These links provide high schools students interested in engineering hands-on experience by participating in engineering-related competitions.

The Edventures in Robotics Challenge" (ERC)
Junkyard Wars, Battlebots, Robot Wars, Sumo Wrestling Robots and more! In the past few years there has been a tremendous surge of interest in mechanical challenges, invention, and robotics. For educators, this phenomenon has provided some wonderful resources for inspiring and motivating children in the areas of math, science, technology, & engineering. In direct response to this need, PCS Edventures developed a new and exciting competition called "The Edventures in Robotics Challenge" (ERC). The ERC is designed to be used at any time throughout the year to generate enthusiasm, prepare students for problem solving challenges, and create a real-world teamwork scenario for students to experience. The ERC is a challenge program designed to be more "approachable " for ALL educators: 1) it does not require any travel; 2) it is inexpensive; and 3) it allows you to utilize materials you may already own. It is also a great way to get some hands-on experience with this type of learning activity before you commit to one of the more extensive programs. Visit the website to see some examples from the recent competition -- teams from the US, Canada, Korea, Egypt, and Pakistan participated and had an awesome time!

West Point Bridge Design Contest
The United States Military Academy is pleased to offer the third annual West Point Bridge Design Contest. The purpose of this Internet-based competition is to provide middle school and high school students with a realistic, engaging introduction to engineering. Anyone may enter the contest, but only U.S. students age 13 through grade 12 are eligible to compete for prizes. Students may compete individually or in teams to two. Prizes include cash scholarships and notebook computers. Participation is FREE! The Qualifying Round of the contest runs from January 8 to April 5, 2004.

Botball Educational Robotics Program
Botball is an outreach program that uses robotics technology to engage students in learning the practical applications of science, technology, engineering, and math. Any middle or high school aged student can get involved in Botball. The organization of the team is up to the team leader. All kinds of groups can participate in this technology based educational program as long as there is an adult contact.

BattleBotsIQ
BattleBots IQ is a comprehensive educational program where students learn about the science of engineering through robot building. This unique curriculum fuses mathematics, physics, and engineering into tangible and relevant lessons for high school students.

BEST inc.
BEST inc. is a nonprofit organization that sponsors a robot design contest for high school students. Robots are student designed and build and the contest is offered to the schools at no cost. BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is organized as hub sites serving a regional area. At the present time there are 10 hub sites in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Colorado.

MATHCOUNTS
A national math coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grass roots involvement in every US state and territory.
MATHCOUNTS promotes student interest in mathematics by making math achievement as challenging, exciting and prestigious as a school sport. At the beginning of each school year, the MATHCOUNTS foundation provides a complimentary copy of its School Handbook to middle schools across the country. Teachers and volunteers use these problems and activities to coach student "Mathletes" (6th, 7th and 8th graders) as part of in-class instruction or as an extracurricular activity.

FIRST -- High School Robotics Competition
FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, run the annual event, which culminates in a National Tournament at EPCOT Center in Florida. Thousands of high school students, teachers, and corporate engineers participate.
The FIRST Competition features head to head matches between radio-controlled robots from teams made up of high schools and corporate sponsors from around the country. The exciting matches are the culmination of weeks of intense work on strategy, design, manufacturing, and practice by the students, teachers, and corporate engineers. Students experience the excitement of engineering and competition, and they come away with the feeling that science, math, and technology are fun. Over 200 teams competed in FIRST in 1998. The annual competition is open to all pre-college schools and sponsors in North America.

TEAMS
A challenging academic team competition, The Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) program enables high school students to learn team development and problem-solving skills using classroom mathematics to solve real-world problems.

NEDC
A hands-on national engineering design competition The National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC) is a cooperative program with the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Talent Network, challenging teams of students often working with an engineering adviser, to design, fabricate, and demonstrate a working solution to a social need. Here are some resources on competitions and contests for students of all ages that promote awareness about energy technologies and issues, including energy efficiency and renewable energy.

ExploraVision
A competition administered by the National Science Teachers Association that encourages K-12 students to create technologies—including energy technologies— of the future.

National Junior Solar Sprint
A U.S. Department of Energy program where student teams in grades 6-8 construct model solar-powered cars and race them.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Student Programs and Competitions
A full range of activities for elementary and secondary school students that provide tutoring, mentoring, science demonstrations, awards and recognition, and more.

National Science Bowl
A U.S. Department of Energy academic competition where teams of high school students answer questions on scientific topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth, computer and general science.

Student Vehicle Competitions
Information from the U.S. Department of Energy on competitions involving vehicle technologies for students in elementary grades to university level.

Bayer/NSF Award for Community Innovation (Christopher Columbus).
Competition for teams of middle school students (sixth, seventh, and eighth graders) to find creative solutions to problems in their communities.

The International RoboCup Competition
The International RoboCup Competition entails the construction of fully autonomous, fast moving robots, which work together as a team to compete against similar teams of robots in a robotic soccer match. The RoboCup is an excellent test bed for developing new tools and techniques for controlling autonomous systems in uncertain and dynamic environments; applications include space exploration, disaster relief, and national defense. From an educational perspective, it is also a great means for exposing students to the systems engineering approach for designing, building, managing, and maintaining complex systems.

NSTA Scholarship Competitions
NSTA and our sponsors reward teachers and students with over $1 million in cash and prizes each year. This page outlines opportunities to receive personal and school recognition.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Student Robotics Challenge
Students are judged on their application of manufacturing principles and concepts and their ability to solve manufacturing-related problems through a team approach.

International Bridge Building Contest
Constructing and testing of model bridges promotes the study and application of fundamental principles physics and also helps high school students develop "hands on" skills through bridge construction.

Odyssey of the Mind
A world-wide program that promotes creative team-based problem solving for kids from kindergarten through college.

FutureCity
Welcome to the National Engineers Week Future City Competition. The Future City Competition, now in its eighth year, asks middle school students from around the nation to createÑfirst on computer and then in large, three-dimensional modelsÑtheir visions of the city of tomorrow.