Explore UT - 03/07/2020

Explore UT on 03/07/2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free, family event that encourages everyone to explore the university and the activities they have scheduled for the day. https://exploreut.utexas.edu/

We the Students Essay Contest - Due 04/15/2020

The topic for the We the Student essay Contest is "What does civil discourse mean to you?" This contest is open to students in grades 8-12. Rules for participation: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students-programs-events/scholarship/we-the-students-rules-and-regluations/ Essay Prompt: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students-programs-events/scholarship/

Ocean Awareness Art Contest

2020 Theme | Climate Hope: Transforming Crisis

A CREATIVE CHALLENGE FOR TEENS WORLDWIDE

The global Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about ocean issues through art-making and creative communication, and where teens can explore their relationship to a changing world and become advocates for environmental action. Students ages 11-18 from are invited to participate.

The 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest is a call for young artists, conservationists, makers, thinkers, and activists who are concerned about the future of our blue planet. Join thousands of youth around the world in our annual program that raises awareness about the climate crisis and potential solutions, uplifts youth voices for ocean conservation, and inspires hope and action through art, creative media, and storytelling.

Download Contest information packet >

Download Contest information packet (Spanish) >

For more information, please click HERE.

CONTEST DEADLINE: JUNE 15, 2020

Austin Family Camp Fair - 02/23/20

Austin Family Camp Fair

Sunday, 02/23/2020

12-4 p.m.

Palmer Events Center

Free Admission

https://austinfamily.com/2020-camp-fair-save-the-date/

Girl Day at UT Austin!

Girl Day at UT Austin, including Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and the Girl Day STEM Festival, will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020 on the UT Austin campus from 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Activities open at 11:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. Closing shows run from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Over 8,000 elementary and middle school students are expected to participate with over 1,500 volunteers from over 160 student organizations, research groups, community organizations and companies. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Girl Day) is an international event celebrated during Engineers Week each year.

Students and their parents or educators are invited to UT for an afternoon of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fun. UT’s national award winning Girl Day, presented by the Women in Engineering Program (WEP), gives elementary and middle school students a chance to explore STEM through grade-appropriate, hands-on activities hosted by volunteer scientists, engineers, and STEM enthusiasts from over 160 student organizations, research centers, corporate partners and community organizations. Both girls and boys are welcome! 

Doodle4Google - Due 03/13/2020

Students can submit their doodles at https://doodles.google.com/d4g/. Contest closes on 03/13/2020. This year's theme is "I show kindness by . . . "

Junior Poet's Contest - Critical Pass Review

THE CRITICAL JUNIOR POET’S AWARD CONTEST GUIDELINES

About the Critical Junior Poet’s Award

The Critical Junior Poet’s Award was established to foster an interest in poetry in
students between the ages of 13 and 18, and provides a basis for recognition and
encouragement of outstanding student interest and achievement in the art of poetry.

For details on submissions, click HERE.

The Prizes

Subject to all terms and guidelines of the Critical Junior Poet’s Award contest, the
winner of the 2020 Critical Junior Poet’s Award will receive the following:

• A $100 prize,
• $20 iTunes card,
• A CD of master poets reading their works,
• Publication of at least one of his/her winning works in a 2020-2021
    issue of The Critical Pass Review, and
• One free, digital copy of that issue.

The Recognition

• Each entrant’s school will receive a free digital, two-issue subscription to
The Critical Pass Review, including the issue in which the winner’s
work is published and the preceding issue, upon request.
• The winner of the Critical Junior Poet’s Award may cite the award as an
accolade in publication submissions to publishers and in college
applications alike.
• In some cases, with the winner’s consent, The Critical Pass Review
elects to run a bio or interview with the winner in the same issue as the
winner’s work is featured.

Other Contest Perks

• Access to our poetry resources library,
• Hands-on mentoring from our editorial staff (you will receive comments from
our editors, who are very dedicated to working with you to improve
your work and to foster a deep interest in the poetry craft), and
• The ability to rework your submissions as many times as you like before the
submission deadline.

Submission Deadlines & Award Decision Date

Our reading period for the 2020 Critical Junior Poet’s Award contest begins on
January 1, 2020 with all initial submissions due by September 1, 2020. The Critical Junior Poet’s Award is an editors’ choice award and will be judged by the editors of The Critical Pass Review at their sole discretion, with a decision solely announced on The Critical Pass Review website on November 30, 2020.

How to Submit

Before submitting, we strongly recommend that you read the poetry in our past issues, taking particular note of the poems of our past Critical Junior Poet’s Award Contest winners. Also, please make sure that you read, and that you satisfy, the full terms of the guidelines displayed to you on our Submittable web page after you click the submit button below. The full guidelines can also be viewed here.

There is no entry fee for the Critical Junior Poet’s Award Contest.

