Plastic pollution projects
The National Geographic Society is looking for applications for its GeoChallenge, an annual themed and standards-based competition that challenges student groups in grades 5–8 across the United States to develop a creative solution to a real-world problem. Funds: TBA. A teacher, paid school employee or representative of an informal education organization (i.e., museum, after-school program, scouting group) must register as the GeoChallenge coordinator. Students are asked to investigate the urgent issue of plastic pollution in waterways.
DEADLINE: Jan. 15.
CONTACT: geochallenge@ngs.org; National Geographic
Seeking schools with spirit
Varsity Brands is requesting applications for the America’s Most Spirited High School Contest. The contest seeks to recognize high schools across the nation that go above and beyond the definition of school spirit. Funds: A $25,000 award. Entries must include a video no longer than 1 minute and 30 seconds proving why your school has the most school spirit in America. Tell the story of your school in an essay of 500 words or less. Get letters of recommendation from the school’s principal and a community leader. Tip: Awards are also given at the student and staff levels.
DEADLINE: Jan. 22.
CONTACT: Varsity Brands
Youth providing service
Youth Service of America is accepting applications for the 2019 Martin Luther King Day of Service Grants to activate youth volunteers on MLK Day of Service weekend. Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, these grants offer youth development organizations, community-based organizations, and schools or school districts grant funding and capacity-building training to effectively recruit and engage young people in meaningful service activities. Grantees will activate youth, ages 5–25 — 80 percent middle and high school age — to lead service or service-learning projects through which they can acquire 21st century skills (collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking). Grants are $1,000 to activate a minimum of 500 youth during the MLK Day weekend (Jan. 18–21, 2019). Applicants should focus on engaging middle and high school aged youth, especially those from underserved communities. Applicants may work locally, regionally or statewide and must be based in the United States.
DEADLINE: Nov. 4.
CONTACT: Youth Service Grants
Preserving the environment
The SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of students, teachers and community leaders across the country who are working at the grassroots level to protect and preserve the environment. The Environmental Excellence Awards has expanded its reach to larger audiences to recognize the efforts of schools, youth groups, individuals and companies working to make a difference. To apply for this award, submit a short (less than 5 minutes) video nomination using YouTube. Include the link, a one-to-two page, double-spaced program description or narrative describing your outstanding environmental science project. The narrative should include a description of the project, the number of students served, the range of the project’s impact, how you would use the money, the length of time involved with the project, and community support and awareness. Award: $10,000 and an expenses-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference.
DEADLINE: Dec. 17.
CONTACT: NSTA Awards; Awards
Video documentary competition
C-SPAN’s StudentCam is an annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students in grades 6–12 are asked to create a short (5 to 7 minutes) video documentary on a topic related to the 2019 competition theme “What Does It Mean to Be American?” Choose a constitutional right, national characteristic or historic event and explain how it defines the American experience. Cash and prizes totaling $100,000 will be awarded to 150 student documentaries and 53 teacher advisers. Eligibility: individuals or teams of two to three students in grades 6–8 and grades 9–12.
DEADLINE: Nov. 1–Jan. 20.
CONTACT: StudentCam