SWE RMS 2020 Essay Contest Details
Sixth grade students at schools in Colorado and Wyoming are invited to participate in the "Great Women in Engineering and Science" essay contest. The goal of the contest is to foster an interest in science, engineering, and technology in middle school students and to introduce students to female role models who have achieved significant success in areas of science and engineering. Over 250 girls and boys participate annually and prizes and certificates are awarded.
To enter: Write an original essay of approximately 500 words on one of the women scientists listed below:
Winning essays should:
For additional details, please see the Essay Contest Flyer and Frequently Asked Questions and Essay Scoring Guidelines.
For further information or to sign up for the essay contest email list, contact the contest co-chairs at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com
Enter Contest Here
Essay Submission Form – Email or mail essay
Essay Submission Form - Upload essay (requires Google login)
For teachers submitting multiple entries, you may email a list of participating students along with the school name and address, your name and email address, and the number of 6th graders in your class to EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com rather than completing multiple submission forms.
Attention SWE RMS members: Please contact Sara Ellis or Kristen Bonifield at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com if you are interested in being a volunteer judge for this year's Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest.
To enter: Write an original essay of approximately 500 words on one of the women scientists listed below:
- Ellen Swallow Richards – 19th Century American Sanitary Engineer and Environmental Chemist
- Rachel Carson – 20th Century American Marine Biologist and Environmentalist
- Rita Levi-Montalcini – 20th Century Italian Neurobiologist
- Gladys West – 20th Century American Mathematician
- Ellen Ochoa – 20th Century American Astronaut
Winning essays should:
- Describe in detail the woman's life, achievements and any awards she received in recognition of her work.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of her work.
- Show originality.
- Include three or more research sources from varying media (bibliography).
- Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Present the information in an organized, neat fashion with good sentence structure.
- To enter, complete the entry form below and follow the instructions to either upload or email your essay. Be prepared to provide:
- Your school's name and address
- Your teacher's name and email address
- The number of 6th graders in your class
- The essay file name must include your first and last name
- PDF, Word, and Google Doc file formats accepted
- All entries must be received by February 27, 2020
For additional details, please see the Essay Contest Flyer and Frequently Asked Questions and Essay Scoring Guidelines.
For further information or to sign up for the essay contest email list, contact the contest co-chairs at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com
Enter Contest Here
Essay Submission Form – Email or mail essay
Essay Submission Form - Upload essay (requires Google login)
For teachers submitting multiple entries, you may email a list of participating students along with the school name and address, your name and email address, and the number of 6th graders in your class to EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com rather than completing multiple submission forms.
Attention SWE RMS members: Please contact Sara Ellis or Kristen Bonifield at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com if you are interested in being a volunteer judge for this year's Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest.
2019 Essay Contest Results
The results of the 32nd annual Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest are in. The competition was fierce again this year with an outstanding 82 entries from 13 schools in Colorado and Wyoming. A panel of 14 volunteer judges enjoyed reviewing all of the essays. Congratulations to every entrant!
The top three awards are a $75, $50, and $25 prize in addition to the science kit and science book awarded to the honorable merit and honorable mention recipients. The top three award winners are listed below in no particular order. Their prizes will be announced at the Society of Women Engineers Rocky Mountain Section award banquet to be held on April 28, 2019. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event:
Chloe Grant of Parker, CO for her essay on Christine Darden. Chloe attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Mrs. Heather Puckett.
Henry Bae of Parker, CO for his essay on Hertha Aryton. Henry attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Mrs. Heather Puckett.
Mireyli Langston of Littleton, CO for her essay on Grace Hopper. Mireyli attends 6th grade at Arrowwood Elementary and was sponsored by teacher Mr. Matt Rogers.
School Awards: This year five schools will receive the school library award for outstanding participation in the essay contest. To qualify for this award a school must submit essays from at least 20% of the 6th graders in the participating classes. The books provide information on women engineers and scientists. These excellent references will support teachers and classrooms in future research, not only for this contest, but also for other scientific, historical, or biographical projects.
The aim of the school library award is two-fold: to supply 6th graders throughout Colorado and Wyoming with research materials and to encourage teachers to include the essay contest in their curricula in order to expose all of their students to the significance and opportunities of science-related careers. The schools receiving awards this year are:
Honorable Merit Awards: Five students will receive Honorable Merit Awards this year. This year’s prize is a Snap Circuits Jr. electronics kit. The Honorable Merit award recipients are:
Honorable Mention Awards: Ten students will receive Honorable Mention Awards this year. This year’s prize is the book 101 Great Science Experiments by Neil Ardley. The Honorable Mention award winners are:
All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a participation prize.
Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment, this contest would not be possible.
Check back in January 2020 to find out how you can participate in the 33rd annual SWE Great Women in Engineering and Science essay contest.
The top three awards are a $75, $50, and $25 prize in addition to the science kit and science book awarded to the honorable merit and honorable mention recipients. The top three award winners are listed below in no particular order. Their prizes will be announced at the Society of Women Engineers Rocky Mountain Section award banquet to be held on April 28, 2019. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event:
Chloe Grant of Parker, CO for her essay on Christine Darden. Chloe attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Mrs. Heather Puckett.
Henry Bae of Parker, CO for his essay on Hertha Aryton. Henry attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Mrs. Heather Puckett.
Mireyli Langston of Littleton, CO for her essay on Grace Hopper. Mireyli attends 6th grade at Arrowwood Elementary and was sponsored by teacher Mr. Matt Rogers.
School Awards: This year five schools will receive the school library award for outstanding participation in the essay contest. To qualify for this award a school must submit essays from at least 20% of the 6th graders in the participating classes. The books provide information on women engineers and scientists. These excellent references will support teachers and classrooms in future research, not only for this contest, but also for other scientific, historical, or biographical projects.
The aim of the school library award is two-fold: to supply 6th graders throughout Colorado and Wyoming with research materials and to encourage teachers to include the essay contest in their curricula in order to expose all of their students to the significance and opportunities of science-related careers. The schools receiving awards this year are:
- Arrowwood Elementary, Highlands Ranch, CO
- Chugwater School, Chugwater, WY
- Norwood Middle School, Norwood, CO
- Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Parker, CO
- Sargent Elementary School, Monte Vista, CO
Honorable Merit Awards: Five students will receive Honorable Merit Awards this year. This year’s prize is a Snap Circuits Jr. electronics kit. The Honorable Merit award recipients are:
- Erica Martch Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Grayson D. Givens Sargent Elementary School
- Kunj Arora Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Sabrina Landman Redlands Middle School
- Mayah A. Stephens Sargent Elementary School
Honorable Mention Awards: Ten students will receive Honorable Mention Awards this year. This year’s prize is the book 101 Great Science Experiments by Neil Ardley. The Honorable Mention award winners are:
- Emerson Carwin Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Ruby Stewart Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Alexandra Graf Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Audrey Whitmore Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Brooks Hamlett Arrowwood Elementary
- Liam T. Ellithorpe Sargent Elementary School
- Kylie Schwarzkopf Rock Ridge Elementary
- Rylyn Woolley Arrowwood Elementary
- Elecia White Peakview School
- Lucas J. Garcia Sargent Elementary School
All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a participation prize.
Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment, this contest would not be possible.
Check back in January 2020 to find out how you can participate in the 33rd annual SWE Great Women in Engineering and Science essay contest.
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