§ Collection

Free programs for high school seniors

Senior year is not too late. These programs accept 12th graders — some run during the school year, others the summer after graduation.

2683 programs currently listed · 2683 free or stipend-paying.

What to know

—Check whether the program requires you to still be enrolled in high school on the start date.
—Summer-after-senior-year programs are a good bridge if your college plans are unsettled.
—Deadlines here overlap with college applications. Put both on one calendar.

Programs in this collection

Raleigh Film and Art Festival
1:11 High School Film Festival
The largest high school film festival in North Carolina, hosted on NC State's Centennial Campus, with competitive categories spanning a film festival, screenwriting contest, music contest, and photography contest.
📍 Raleigh, NC (NC State Centennial Campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Commission for Higher Education / Learn More Indiana
21st Century Scholars
Indiana's early-commitment college promise scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition at eligible Indiana colleges for income-eligible students, with a required Scholar Success Program completed during high school.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
McClure Center for Public Policy Research, University of Idaho
4-H Know Your Government Conference
Idaho high school students role-play the state legislature, state judicial courts, and press corps to learn by doing and interact directly with current public policymakers.
📍 Idaho (McClure Center, University of Idaho)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National 4-H Council
4-H Youth Development
Largest youth development organization in the US in agriculture, STEM, civic engagement.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 3–12
Selective
Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin / Medical College of Wisconsin
500 Stars Summer Internship (CTSI of Southeast Wisconsin)
Paid 8-week summer internship giving high school, undergraduate and graduate students hands-on career training in clinical and translational sciences in research, clinical and community settings.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Crazy Horse Memorial University / Black Hills State University
7th Gen. Summer Program
An 8-week summer semester where high school seniors earn 12 tuition-free, transferable college credits through a partnership with Black Hills State University while gaining paid work experience through an internship at Crazy Horse Memorial. Preference is given to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, though the university is open to all qualified students.
📍 Custer, SD📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
California Water Service
A Splash of Creativity
Students submit original artwork addressing water conservation and local California water issues for statewide recognition and awards.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nickless Family Charitable Foundation
A.H. Nickless Innovation Award
Team STEM innovation competition for high school students in Bay, Midland, Saginaw and Tuscola counties (teams of 2-5 submit a project proposal; topics include alternative energy, healthcare, science, technology and life sciences). Up to 20 teams receive $1,000 Phase Two grants, with up to $42,500 in scholarships and $35,000 in school STEM grants; Phase One proposals are due October 9, 2026 and finalists present April 24, 2027 at SVSU.
📍 Saginaw, MI📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
A*STAR Scientific Research Programme
Government research placements for pre-university students in Singapore.
📍 Singapore⏱ 8 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
A+ Scholarship Program
Merit-based Missouri program helping eligible graduates of A+-designated high schools pay tuition at participating two-year colleges and technical schools. High-school participants must enter an agreement with their school before graduation.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
AACR CARES for High School Scholars Program
Six-week mentored cancer research experience in a Massey faculty lab for Richmond City high school students, including a cancer research bootcamp, seminars, professional development workshops and a final poster, followed by a one-year AACR mentorship.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
AAPT
AAPT PhysicsBowl
An annual competition for high school students that celebrates physics and recognizes outstanding physics students and teachers.
📍 Remote📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boston University
Academic Immersion
Spend three weeks immersing yourself in the study of psychology, business, medicine, or creative writing.
📍 Boston, MA📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana Association of School Principals
Academic Super Bowl
A statewide academic team competition, running since 1987, in which nine-student teams face off in twenty-question rounds across math, science, English, social studies, and fine arts.
📍 Statewide, Indiana (state finals at Purdue University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Council on World Affairs
Academic WorldQuest
A free, game-style team quiz competition testing high schoolers' knowledge of world affairs, geography, global economics, history, and culture, with a chance to represent Indiana nationally.
📍 Indianapolis, IN (University of Indianapolis)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
World Affairs Council of Western Michigan
Academic WorldQuest
A global trivia team competition for local high school students testing knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, economics, and world cultures, part of a national network run by World Affairs Councils.
📍 Grand Rapids, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
World Affairs Council of Las Vegas / World Affairs Councils of America
