Contests

Abstract

Minneapolis Federal Reserve Student Essay Contest

The Federal Reserve Bank is the nation’s central bank and is in charge of managing the money supply to maintain price stability. The Federal Reserve is made of 12 district banks, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has announced the 27th Annual Student Essay Contest open to all high school students in the Ninth Federal Reserve District. High school students living in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan must turn in an entry form along with a three-page double-spaced essay to their teacher to submit. College economics faculty and Federal Reserve staff will judge the essays using the following criteria: (a) comprehension, (b) organization, (c) conclusions, (d) creativity, and (e) writing. Thirty students will receive US$100. The third-place winner will receive an additional US$200, the second-place winner will receive an additional US$300, and the first-place winner will receive an additional US$400 and a paid summer internship at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. The winning essay will also be published in The Region magazine. All essays are due by March 27, 2015. Finalists will be announced in April 2015. An archive of past essays can be found at the contest website. For more information, please visit https://www.minneapolisfed.org/community/student-resources/student-essay-contest

Abbot & Fenner Business Consultants Scholarship

Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants provide services such as feasibility studies, business or marketing plans, providing accounting services, and more. Abbot & Fenner is committed to helping those who have the desire and ambition to succeed by holding a scholarship contest every year since 2007. This contest is available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post-secondary institution. To apply for this scholarship, you will need to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay on the following topic: Describe your educational career and life goals. Explain your plan for achieving these goals. Include your degree/major, why you selected it, and how this degree/major will help you achieve your goals. Submissions must be sent by June 15, 2015, to scholarships@abbottandfenner.com. The winner(s) of this annual scholarship will receive their award within 2 weeks of the deadline. All applicants should include their full name and mailing address with their submissions. For more information, please visit http://www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm

Student Design Competition

The Acoustical Society of America’s Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics and the National Council of Acoustical Consultants is sponsoring a student design competition. The 2015 design competition involves the design of a performance venue addition to a casino and hotel facility in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Student Design Competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in the disciplines of architecture, engineering, physics, and other curricula that involve building design and/or acoustics. Students intending to enter the competition must register by sending an email to sdc@newmanfund.org by April 10, 2015. In the email, please indicate your name(s), school, and faculty advisor. Provide the email addresses of the faculty advisor and one team member to serve as contact for the entire team. Design competition entries should emphasize the general building acoustics design (room acoustics, noise control, and acoustic isolation) and should be submitted in poster presentation format by May 14, 2015. For more information, please visit http://www.newmanfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2015_ASA_SDC_Announcement.pdf

8th Annual Junior Authors Short Story Writing Contest

Laura Thomas Communications exists to promote the development of young writers worldwide. Writing tips, prompts, and exercises can be found on her website. The short story contest has been held since 2008. It is free to enter, and entrants can pay a fee if they would like feedback. Anyone who is between the ages of 9 and 21 is welcome to submit a short story, which can be up to 1,000 words. Each story is judged on its literary merit as the following criteria: (a) story structure (plot, characters, setting, point of view), (b) description, (c) style, (d) grammar, and (e) unity. The different age categories are 19 to 21, 17 to 18, 15 to 16, 13 to 14, 11 to 12, and 9 to 10. The top eight writers from each group will receive a certificate of achievement and be acknowledged on the contest website. The first-place writer will be published on the contest website and receive a signed paperback. All finalists will receive a certificate of achievement. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2015. Finalists will be announced July 31, and winners will be announced on August 28. For more information, please visit http://laurathomascommunications.com/juniorauthorscontest/

Grants and Awards

The Department of Education funds the Upward Bound Math/Science program through centers that are designed to strengthen participating students’ math and science skills. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in the fields of math and science and encourages them to pursue post-secondary degrees in math and science. Program services include summer programs in intensive math and science training, year-round counseling and advisement, exposure to university faculty who do research in math and science, computer training, and participant-conducted scientific research under the guidance of faculty members or graduate students serving as the participant’s mentor. Program participants must be eligible for Upward Bound (low-income, first-generation) and must have completed eighth grade. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations, including community and faith-based organizations. The estimated range of award is US$250,000 to US$355,000. Applications are due July 20, 2016. For more information, contact Sharon Easterling, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; 202-502-7651; sharon.easterling@ed.gov

The Northrop Grumman Litton Foundation’s purpose is to provide support for education opportunities to the nation’s youth. The foundation is committed to supporting diverse and sustainable programs that create innovative education opportunities in literacy, math, science, and technology programs spanning pre-college through collegiate levels. Eligible organizations must be defined as tax exempt. Grant deadlines are April 30 and August 31. Grants are approved or denied approximately a month after the deadline. Grants range from US$3,500 to US$22,240. For more information, contact Northrop Grumman Litton Foundation, 1840 Century Park East MS 122/CC, Los Angeles, CA 90067; 888-478-5478; Community_Relations@mail.northgrum.com

Motorola supports the Innovation Generation Grant Program to increase students’ engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Two types of grants are offered:

Local Impact Grants targeting innovative and hands-on STEM education programs. Grant requests must be between US$15,000 and US$60,000 for projects that start after June.

National Partnership Grants supporting large-scale, multi-regional STEM education programs that impact at least 150 primary participants. The maximum grant request is US$250,000, and the minimum request is US$50,000. Projects must start after June and may last up to 2 years.

Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations in the United States. For more information, contact Matt Blakely, Director, Motorola Solutions Foundation; foundation@motorolasolutions.com

Kinder Morgan supports grants in the follow areas: academic program, arts education program, and environmental education programs that work with local schools and meet curriculum standards. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, public and private schools in the United States and Canada. Grants range between US$1,000 and US$5,000. Deadlines are the 10th of every other month beginning in January. The Board notifies the applicant within 60 to 90 days. For more information, contact the Kinder Morgan Foundation, 370 Van Gordon Street, Lakewood, CO 80228; 303-914-7655; km_foundation@kindermorgan.com