Academic Competitions and More
PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program
The PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program is now accepting applications from graduating Pennsylvania high school seniors. The program is administered by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) and is open to students who reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Each year, two four-year scholarships are awarded. The scholarship covers the cost of one semester of tuition per year at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution, for up to four years. Recipients must continue to meet eligibility requirements each year to maintain the award.
🗓 Application deadline: April 15
🔗 Application details and requirements: [Find more information here]
Each year, two four-year scholarships are awarded. The scholarship covers the cost of one semester of tuition per year at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution, for up to four years. Recipients must continue to meet eligibility requirements each year to maintain the award.
🗓 Application deadline: April 15
🔗 Application details and requirements: [Find more information here]
Keystone Contractors Association Scholarship
The Keystone Contractors Association is now accepting applications for its scholarship program, which supports students pursuing a construction-related degree.
🗓 Application deadline: March 1
🔗 Learn more and access the application: [Find details here]
🗓 Application deadline: March 1
🔗 Learn more and access the application: [Find details here]
PennDOT Annual Innovations Challenge for High School Students
PennDOT Innovations Challenge 2025–26The PennDOT Innovations Challenge invites high school students (grades 9–12) to apply their problem-solving, creativity, and strategic-thinking skills to real-world transportation issues.
This year’s challenge asks students to develop a concept for how artificial intelligence (AI) can dramatically improve safety for both work crews and road users. Participants should also consider cost-effectiveness, statewide implementation, and public outreach in their proposals.
Regional winners will present their ideas to PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and a panel of judges, who will select the statewide winner.
🗓 Submission deadline: January 30, 2026
🔗 Learn more: [More details here]
This year’s challenge asks students to develop a concept for how artificial intelligence (AI) can dramatically improve safety for both work crews and road users. Participants should also consider cost-effectiveness, statewide implementation, and public outreach in their proposals.
Regional winners will present their ideas to PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and a panel of judges, who will select the statewide winner.
🗓 Submission deadline: January 30, 2026
🔗 Learn more: [More details here]
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX): Study in Germany 2026–27
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program strengthens ties between the United States and Germany by giving outstanding young leaders the opportunity to study abroad for an academic year.
For American high school students, the 2026–27 program offers a fully funded exchange to Germany.
Program details:
For American high school students, the 2026–27 program offers a fully funded exchange to Germany.
Program details:
- Open to U.S. citizens ages 15–18½ as of August 1, 2026
- No prior German language experience required
- Participants live with a host family and attend a local school
- Application deadline: November 3, 2025
America250PA Semiquin Scholarship: $250,000 in Awards for Pennsylvania Students
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and Pennsylvania’s dedication to education, America250PA is offering $250,000 in scholarships to support Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges during the 2026–27 academic year.
Eligibility:
Additional details, including partner institutions offering matching contributions, can be found [here].
Eligibility:
- Open to Pennsylvania high school seniors planning to attend a college or university in Pennsylvania
- 25 scholarships available, each worth $10,000
Additional details, including partner institutions offering matching contributions, can be found [here].
Academic Competitions -Science
1. Science
2. Biology, Environmental Science
1) Biology, Ocean Science
2) Environmental Science
3. Engineering, Robotics
4. Physics, Astronomy
5. Science Fair Projects
- Broadcom MASTERS
- Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
- eCYBERMISSION
- ExploraVision
- Generation Nano: Superheroes Inspired by Science
- Google Science Fair
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
- International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
- MIT THINK Scholars Program
- National Science Bowl
- Regeneron Science Talent Search
- Science Olympiad
- You Be The Chemist Challenge
2. Biology, Environmental Science
1) Biology, Ocean Science
- AAN Neuroscience Prizes
- American Sleep Medicine Foundation High School Video Contest
- American Society of Human Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest
- BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge
- BioGENEius Challenge
- Brain Awareness Video Contest
- Coleopterists Society Youth Incentive Award
- Conrad Challenge
- Davidson Fellows Awards
- Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- International Brain Bee
- International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM)
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
- National Ocean Sciences Bowl
- Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest
- Regeneron Science Talent Search
- USA Biology Olympiad
2) Environmental Science
- 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program
- Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards
- Broadcom MASTERS
- Brower Youth Awards
- Earthwatch Student Challenge Awards
- Envirothon
- The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
- National Ocean Sciences Bowl
- President's Environmental Youth Awards
- River of Words Art and Poetry Contest
- Shell Eco-marathon
- Stockholm Junior Water Prize
3. Engineering, Robotics
- Aiken Engineering Challenge
- B.E.S.T. Robot Design Contest
- Botball Educational Robotics Program
- Conrad Challenge
- Design Squad
- eCYBERMISSION
- ExploraVision
- FIRST LEGO League
- FIRST Robotics Competition
- FIRST Tech Challenge
- Future City Competition
- Future Problem Solving Program
- Google Science Fair
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
- International High School Bridge Building Contest
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposia
- Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
- Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) ROV Competition
- MIT THINK Scholars Program
- NASA Goddard Optimus Prime Spinoff Challenge
- NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
- National Robotics Challenge
- National Robotics League
- Odyssey of the Mind
- RoboCup
- RoboFest
- Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
- SeaPerch National Challenge
- Solar Car Challenge
- SourceAmerica Design Challenge
- Team America Rocketry Challenge
- TEAMS Competition
- Technology Student Association High School Competition
- Trinity College International Robot Contest
- TSA VEX Robotics
- Zero Robotics
4. Physics, Astronomy
- Conrad Challenge
- Davidson Fellows Awards
- Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
- Dropping in a Microgravity Environment (DIME)
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- International Physics Olympiad
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposia
- NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
- NASA Optimus Prime Spinoff Challenge
- National Young Astronomer Award
- Physics Bowl
- Physics Photo Contest
- Regeneron Science Talent Search
- Space Settlement Design Contest
- Team America Rocketry Challenge
5. Science Fair Projects
Academic competitions - Math, Computer Science
1. Math
2. Computer Science
3. Game
- American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, AIME, USAMO)
- American Regions Mathematics League (ARML)
- Continental Mathematics League
- Harvard-MIT Math Tournament (HMMT)
- High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)
- Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
- Johns Hopkins Math Tournament (JHMT)
- Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
- International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
- Math League Contests
- Math Olympiads for Elementary & Middle School (MOEMS)
- Math Prize for Girls
- MATHCOUNTS
- MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge
- Noetic Learning Math Contest
- TEAMS
- USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS)
2. Computer Science
- ACSL Computer Science Contest
- Botball Educational Robotics Program
- Davidson Fellows Awards
- ExploraVision Awards Program
- FIRST LEGO League; FIRST Robotics Competition; FIRST Tech Challenge
- Google Code-In
- Google Code Jam
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)
- MIT THINK (Technology for Humanity Guided by Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge)
- National Robotics Challenge
- NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards
- RoboCup
- Technology Student Association High School Competition
- USA Computing Olympiad
3. Game