Contests

Abstract

Contests

Advantage Testing Foundation Math Prize for Girls

The Advantage Testing Foundation sponsors an annual math competition for high school girls. Their goal is to encourage young women with exceptional potential to become the mathematical and scientific leaders of tomorrow. To be eligible to apply for the Math Prize, girls must meet all of the following criteria: (a) be in 11th grade or below and not be slated to graduate from high school before the contest, (b) live or go to school in the United States or Canada, (c) have taken the American Math Competitions 10 or 12 exam in February, and (d) not be an immediate family member of an Advantage Testing employee. Applicants will complete an online application form and submit their exam score. There will be a total of US$54,000 in cash prizes award to the top 10 winners. The 1st place winner receives US$31,000, the 2nd place winner receives US$10,000, the 3rd place winner receives US$5,000, the 4th place winner receives US$2,000, and the 5th through 10th place winners each receive US$1,000. Also a Top Youth prize of US$1,000 is awarded to the high-scoring contestant who is in 9th grade or below at the time of the contest. In addition, Honorable Mention trophies will be awarded to between 20 and 25 other top performers. Students who receive an Honorable Mention award or better will receive US$500 merit scholarships to the Canada/USA Math Camp summer program on acceptance into the program. Every contestant will receive a complimentary copy of Mathematica for Students, a powerful software tool for performing mathematical computations. The top performers will be asked to participate in the new Advantage Testing Foundation Math Prize Olympiad contest. The application deadline is in June 2016. For more information, please visit http://mathprize.atfoundation.org/index.

Young Composers Challenge

Young composers between the ages of 13 and 18 years are invited to compose an original score for either a full orchestra (standard orchestra instrumentation) or for a chamber ensemble (two to six instruments). All compositions should be no longer than 5 min. Entrants should submit a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) recording of their composition and four copies of the score, along with their cover letter. The judges will review all entries and select three full orchestra compositions and three ensemble compositions. Each spring, six winning compositions (three orchestral and three ensemble) will be selected for performance and recording by a professional symphony orchestra. Each orchestral winner will receive US$1,000. Each ensemble winner will receive US$500 and a professional recording of the performance. Scores will be judged based on artistic quality and skill in orchestration, notation, and scoring. The submission deadline is in May each year. For more information, please visit http://www.youngcomposerschallenge.com/

The Discovery Education 3M “Young Scientist Challenge”

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is open to all legal U.S. residents who are students enrolled in fifth through eighth grade. Students are asked to identify a new, innovative solution that could solve an everyday problem. Their task is to create a 1- to 2-min video that explains the problem and how it impacts them, their family, their community, or the global population; describes a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact the problem; explain the science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics behind their innovation, and illustrate how their innovation could have a broader impact locally or globally. Idea starters include the following: How We Communicate, How We Move, How We Stay Healthy, or How We Make a Difference. Entries will be scored by a panel of judges from Discovery Education and its partner organizations, educators, and science professionals using the following judging criteria: (a) creativity (ingenuity and innovative thinking; 30%), (b) scientific knowledge (30%), (c) persuasiveness and effective communication (20%), and (d) overall presentation (20%). The 10 highest scoring entrants will be deemed finalists and will compete for the Grand Prize. They will receive a summer assignment to develop an invention or innovation to be completed under the mentorship of their designated mentor, a 3M scientist. Finalists must use at least one 3M technology in their final presentation, and communicate its relevance in their final presentation. Finalists will receive US$1,000 cash, a trip for the student and parent to the final competition, a medal, and a chance to win a student adventure trip. The Grand Prize winner will receive US$25,000.00 cash, a trip from Discovery Student Adventures, a contest trophy selected by Sponsor, and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” The remaining entrants will be considered for a state merit award. Up to 51 State Merit winners will be named based on highest score among the remaining entries received per state, which meet a minimum score determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. State Merit winners will each receive a Technology Prize Pack. Entries are due in April 2016. For more information, please visit http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/12challenge/student_rules.html

Sony World Photography Awards—2016 Youth Award

The World Photography Organisation (WPO) seeks to promote professional, amateur, and student photography to a global audience. Sony is sponsoring the Sony World Photography Awards as the WPO seeks the next generation of talented young photographers in this competition. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 19 is welcome to compete for the Youth Award. There are three categories: Culture, Environment, and Portraits. Basic Members of the WPO can enter up to 3 images into one category or across all categories, Advanced Members can enter up to 8 images into one category or across all categories, and Premium Members can enter up to 20 images into one category or across all categories. The overall winner will be selected from the 10 Category Winners by the 2016 Young Talent Jury and will be announced as Sony World Photography Awards Youth Award Winner at the Sony World Photography Awards 2016 Gala Ceremony. Entries must be submitted by May 1, 2016 to the competition website. For more information, please visit https://www.worldphoto.org/competitions/sony-world-photography-awards-2016-youth-award/

