Inspired by the book Sydney's Star, the Sydney's Star Invention Contest is open to students in grades 1-8 in the United States and Canada. Sponsors FableVision, Science Weekly, and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing invite students to emulate the book's heroine by submitting ideas for inventions that could be used to solve a problem in our world. Grand prizes will be given for each of four categories: Creative Idea Description, Sketch/Design, Prototype, and Working Invention. Each winner will have his or her invention illustrated by Peter Reynolds, the book's author; illustrations will be posted on the Simon & Schuster and FableVision Web sites. Winners will also receive a one-year subscription to Science Weekly's newsletter and autographed copies of Sydney's Star for themselves and their school library. The Working Invention winner will also win a school visit by the author. For more contest information, visit www.fablevision.com/sydney. Deadline for entries is December 1.
The Achievement Scholarship Program, sponsored by the AXA Foundation in association with U.S. News & World Report, provides scholarships to current U.S. high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding achievement in an activity at school, in the workplace, or within the community. Fifty-two winners will each receive a $10,000 scholarship. Ten of these students receive an additional award of $15,000, a computer, and an offer of an internship with AXA Financial. Each applicant must be recommended by an adult. Additional information and applications for 2004 can be found at www.axaonline.com/rs/axa/about-us/33a_axa_achievement.html. Deadline is December 15.
Can you think of an individual who has devoted him or herself to improving K-12 public education? You may want to nominate this person for the Gleitsman Foundation 2004 Citizen Activist Award. Winners may be private individuals, organizations, or public educators who recognize the urgent need for all children to receive a good education. In past years, two individuals or organizations have typically received recognition, which includes sharing a $100,000 award. Each winner will also receive a specially commissioned sculpture by Maya Lin. Self nominations are not accepted. More information is available at www.gleitsman.org/citizen/nomination.html. Nominations are due November 12.
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation offers Charitable and Educational Foundation Grants to nonprofit organizations, including schools, in communities where Lowe's operates. The foundation's primary focus is community improvement projects, education scholarships for trade disciplines, and initiatives that enhance the natural environment. Schools have received grants for enhancing learning environments or making much-needed building repairs. Awards vary; applications must be made online. Visit www.lowes.com/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/Community for more information. Applications may be submitted at any time.
Teachers of mathematics in grades 7-12 are eligible to apply for a Mary Dolciani grant through the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Teacher-Initiated Proposals Improving Classroom Instruction program. Two grants of up to $2,000 each are awarded annually to math teachers who want to improve their professional competence. Proposals may include activities to improve the teacher's background in mathematics, the development of projects or materials pertaining to the teacher's classroom instruction in mathematics, or the development of projects to improve the mathematics curriculum. Grant money may be used to purchase equipment that supports the proposed plan, but acquiring equipment may not be the primary focus of the grant. Proposal guidelines and other information are available at www.nctm.org/about/met/dolciani.htm. Deadline for proposals is December 5.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics also sponsors other Improving Classroom Instruction grants of up to $2,000 each for Pre-K to grade 6 teachers (Ernest Duncan Grants) and teachers of grades 9-12 (Theoni Pappas Incentive Grants). Visit www.nctm.org/about/met for details. Applications are due December 5.
Visit the Grants Database to search through the extensive listings of grants and contests.
Read other articles from the October Issue
