Category Archives: contests

Strategy session at Washington State University, Vancouver WA
May 1 2013

I-Urban Teen Tech Summit May 11, 2013 University of Portland

Sign up now for another fun filled (AND free–with food and goodies!) I-Urban Teen Tech summit. Register online. IUrban aims to introduce minority students to high technology — a  world in which minorities are traditionally underrepresented. This event brings students onto a college campus, introduces them to cool professionals doing cutting-edge work, and gives them a glimpse into exciting new jobs, many of which didn’t even exist 5 or even 1 yaer ago. Another cool thing about iUrban? There are technology leaders there to hear from YOU. They want to know how you use their products and what ideas you have for the future. Parents are invited to attend too.

May 11, 2013

University of Portland

5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97203

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Before the summit, teens are invited to participate in an online scavenger hunt or video challenge. Winners will be announced at the summit and receive cool prizes!

 

By Lamiot (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Apr 19 2013

Washington State Design Contest for High School Juniors and Seniors

image: By Lamiot (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

We’re going to see a lot more wildlife bridges in the future as civil engineers dream up new ways to lessen the negative impacts of road construction. Washington State Department of Transportation is holding a design contest for high school Juniors and Seniors in Washington State. The winner for the best design for the  I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project wildlife bridge wins a $1500 scholarship. Second prize is $500. From their website:

We are offering a $1500 scholarship to a Washington junior or senior who designs the best wildlife overpass for the location and need within the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project as described below.

In 2014, the design will be finalized for our state’s first wildlife overcrossing. This overcrossing within the Price/Noble Creek Connectivity Emphasis Area of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project will be constructed as part of Phase 2 construction beginning in 2015. So, now is the time to bring our state’s best minds to the table to ensure our first wildlife overpass is of the highest quality. Therefore, our coalition in coordination with the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is hosting a scholarship competition to high school students that requests their help in designing this wildlife overpass on I-90.

Deadline to apply is May 3, 2013.

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Apr 17 2013

Toaster Wars Hacker Competition 2013

One of the most rapidly growing fields we are hearing about these days is Cyber Security. In an effort to get more students interested and involved in this field in which demand already exceeds the supply, Carnegie Mellon students have created a fun contest for high school students (middle school students can also compete although the level is aimed at juniors and seniors) to learn about hacking and hone their skills for the common good.

Toaster Wars is a two week “capture the flag” game in which teams up to 5 students follow instructions and try and uncover flags to post to the game forum. The game follows the adventures of a alien robot that crash lands on earth. Students hack into the robot and reverse engineer the code to discover what mysteries he brings.

Register before April 26 which is when the contest kicks off. Teams need a teacher and an educational institution to register. Homeschool students can register too but may not be eligible for all prizes.

For two weeks, teams participate in an escalating series of challenges. Resources will be provided to teach students the skills and tricks they need to be successful. Check the FAQs to find a list of resources to get started. 

Oregon-Historical-Society_1
Apr 13 2013

Oregon History Rocks Billboard Art Competition

My mom loved the Oregon Historical Society when I was growing up and spent a fair amount of time volunteering and fundraising for them. She meant it fondly when she said it and as a result I will always think of this public asset as “The Oregon Hysterical Society”.  A couple of contests underway are meant to showcase student creativity and bring more young people into the doors of this fun museum.

Students (K-12) in the State of Oregon have until May 14, 2013 to submit entries for the Oregon History Rocks Billboard Art Competition. From the Oregon Historical Society Website (which you should visit because they have awesome photos of old Oregon):

All students in the State of Oregon (Kindergarten through the 12th grade) are invited to participate and submit original artwork to the first Oregon Historical Society and Clear Channel Outdoor billboard competition. We are interested in your version of what rocks about Oregon’s history. The possibilities are nearly endless and limited only by your ability to create a visual representation of “Oregon History Rocks”. Travel back in time…is it a person, place or thing that stands out most to you? We want to see what you think.

Also, a bit late for this year but I will try to track it for next, OHS is sponsoring a Diary Contest, giving out awards for the best journals or diaries kept from October 1, 2012 to September 1,2013.  If you already keep an awesome handwritten diary (so, no, your tumblr page doesn’t count), consider entering. The contest is set to coincide with Portland’s Annual Wordstock Festival, a celebration of the written word held each fall.

And finally, check out the Oregon History Project website, its really fun and provides great resources if you are working on an Oregon history project.

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Mar 23 2013

2013 Chinese Speech, Composition and Talent Contests at the Confucius Institute

Image from Flikr user joelmutate http://flic.kr/p/8p3CYN

Guidelines for this year’s Chinese Speech, Composition and Talent contest have been released and can be found on the Portland State University website.  Two main contests will occur this spring.

Composition, Pen & Brush-Pen Calligraphy Contests:

Students K-12 plus college, graduate students and adults can enter to win honors for their Chinese calligraphy work or Chinese composition. Many topics are available to choose from including (but not limited to. See list on application):

Why do I like China and Chinese people?
• Who do I like Chinese Language and Chinese Culture?
• Why do I learn Chinese?
• My Chinese Teacher(s)
• My Chinese/American/Foreign friend(s)
• The importance of learning Chinese
• My family and friends
• My favorite class/course at school
• An unforgettable Chinese class

Composition and calligraphy works must be turned in by mail or in person, along with the application form, by April 30, 2013.

Chinese Speech and Talent Contest:

Speeches will be given on May 19, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Portland State University. Participants must register by April 30, 2013.

