2nd Largest in Iowa
16,000+Students enrolled
Arts & Humanities
| Nov 15 | “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Concerto Competition | Competition is open to high school musicians (grades 9-12) enrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year. String, piano and harp players are eligible to apply. (Woodwind, brass and percussion players will be eligible in the 2025 competition.) The winner will appear as a guest soloist with the Marine Chamber Orchestra during the 2024 concert season and receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Second and third-place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 scholarships respectively. |
| Dec 1 | Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards | Students age 13 and up can apply in 28 categories of art and writing. $10 for each entry submission or $30 for each portfolio submission. Receive scholarships, cash awards or tuition assistance by participating in the awards. Register online. The host of the Iowa Multi-State Art & Writing Region is: Belin-Blank Center 600 Blank Honors Center The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242-0454 Gold Keys and American Vision & Voices nominees advance to national judging. |
| Feb 21 Grant Wood entry deadline Feb 23 project submission deadline Mar 18 Grant Wood contest | National History Day | Students in grades 6-12 conduct original research on historical topics of interest. Students compete at the local level as an individual or in a small group in a choice of categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. Students enter projects at the local level, with top students advancing to state and national levels. |
Essay & Speech
| Oct 31 | Voice of Democracy | Students in grades 9-12 record a reading of their 3-5 minute essay covering a democratic and patriotic-themed essay. The national winner receives a $35,000 scholarship. Each state winner receives a minimum scholarship of $1000. Submit all entry materials to the local VFW post: Post 8884 5999 25th Ave. Trl, PO Box 187 Vinton, IA 52349-0187 |
| Dec 1 | Fleet Reserve Association Essay Contest | Students in grades 7-12 write a 350 word essay about “What Memorial Day means to me.” The grand national winner will receive $1,500, with additional prizes for the top three essays in each grade category. Additional prizes may be awarded to students winning at local and regional levels of competition. Mail local submission materials to: Branch: 242-IA, DAVENPORT Name : William T. Craig, Jr. Address : 2317 E Pleasant St Davenport, IA 52803-2325 Email : wtsecraig@aol.com Phone : (563) 322-7808 |
| Dec 15 submit to local chapter in Des Moines | National Sojourners 2024 Essay Contest | Open to students currently in the 9th to 12th grades. Submit your 300-500 word essay to the local National Sojourners Chapter (Des Moines) using the “Authorized Cover Sheet”. Each Chapter submits a maximum of 3 essays to National Sojourners Headquarters, received at National by Jan. 15th, 2024. Describe three (3) main causes of the American Revolutionary War and how they led to armed conflict with Great Britain. Top three essays will receive $1000 – $3000 and a National Sojourner’s plaque |
| Jan 12 | John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest | Student in grades 9-12 write an essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage. Each year the topic has a different prompt. The topic this year is Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1917. Scholarships range from $100 – $10,000 |
| May 1-2 | Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series Online or in-person at Truman High School, Independence, MO | Students in grades 9-12. The debates search for students who can effectively use logic, evidence, and personality to communicate their ideas, just as Ronald Reagan did throughout his life. Competitors who qualify for the National Championship receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Southern California. The three day trip will include a private tour of the library and dinner under the wings of Air Force One. |
STEM
| Oct 1 – Apr 30 | Rapunzl National Investment Competition | Students in grades 9-12 simulate a free $10,000 stock portfolio and buy & sell companies with real-time pricing, provided by Nasdaq. Participation is free and assumes no prior understanding of the stock market. $35k in annual prizes and $2k in scholarships each month. Watch the video before downloading the Rapunzl app. Video link |
| Dec 1 | American Rocketry (Team) Challenge | The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest! The contest gives students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to design, build and launch model rockets and hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Students work together on a team of three to ten students. National prizes for teams placing in the top ten and separate prize categories for marketing and presentation. |
| National Space Club and Foundation Scholars Program | Summer intern program, for up to 55 high school students, with space scientists and engineers, sponsored by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA in cooperation with the National Space Club and Foundation. The program is conducted for six weeks each summer, from late June until early August. | |
| March 16 | Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair – Cedar Rapids | Students in grades 6-12 exhibit their science projects and explain what they have learned. Deserving students are recognized with awards, prizes, and scholarships; top students are sent to the International Science and Engineering Fair. 2 Research Categories: Biological and Physical. 2 Age Groups: Junior (grades 6–8) and Senior (grades 9–12). 2 Project Types: Individual and Team 5 Divisions: Junior Biological (JB) Junior Physical (JP) Junior Teams (JT) Senior Biological (SB) Senior Physical (SP) |
| April 4 & 5 | State Science Technology Fair of Iowa – Ames | Student researcher (grades 6-12) meets with professional researchers and communicates their findings and understanding of the research process. The SSTFI is an affiliate of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. |
| Feb 28 deadline | National Youth Science Academy | Senior with superior academic proficiency, including recognition in mathematics and/or the sciences; leadership abilities and social maturity through involvement in both school and community activities. Two delegates from each state will be selected to attend the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). The NYSCamp is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s rising leaders. |
| Deadline: Mar 29 Institute: Apr 25 | World Food Prize Global Challenge, Iowa Youth Institute, Iowa State University, Ames | Students in grades 9-12 research a global challenge and write a paper about the problem and a proposed solution. Students can earn scholarships, become recognized as a Borlaug Scholar, qualify for the Global Youth Institute, paid fellowships, and international scholarships. |
| TBD | Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair – Atlanta, Georgia | Students must be selected by judges at the Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair to participate. See above. |
| Deadline: Nov 8 | Regeneron Science Talent Search | U.S. High School Seniors in the Class of 2022 are invited to apply online to the nation’s oldest and most prestigious STEM research competition. |