Academic WorldQuest (Las Vegas)
A fast-paced team trivia competition testing high school students' knowledge of international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures, with the Las Vegas-area winning team advancing to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
📍 Las Vegas, NV (World Affairs Council of Las Vegas local contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Academic Year Internships
Students contribute directly to TGen research in areas such as laboratory bioscience, computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, communications, regulatory affairs, and research administration. High-school placements are explicitly possible but described by TGen as extremely rare because they require roughly 10–20 hours per week.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Columbia University
Academic Year Programs
Make the most of the school year with on-campus or online courses, including weekend options.
📍 New York, NY / Remote📅 Fall 2026 applications now open🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
Academic Year Research Internship
During the school year, students meet weekly in small groups with their student mentors to work on healthcare AI research projects under the guidance of Stanford researchers.
📍 Virtual🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan State University, James Madison College
Academy for Civic Education (ACE)
A two-week residential summer program at MSU where 20-25 rising Michigan high school seniors study primary sources like the U.S. Constitution and Federalist Papers in college-level, discussion-based seminars led by James Madison College faculty.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Social Sciences
Academy for Hawaiʻi Intelligence Studies Summer Program
Students study international security and intelligence through a university course, simulations, games, field trips and meetings with Hawaiʻi and national intelligence professionals.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
NMSU College of Business (with NABA Inc.)
ACAP High School Summer Camp
A summer camp hosted by NMSU's College of Business, in partnership with NABA Inc., that connects local high schoolers with accounting and finance career pathways through career exploration, mentorship, and personal-branding and college-transition workshops.
📍 Las Cruces, NM📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship
Pays tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying low-income Nebraska high-school students taking college courses through dual or early enrollment at participating Nebraska institutions.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
ACCESS to Acceleration Scholarship
Helps Arkansas high-school students pay for eligible concurrent-credit coursework at $65 per semester credit hour, up to $2,000 annually.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NMSU College of Business / NABA
Accounting Career Awareness Program
Free week-long program introducing students to accounting, finance and business through professional development, networking and hands-on learning.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ACE Mentor
ACE Mentor Program
Free after-school mentorship in architecture, construction, and engineering for HS students.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ACE Mentor Program of America - Idaho Affiliate
ACE Mentor Program of Idaho
An after-school mentoring program pairing Treasure Valley high schoolers with architecture, construction, and engineering professionals to design a real-world project together over a 14-18 week season.
📍 Boise, Meridian, and Kuna, ID📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ACE Mentor Program of Washington
ACE Mentor Program of Washington (Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma)
A free after-school program in which high school students are mentored by architecture, engineering and construction professionals, visit construction sites and complete a year-long team design project presented at a final presentation night.
📍 Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma, WA📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ACE Mentor Program of America, Twin Cities Affiliate
ACE Mentor Program Twin Cities
A free, roughly 16-week after-school mentorship program (mid-October to mid-March) pairing high school student teams with volunteer architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to design a response to a real-world RFP challenge, culminating in a judged presentation at the University of Minnesota.
📍 University of Minnesota and partner firms, Twin Cities, MN📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wave Hill
ACES — Art, Community, Education and Science
Year-long paid youth program connecting arts education, environmental science, community engagement and informal teaching.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center / American Cancer Society
ACS Cancer Research High School Program
Two-week virtual experience for Virginia high school student leaders interested in STEM, with live cancer research lab instruction using at-home experiment kits and career exploration workshops and panels.
📍 Virginia (virtual)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
American Chemical Society / ACS Maryland
ACS Project SEED - Maryland Section
A paid summer research program placing economically disadvantaged rising juniors and seniors in academic, industrial, or federal chemistry labs with a scientist-mentor for 8-10 weeks, with a $1,000 completion fellowship and potential college scholarship.
📍 Maryland📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Chemical Society / Boise State University & Idaho State University
ACS Project SEED (Idaho)
A paid summer chemistry research internship for high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, placing them in university labs at Boise State and Idaho State University to conduct real research alongside faculty mentors.