The Thinkery - Volunteens Program (ages 13-18)

Our youth career readiness and volunteering program offers opportunities for teens 

(ages 13–18)

Every VolunTeen trainee begins the program by attending a three-day orientation, which includes getting to know Thinkery, basic job functions, team building, and professional skill refinement. Teens continue in the program by participating in approximately 40 hours of mandatory training over the course of a fall or spring semester or in one of our summer intensive sessions. After their training period, fully-trained teens can select from pre-determined shifts to fit their schedules. Post-training volunteering occurs during all museum hours throughout the year and at special events, both onsite and offsite. In their first 12 months, teens are committed to volunteer 100 hours.

While volunteering, VolunTeens facilitates STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities in Thinkery’s galleries and refine the skills necessary to find meaningful employment in their future. By earning volunteer hours and certifications, VolunTeens move up through a rung-system that provides greater opportunities as they progress.

If you have any further questions about our VolunTeen Program, please email volunteer@thinkeryaustin.org.

TAGT Scholarship Opportunities

TAGT Scholarship Applications Due Feb. 28! Each year, with the help of our generous donors, TAGT offers four student scholarships.  Over the years, these scholarships have been awarded to almost 4,000 students with over one million dollars in assistance.  Please share these opportunities with the students in your lives who might benefit from the support of a TAGT scholarship.  All applications are due on February 28, 2020. Available Scholarships TAGT Summer Enrichment Scholarship Awarded to identified gifted students’ grades K- 12, who are currently participating in a gifted program and who want to enrich their learning experience during the summer months. The maximum summer scholarship award is $400. Students may use these scholarships to attend programs with academic, fine art, or performing arts focus.  Education in Action's Lone Star Leadership Academy Camp Scholarship Travel to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston area to join delegations of other distinguished students from across Texas for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas destinations. Participants must be in 4th-8th grade, nominated by an educator based on demonstrated leadership ability, maintain an 85 or higher average, and be involved in school/community activities. The top-scoring student applying for a Summer Enrichment Scholarship attending the Lone Star Leadership Academy will receive a full scholarship to the program.  Laura Allard Future Vision Scholarship A $2,500 scholarship awarded to a graduating G/T high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, possesses a strong sense of purpose, clearly defined goals, and has a long-term plan for achieving these goals. Adelle McClendon Young Leader Scholarship A $2,500 scholarship awarded to a graduating G/T high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership.  To apply, click HERE.

2020 Civics Education Contest

For more information, click HERE. 

Geek Partnership Society Writing Contest 2020

Writing Contest

This contest provides a forum for new talent of any age and gives them a chance to learn about the publication process and its requirements. The submission requirements are not negotiable, nor should this contest be used as a required class exercise by teachers. Teachers, please encourage your students to enter our contest but don’t make it a homework assignment. Entries must be science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural, and alternate history in short fiction, poetry, or comics.

All entries remain the intellectual property of the writers, although by entering this contest the writer gives GPS limited rights to share a winning entry.

2020 Contest entries accepted starting January 1, 2020

Prizes

• The winner of each Youth Division will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate, with a second $50 gift certificate being awarded to the winner’s school.
• The Poetry Division winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.
• The general winner of the Open Division will receive a $75 Amazon.com gift certificate. The Scott Imes Award winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from Uncle Hugo’s.
• The Graphic Novel (Comics) Division winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.

Dates to keep in mind

We will start accepting entries for the 2020 contest  on January 1, 2020.

The deadline for entries to be emailed as attachments to writingcontest @ geekpartnership.org is by 11:59 pm CDT on May 1, 2020.

Winners will be notified by the end of June, and publicly announced at the Opening Ceremony of CONvergence in August, 2020.

Winning entries will be shared on the this webpage by the end of September.

Divisions

Please select a division to enter. You may only enter one short fiction division. You have the option to also enter a poem in the Poetry Division and/or a short comics in the Graphic Novel (Comics) Division.

• Open: Short fiction only. Open to writers of any age. There will be TWO (2) winners chosen from this category. The Open Division winner will be chosen from all entries.
  • An additional local writer will be chosen from contestants residing within 200 miles of Geek Partnership Society to receive the Scott Imes Award. This award proudly honors Scott Imes, a major force in the Twin Cities’ science fiction reading and writing community who passed away in December 2001. For over two decades, Scott Imes worked at Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore and promoted the speculative fiction genres. His recommendations served those far beyond its doors.
• Poetry: Poems only. Open to writers of any age.
• Youth 1: Short fiction only. Open to writers 13 years of age or younger as of May 1, 2020.
• Youth 2: Short fiction only. Open to writers 14-16 years of age as of May 1, 2020.
• Graphic Novel (Comics): Short comics only. Open to writers of any age.

Judging

Two or more qualified writers or editors will evaluate each submission. All works will be screened to ensure they meet the contest rules and submission requirements stated above. The judges will NOT read any entries that do not meet these guidelines.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact the Writing Contest Coordinator at writingcontest @ geekpartnership.org.