Each speaker will give a speech in Chinese for no more than 4 minutes on one of several topics (see list above). Following the speech, each participant will perform a 2 minute talent of their choice.

worldwar2museum
Mar 20 2013

World War II Museum Essay Contest for Middle and High School Due March 29, 2013

This year’s National WWII Museum’s annual essay contest asks students to write on the theme: how can people who disagree still work together for victory? Middle school student essays are capped at 500 words and high school essays should be no more than 1000 words. Formatting and submission requirements can be found on the website.  Awards vary by level. The top high school prize is $1000, and the top middle school essay for each grade level earns $250. Deadline for submission is March 29, 2013.

AwardHeads
Feb 2 2013

Trash art exhibition and scholarships for the winners March 9, 2013

Image from http://solv.org/get-involved/design-challenge.

Make something amazing out of trash, share it with a bunch of cool artists, and be eligible for scholarships! Each high school will have a local art contest and bring their top 3 best art pieces for competition and exhibition at the  Clean Beaches Design Challenge celebration and Trash Art exhibition in the Swigert Commons at Pacific Northwest College of Art on March 9. The event location is at 13th and Johnson St. in Portland, Oregon. (map)

This came in from the Institute of Non-profit Management listerve:

SOLVE and the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) are partnering to put
on a design challenge and “trash art show.” SOLVE’s portion is a high
school trash art show which is open to all Oregon high school students.
Students are challenged to find a creative use for debris as art.
Scholarships to PNCA will be offered to the top three best of show!

Register online.

Schedule:

8:00-10:00 Display high school Trash Art
10:00-12:00 Presentations of top ten Clean Beaches design teams
12:00-2:00 Lunch, art viewing, socializing and PNCA tours (Juries will be making selections)
2:00-3:00 Presentation of Awards for top Clean Beaches designs and Trash Art

Kid Inventors' Day K.I.D.
Jan 15 2013

Kid Inventors Day celebrating the birth of Benjamin Franklin January 17

The birthday boy with a hat made of Starburst wrappers and an earring made out of a paper clip.

The birthday boy with a hat made of Starburst wrappers and an earring made out of a paper clip.

My middle child shares a birthday with Benjamin Franklin on January 17. Like his birthday buddy, Kiddo #2 is a tinkerer and a builder. As a matter of fact, he has two projects he is working on right now . . .  I can’t reveal what they are but I can tell you that one of them involves galoshes and the other resulted in me eating lots of pancakes this weekend.  In honor of his upcoming golden birthday — this week he turns 17 on the 17th — here is an invention contest.

I found this contest at  www.kidinventorsday.com which contains links to more invention challenges for elementary and middle-school aged kids as well.  (BTW, Benjamin Franklin invented swimming flippers when he was 17.)

The National Museum of Education is looking for creative students in grades PreK-12 + College who are U.S. students. Enter any idea or invention for a new way to demonstrate an educational concept, an idea for a new product, an improvement for an existing product, a new procedure, or any idea that solves a problem and/or makes life better. This can be simply an idea that is explained and described, an invention that is a prototype, an invention from a school project, or a project from another competition. All ideas are encouraged and a model is not required.

Student Ideas for a Better America is a monthly contest for students grade 9 – college who turn in a simple submission form with a description of their idea. Student agrees to share idea and their likeness for publicity purposes, keep the rights to the idea. Winners receive $100.  New winners are selected each month.

Youth having fun at CEC Leadership Conference
Jan 10 2013

2013 Annual César E. Chávez Leadership Conference

The annual César E. Chávez Leadership Conference is coming up on March 8, 2013 at Western Oregon University. Along with a day packed with speakers, workshops and inspiration, participants are eligible to apply for contests and scholarships.

Mission of the Leadership Conference: To instill in our Latino(a) youth the value of education, which nurtures mind, body and spirit in order to develop a social consciousness that empowers them as leaders for social justice and civic responsibility in the greater community.

The CECLC is the largest high school student event for Latino students in Oregon. Last year, in excess of 1,500 students, presenters, exhibitors, school staff, volunteers and invited guests attended leadership workshops, college/university fair and listened to distinguished keynote speakers. 65 high schools from Northwest Oregon attend the annual César E. Chávez Student Leadership conference. During the last 22 years, at least 20,000 high school students have been part of this event and, as such have come to know and identify with César E. Chávez and his legacy

Students need to see their counselors at participating schools to register.  A $35 registration fee is due to the conference, although some schools are able to cover the cost or provide scholarships for students in need.  Hurry, because counselors need to turn in information this week.

The conference also sponsors an Art, Essay and Poetry Contest for attendees. Submissions are due January 16.  Winners receive $100-$200.

Students can also apply for aCésar E. Chávez Leadership Conference College Scholarship.  High School Seniors of Latino(a) heritage are invited to apply.  Applications are due January 16, 2013

Burn-Notice-Wallpaper-burn-notice-5410456-1440-900
Dec 29 2012

Burn Notice Science Challenge 2013

This looks like a fun challenge brought to you by the folks who produce the Burn Notice TV series. For the Burn Notice Science Challenge, students 9-12 grade submit a 1500 word essay describing how they would build a solution to one of three problems:

  • Loud and clear: covert communication
  • Eye in the sky:  improvised surveillance
  • Do not disturb: covert alarm system

Students need an adult sponsor who will verify the originality of the work, and essays need to demonstrate the principals of scientific investigation.

Grand prize winners will receive a $10,000 college scholarship and meet the cast and crew of the show. Deadline is February 15, 2013.

Read guidelines and enter contest