Summer Internships for Future Engineers

High School Students with an interest in engineering, technology, and naval science can apply for the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), an eight-week paid summer research and internship opportunity sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

Internships are awarded annually to approximately 250 students, who work at any of 19 Department of the Navy

laboratories throughout the United States. The stipend for the summer program is $1,500. Students must have completed ninth grade and be citizens to apply.

SEAP is administered by the American Society for Engineering Education. For more information, including a complete list of eligibility requirements and locations of participating laboratories, visit www.asee.org/seap. Questions may be sent to seap@asee.org. The application deadline is February 17, 2006.

Poetry and The Power of the Spoken Word

The National Endowment for the Arts (the other NEA) has teamed up with the Poetry Foundation to create Poetry Out Loud, an opportunity for high school students across the country to compete in a poetry recitation contest.

From January through March 2006, select schools in every state (identified by each state Department of Education) will compete in the official contest, beginning at the classroom level and advancing to school-wide, city-wide, and regional competitions, culminating with state finals in April. One winner from each state will proceed to the national finals on May 16. Fifty-thousand dollars in scholarships and school prizes will be awarded overall.

If you’re interested in having your school participate, contact your State Arts Agency—but don’t be discouraged if they’ve already chosen other schools. Any school can participate and conduct its own contest using the official online resources.

Visit the Poetry Out Loud website for information, a program guide, an extensive anthology of poems, tips on performance technique, audio-links, and other resources for students, educators, and arts administrators. Take advantage of this opportunity to introduce your students to the power of the spoken word.

Resource: NEA’s Read Across America has a great tip sheet for hosting a teen poetry slam. Find Slam It! Stage It! at NEA's Read Across America website.

Study Lincoln In His Home State

If you’ve ever admired the 16th President of the United States, here’s your chance to study the life and legacy of a man many historians regard as the greatest president in our nation’s history—at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Spring-field, Illinois.

A new program underwritten by Horace Mann and ALPLM will enable 50 educators—one from each state—to travel to Illinois for a five-day institute in summer 2006. Half of the winning fellows will attend June 26–30, and half July 10–14. A $1,000 fellowship will cover travel expenses. The program is open to any full-time K–12 teacher. Applications must be submitted online no later than March 4, 2006.

Winners will be announced on National Teacher Day, May 9. Click here for information on the application process, eligibility, and judging.

Deadline Approaching for Mercedes-Benz College Scholarships

Students who are the first in their family to go to college can apply for scholarships from Mercedes-Benz. The Drive Your Future program will provide $10,000 ($2,500 per year for four years) to 100 high school seniors from across the country who demonstrate financial need coupled with exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and school and community involvement.

Fifty additional scholarships will be awarded to students in similar circumstances with an interest in pursuing a degree in performing arts, bringing the total awards value to $1.5 million dollars. But hurry—students must apply online by February 10, 2006.

Click here for more information and to review the e-application.

Libraries that Make a Difference

Have you and your library created initiatives that make you indispensable to your school? Do you significantly impact the students you serve?

The Giant Step program from Thomson Gale and Library School Journal recognizes outstanding school and public libraries that make significant improvements or create innovations in programs or services that have a positive impact on student development and learning.

The maximum award is $10,000, and the winning library (or libraries) will be honored during a celebration at the American Library Association’s annual conference. School library media centers in the United States and Canada are eligible to apply (either individually or as a district-wide program).

Go to the Gale Schools website for information and an application. The deadline for entries is February 15, 2006.

Calling All Math Heroes!

Do you stand and deliver? Do you—or someone you know—make great strides helping students understand and enjoy mathematics? Raytheon Company’s MathMovesU Grants and Scholarships Program recognizes educators who inspire students by creating fun, challenging, and innovative learning environments.

Up to three awards of $2,500 each will be granted to recipients in each of the target markets where Raytheon has a presence (Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Texas); eight additional grants will be awarded outside of these target markets.

A matching award will go to the school where each recipient is employed, or to another math-related nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choice.

Applicants must be nominated by students, other teachers, principals, parents, or school volunteers, and must teach full-time in a middle or high school in the United States. Applications must be received by February 15, 2006.

Click here for information and an application.

Illustrations/photos: Office of Naval Research, Library of Congress, Mercedes-Benz, Art Explosion, Getty Images