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Building a Grad Nation Summit | Youth Scholarships!

Are you interested in lowering the dropout rate across the nation? Have you been involved in a cool project in your community? Are you excited to learn about programs that are improving communities for your peers? Do you want to have YOUR voice heard on all of these issues? If you answered yes to these questions, then being involved in this exciting event in Washington, DC is the perfect opportunity for you! This year America’s Promise Alliance is taking steps to ensure that youth, as an important stakeholder, play a major role in the Building a Grad Nation Summit. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet other young leaders from across the country as well as civic and business leaders, elected officials, educators, faith leaders, parents, and volunteers, involved in rallying for awareness and change in education. The idea is that by including you in the Summit, you can take home new ideas, an emboldened passion for the Grad Nation campaign, and a network of allies to help you encourage more of your peers to graduate on time ready for college, work and life. This is an Impact Network opportunity, which links young leaders from across the nation interested in taking action through and with the support of Alliance partners to address the challenges facing their communities.

Consider these questions to see if this opportunity is right for you: • Are you 13-25? • Are you available March 18-21, 2012? • Do you already know about initiatives to lower the national dropout rate? • Do you have a passion for helping create opportunities for your peers in your community? • Do you like to speak your mind? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then attending the Building a Grad Nation Summit is for you! And because we feel that your attendance is so important we are covering the cost of travel, lodging, and meals for up to 50 great candidates, so they are able to have a once in a lifetime experience in the nation’s capital—you could be one of them!

CLICK HERE to apply.

 

The Real World Design Challenge | Now Accepting Registration

The Real World Design Challenge is an annual high school competition run by a public-private partnership with the goal of sustainably increasing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. Teams of 3-7 secondary school students design a plane looking at the forces of flight, lift, weight, thrust & drag with the goal of enhancing performance and fuel efficiency. Each team is supported by professional mentors.

To learn more and regsiter, visit http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/forms/index.jsp?&im_dbkey=127530&im_language=en

 

“Along the Color Line” Video Contest | Deadline: February 17, 2012

“Along The Color Line," written by the late historian Dr. Manning Marable, was a public educational and information service dedicated to fostering political dialogue and discussion, inspired by the great tradition for political event columns written by W. E. B. Du Bois nearly a century ago. This video contest provides high school students with the opportunity and incentive to use scholarly research to analyze and pose solutions to some of the social issues that Manning Marable addressed in his writings such as sexism, racism, imperialism, and poverty. Winning videos will be screened at “A New Vision of Black Freedom: The Manning Marable Tribute Conference” sponsored by Columbia University’s Institute for Research in African-American Studies from April 26 – April 28, 2012. This contest is limited to students currently enrolled in high school anywhere in the US. Submissions will be judged on depth of knowledge of social problem being discussed, originality, and creative expression. Students can submit individually or through their teacher as part of a class project.

For more info, write askmarableconference@gmail.com

 

YES! National Student Writing Contest | Deadline: Registration, March 2. 2012; Submissions: March 31, 2012

The YES! National Student Writing Competition demonstrates how teachers can use YES! Magazine stories as the basis for thought-provoking writing, and gives students an opportunity to voice their opinions and show off their exemplary writing. Each quarter, students will have the opportunity to read and respond to a selected YES! Magazine article. The Winter 2012 Writing Competition derives from the article, "What's the Harm in Hunting."

For more info, see www.yesmagazine.org

 

2012 Poetry and Essay Contest | Deadline: April 7, 2012

The Korean American Women's Association is sponsoring an essay and poetry contest, open to all students in the U.S. in grades 5-12. The topic is cultural identity. Winners will receive a range of scholarship awards. Essay submissions must be 1,000 words or less. Poety submission must fit on one 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. Winners will be announced on May 7, 2012. There will be an award ceremony on June 7, 2012, where contest winners will need to be present to receive their  prize. 

For more info, write kawaoc@gmail.com

     

Pepsi Refresh Grants | Deadline: Monthly competition

Pepsi is looking for ideas from individuals, non-profits and pro-social businesses that can make a positive impact in the community. Ideas should be feasible and completed 12 months from the date you receive the first funds. Each month, up to $1.3 million will be awarded as follows: 2 Grants at the $250,000 level; 10 Grants at the $50,000 level; 10 Grants at the $25,000 level; and 10 Grants at the $5,000 level. Winning proposals are chosen by voters visiting the Pepsi Refresh website. Eligibility: any age.

Learn more at: http://www.refresheverything.com/index

 

WaysToHelp.org Grants | Deadline: Ongoing

WaysToHelp.org invites teens in the United States to apply for grants to fund their community service ideas across any one of 16 issue areas. You can apply for a grant, by visiting www.waystohelp.org and for any issue area, selecting "See Ways To Help" followed by "Apply for a Grant". Applications are short - just 5,000 words or less - and should summarize: how the project will involve others, who it will help, what effect it's expected to have, when it will start and how the funds will be used. Grant requests are reviewed and responded to on a monthly basis.

Learn more at: http://www.waystohelp.org

 

CSO Opportunity Scholar | Deadline: Rolling

Complete the Connect Now profile and become a CSO Opportunity Scholar. In addition to using this site to send you academic and extracurricular profiles to colleges and universities recruiting first-generation, low-income, and minority students, CSO's free services include monthly email newsletters, college admissions guidance and support, and the chance to win a $1,0000 Opportunity Scholarship and become a future Opportunity Scholars blogger at the end of your senionr year. Connect Now and the Opportunity Scholars program are completely free of charge.

Learn more at: http://csocollegecenter.org/connectnow.aspx

 

Do Something Seed Grants | Deadline: Rolling

Are you working to start a community action project or program? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? If you answered, "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a DoSomething Seed Grant. We give out a $500 Do Something Seed Grant every week to help young people just like YOU! Do Something Seed Grants are targeted towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started. These grants can be used to jump-start your program or to realize your ideas for the first time. These are grants for all types of community action projects around causes that you care about and are important in your community.

Learn more at: http://www.dosomething.org/grants/seedgrants

 

Do Something Growth Grants | Deadline: Rolling

Did you create a sustainable community action project, program or organization that you want to grow? Are you looking for funding to take your already successful project to the next level? If you answered "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a Do Something Growth Grant. We give out a $500 Do Something Growth Grant every week to help young people just like YOU! Do Something Growth Grants are targeted towards projects that are already developed and sustainable. These grants go towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact.

Learn more at: http://www.dosomething.org/grants/growthgrants

 

High Tech Camp for Girls | Deadline varies; see website.

Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives young people a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology tours and demonstrations, networking and hands-on learning workshops. Maximum Award: camp attendance. Eligibility: girls grades 7-12; must be 13 at the time of attendance. Deadline: varies; see website.

Learn more at: https://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/programs/digigirlz/hightechcamp.aspx

 

Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge | Deadline varies; see website.

The Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge program is designed to educate and empower students to take action to improve the environment. The program encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. Middle and high school teams comprised of 5 to 10 students and one teacher advisor are invited to participate in four initial challenges, each addressing a different environmental element -- land, water, air, and climate. Maximum Award: $75,000. Eligibility: students in grades 6-12 and their teachers. Deadline: varies.

Learn more at: http://www.scholastic.com/lexus

 

Mix It Up Grants | Deadline: Rolling

The Southern Poverty Law Center is accepting applications for its Mix It Up grants program to support on-going projects led and directed by youth (ages 13 years and older) that challenge the status quo, are creative in their approach to encouraging engagement in socially just behaviors, involve collaborations across social boundaries, and are fiscally responsible.

Maximum award: $500. Ages served: middle and high school.

Visit http://www.tolerance.org