📍 Boise & Pocatello, ID📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society, Midland Local Section
ACS Project SEED (Midland Section)
Summer chemistry research placements in Midland-area labs for economically diverse high school students, working alongside professional chemists with stipends and mentorship; hosts 10-14 students each summer and has run since 1978. Contact the Project SEED coordinator for current-year eligibility and dates.
📍 Midland, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UW-Milwaukee Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
ACS Project SEED at UW-Milwaukee
Paid summer research internship for high school students interested in chemistry, working with faculty mentors and graduate students on authentic chemistry research projects.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Adam Smith Society
Adam Smith Society HS Essay
Essay contest exploring market economics and policy.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Adobe
Adobe Design Achievement Awards (Semi-Pro)
International student creative awards across graphic design, film, animation, and social impact.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Idaho Department of Education
Advanced Opportunities
Idaho public-school students receive state funding that can be used for dual-credit college courses, overload courses, exams and approved workforce-training opportunities while still in high school.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Out-of-School Time Network
Advancing Young Women in STEM Scholarship
Scholarship for New Mexico female juniors/seniors pursuing STEM education or careers; requires at least a 2.5 GPA.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education / AEOP
AEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program
Rising juniors and seniors complete roughly 220–300 hours of faculty-mentored STEM research and present their findings through program research events.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Museum of Flight with Puget Sound Skills Center
Aeronautical Explorations (Museum of Flight)
Three-week no-cost summer career and technical education course for rising 9th-12th graders exploring aviation careers such as air traffic control, dispatch, piloting and drones, with a flight simulator lab and airport design project.
📍 The Museum of Flight and Raisbeck Aviation High School, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Museum of Flight with Green River College and Puget Sound Skills Center
Aeronautical Science Pathway (Museum of Flight)
Two-year no-cost program for high school juniors and seniors preparing for aviation careers such as piloting, drone operations, air traffic control and airport management while earning high school and Green River College credit.
📍 The Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Museum of Flight
Aerospace Camp Experience (ACE) Youth Volunteer
Youth volunteers aged 16-17 assist staff running the Museum of Flight's summer Aerospace Camp Experience for children ages 4 to 8, helping with projects, games and moving groups between locations.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Camp
A high-school-aged camp run by the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium giving students an early, first-hand look at aerospace, aviation, and related careers, part of the Consortium's broader slate of K-12 educational outreach based at South Dakota State University.
📍 Brookings, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Air Force Research Laboratory
AFRL Scholars Program (Kirtland AFB)
A paid research internship at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque for upper-level high school students (16+) pursuing STEM, placing scholars on real technical-directorate projects such as directed energy, lasers, optics, and space vehicle research with a dedicated mentor.
📍 Albuquerque, NM (Kirtland AFB)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📍 Online📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
AGFC Youth Volunteer Program
Students volunteer at conservation events and other AGFC activities across Arkansas while earning documented community-service hours.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University Philosophy and Humanities
Aggie School of Athens Philosophy Camp
A week-long, non-residential philosophy summer camp at Texas A&M that gives teens early access to college-style humanistic inquiry through interactive discussion.
📍 College Station, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Community Foundation
Agnes Freyer Gibbs Scholarship Fund
Graduating Maine high-school students intending to pursue journalism or related print, broadcast, or electronic-media fields can compete for renewable support.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)
Agricultural Snail Survey Internship
Paid, year-round internship in which rising juniors and seniors from Central and West Oʻahu high schools survey farms for invasive pest snails while learning GIS mapping and field data analysis.
📍 Central and West Oʻahu📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi State University
AgriSTEM Summer Camp
Students explore precision agriculture and emerging agricultural technologies through hands-on projects, field trips, agricultural and biological engineering, and plant and soil science. Lodging and meals are provided at no cost.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LSU Health Shreveport, School of Health Professions & Sciences
AHEAD Program (Allied Health Education and Discovery)
A free 5-day, non-residential program for Louisiana high schoolers to explore allied health career programs through hands-on activities, field trips, and CPR certification.
📍 Shreveport, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Mason University Department of Health Administration, Policy, and Informatics
