SWE RMS 2021 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:
Submission details:
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 Meghan Collins 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:
- Mae Jemison - American Engineer, Physician, and Astronaut
- Flossie Wong-Staal - Chinese-American Virologist and Molecular Biologist
- Tilly Edinger - German-American Paleontologist and Founder of Paleoneurology
- María de los Ángeles Alvariño González - Spanish Fishery Research Biologist and Oceanographer
- Valerie Thomas - American Scientist and Inventor
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.
Submission details:
- 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 March 1st, 2021
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 Meghan Collins 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.
2020 Essay Contest Results
The results of the 33nd annual Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest are in! The competition was fierce again this year with an outstanding 170 entries from 14 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 ceremony, which will be held remotely this year. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event:
Abigail Bybee of Highlands Ranch, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Abigail attends 6th grade at Arrowwood Elementary School and was sponsored by teacher Fay Von Tilius.
Matilda Garcia Stevenson of Longmont, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Matilda attends 6th grade at Westview Middle School and was sponsored by teacher Veronica Barbosa.
Connor Thiessen of Parker, CO for his essay on Rita Levi-Montalcini. Connor attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Heather Puckett.
School Awards: This year seven 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:
Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment this contest would not be possible.
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 ceremony, which will be held remotely this year. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event:
Abigail Bybee of Highlands Ranch, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Abigail attends 6th grade at Arrowwood Elementary School and was sponsored by teacher Fay Von Tilius.
Matilda Garcia Stevenson of Longmont, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Matilda attends 6th grade at Westview Middle School and was sponsored by teacher Veronica Barbosa.
Connor Thiessen of Parker, CO for his essay on Rita Levi-Montalcini. Connor attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Heather Puckett.
School Awards: This year seven 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 School, Highlands Ranch, CO
- Chugwater School, Chugwater, WY
- Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Parker, CO
- Peakview School, Walsenburg, CO
- Prairie School, New Raymer, CO
- Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences at Fulton Heights, Pueblo, 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:
- Ruchitha Badiginchala Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- McKenzie Cabay Arrowwood Elementary School
- Corbin Castillo Sargent Elementary School
- Zoe Keith Summit Middle School
- Haley McReynolds Parker Core Knowledge Charter 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:
- Zane Aloia Summit Middle School
- Bode Becker Westview Middle School
- Jocelyn Buswell Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Eunice Choe Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Sophie Dickey Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Emily Hoer Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Hannah Huang Arrowwood Elementary School
- Callie Marks Summit Middle School
- Lincoln Nelson Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
- Emma Thomas Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment this contest would not be possible.
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