Aid Information

• Coolidge Scholarship application (including letters of reference) was due last year on Wednesday, December 11. Stay tuned for the 2025-2026 application to go live soon! 

  • highly selective and meant for students whose scholarly interests take them well beyond the classroom, who have  records of interest in public policy and of humility and service;

  • full-ride at any U.S. college;

  • a complex application--get started now if interested.

• Explore Scholarship Databases

  • Find Scholarships from Learn More Indiana

  • BigFuture’s Scholarship Search

  • FastWeb

    • • Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)

  • Scholarships.Com

  • bold.org

  • U.S. Department of Labor’s search tool