Grants and Awards

The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program supports coordinated programs of scientifically based research, professional development, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, technical assistance and information, high-level coursework, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools nationwide to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students. For Demonstration Projects, applicants must select a model that is effective in increasing the number of gifted and talented students from underrepresented groups and their academic achievement. Eligible applicants are state educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, other public agencies, and other private agencies and organizations. Awards range from the lower US$250,000 to the upper US$400,000. The Department estimates awarding 6 to 10 new grants, each for a period of up to 36 months. The anticipated deadline is May 4, 2016. For more information, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/javits/index.html

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports collaborative research proposals related to learning in formal and informal settings. The STEM+C Partnerships program seeks to enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and computing by K-12 students and teachers, through research and development of courses, curriculum, course materials, pedagogies, instructional strategies, or models that innovatively integrate computing into one or more STEM disciplines or integrate STEM content into the teaching and learning of computing. In addition, STEM+C seeks to build capacity in K-12 computing education with foundational research and focused teacher preparation. Projects should build on research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. Preservice and in-service teachers who participate are expected to enhance their understanding and teaching of STEM and computing content, practices, and skills. The program offers two tracks: (a) Integration of Computing in STEM Education (20-25 awards) and (b) Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building (10-12 awards). Eligible applicants are universities and colleges, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, unaffiliated individuals such as scientists or educators, foreign organizations, and other Federal agencies. The maximum total budget for Track 1: Integration of Computing in STEM Education awards is US$2.5 million for Design and Development awards, US$1.25 million for Exploratory Integration awards, and US$250,000 for Field-Building Conferences and Workshops. The maximum total budget for Track 2: Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building awards is US$600,000 for Research on Education and Broadening Participation awards. NSF is interested in models of varying scales and scope with potential for national significance; the funds requested should be commensurate with the scale and scope of the proposed work. Full proposal deadline date is March 8, 2016. For more information, visit http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Varkey Foundation urges teachers to apply for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2016. The Global Teacher Prize recognizes teaching as a profession of dignity and lasting influence. Criteria for the award include innovative methods, impact on one’s community, contributions to the profession, and the development of students as global citizens. Eligible applicants are individuals who are currently teaching children between the ages of 5 and 18. Full-, part-time, and online teachers are eligible. The award includes national and international recognition of the achievements of the Top 50 outstanding applicants, an invitation to the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai for the Top 10 finalists, and a US$1 million prize for the Top Teacher. The closing date for applications is October 10, 2015. For more information, visit http://www.globalteacherprize.org/nominate

The National Education Association Foundation provides grants to educators to improve the academic achievement of students in the U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Eligible applicants are U.S. public school teachers in Grades Pre-K through 12, public school education support professionals, or faculty or staff at public higher education institutions. Grants range from US$2,000 to US$5,000 and may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, technology, or scholars-in-residence. Deadlines for applications are February 1, June 1, and October 15. For more information, visit http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/grants-to-educators/student-achievement-grants/

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement supports the Professional Development for Arts Educators, the implementation of high-quality model professional development programs in elementary and secondary education for music, dance, drama, media arts, or visual arts, including folk arts, for educators and other arts instructional staff of kindergarten through Grade 12 students in high-poverty schools. The purpose of this program is to strengthen standards-based arts education programs and to help ensure that all students meet challenging state academic content standards and challenging state student academic achievement standards in the arts. Eligible applicants must be a local education agency that meets the poverty criterion with respect to children from low-income families and that must work in partnership with one or more of the following—a state or local nonprofit governmental arts organization, a state educational agency or regional educational service agency, an institution of higher education, or a public or private agency. Estimated total program funding is US$4,600,000. Deadlines for applications are April 17, 2016, for notice of intent and May 19, 2016, for application. For more information, visit http://www.grants.gov/custom/viewOppDetails.jsp?oppId=252659/

Koch supports the Fellow Program that combines policy work experience with professional education. Through the program, fellows are connected to policy and research roles at more than 80 think tanks and nonprofit organizations across the country. Alongside the in-depth work experience on a variety of federal and state issues, fellows undertake a rigorous curriculum of market-based policy analysis, participate in professional education seminars, and engage in theoretical discourse. After the program ends, the Institute continues to connect with participants through the alumni engagement program, which includes events, networking, and continued professional development. Eligible applicants are undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students from all countries and studying in all majors. Grants range from the lower US$5,000 to the upper US$6,000. Deadline for applications is October 31, 2015. For more information, visit http://www.charleskochinstitute.org/koch-fellow-program/

The Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize is given to teachers around the world who meet the following criteria: appreciation from parents, students, colleagues, head teachers, or the community; innovation in teaching practice; contribution to educational debates; encouragement for teachers and nonteachers; preparation of young people for success in an increasingly diverse and globalized world; development of innovative ideas and initiative that improve access to quality education for children of all backgrounds; and accomplishment that goes beyond the classroom, setting a precedent for a truly extraordinary approach to education that inspires both teachers and nonteachers all over the world. The individual award is US$1,000,000. To read more about the award and future submission dates, visit https://www.varkeyfoundation.org/global-teacher-prize-project/