AI in Health Summer Camp (George Mason University)
A free five-day camp for rising 11th-12th graders on how AI is used across hospitals, health systems and community health organizations, with daily hands-on AI Maker Labs and a student showcase.
📍 Fairfax, VA (George Mason University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
AI Leadership
A location-based program in San Francisco, CA, focused on AI leadership.
📍 San Francisco, CA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
AI Robotics & Ethics Camp
Students program and train autonomous robot cars while learning machine learning, robotics, hardware, and the ethical implications of AI.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering
AI Summer Camp
A four-day summer camp introducing Oklahoma high schoolers to artificial intelligence, where student teams design AI solutions for real-world challenges in healthcare, sustainability, entertainment, and social issues while learning about bias, accessibility, and responsible AI development.
📍 Norman, OK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pitt HexAI Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh
AI Summer School
A free, one-week intensive for high school juniors and seniors with basic Python knowledge, covering foundational AI through deep learning and object detection, culminating in a team project, with a focus on AI-powered medical imaging informatics.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA (University of Pittsburgh)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
AI4ALL at the Allen School
A free, multi-week introductory workshop in data science and artificial intelligence covering data science, geographic information science, machine learning, and equity and bias in urban spaces. No previous coding experience is required.
📍 Online (hosted by UW, Seattle, WA)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
📍 School-administered⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation
Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation High School Senior Scholarships
A common application gives Alabama high-school seniors access to multiple foundation scholarships associated with agriculture and the cattle industry.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
QuantHub
Alabama Data Scholars
Alabama high-school students complete data and AI training and work on a real employer project. The program allows on-site, hybrid, and fully virtual placements.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FCCLA / Alabama CTSO
Alabama FCCLA
Alabama's chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a national Career and Technical Student Organization for students in family and consumer sciences education, offering competitive events, leadership development and career exploration.
📍 Statewide (Alabama)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama Humanities Alliance
Alabama History Day
The Alabama state contest of National History Day, engaging students in grades 9-12 (Senior Division) in year-long primary-source historical research presented as a paper, documentary, website, performance, or exhibit, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Regional contests statewide, with the state contest at American Village, Montevallo, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama Academy of Science
Alabama Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) / Gorgas Scholarship Competition
A research-based scholarship competition and high school outreach program in which students in grades 9-12 present original research papers and defend them orally at regional and state symposia, with top competitors advancing to the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.
📍 Regional sites statewide (2027 regional conference at Alabama State University), AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama, Alabama International Relations Club (AIRC)
Alabama Model United Nations Conference (ALMUN)
An annual weekend-long Model UN conference at the University of Alabama simulating General Assembly, Specialized Assembly and Crisis committees for high school delegations from across the Southeast.
📍 Tuscaloosa, AL (University of Alabama)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Alabama Wildlife Federation / Alabama Nature Center
Alabama Nature Center Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16+ can assist with animal ambassadors, citizen-science work, educational field trips, fishing programs, and other conservation activities.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Alan Bain Initiative in Math or Science
Rewards Nevada-area students in grades 9–12 for achievement in mathematics or science based on a submitted project.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
Alaska 4-H Youth Development Program
Alaska's statewide 4-H program offers teen members (ages 15-18) project-based clubs and leadership opportunities spanning STEM, agriculture, citizenship, and life skills, taught by certified volunteer leaders across the state.
📍 Statewide, AK📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Airmen's Association
Alaska Airmen's Association Aviation Scholarships
A set of named scholarships supporting Alaskans, including high schoolers, pursuing pilot training, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, drone operations, and aerospace engineering careers.
📍 Anchorage, AK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Community Foundation
Alaska Community Foundation Scholarship Program
One application matches Alaska students to more than 60 scholarships, including awards based on geography, academics, career interests, financial need, community involvement, and other criteria.
📍 AK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Alaska FFA Association
Alaska FFA
A student-led agricultural and natural-resources leadership organization with chapters across Alaska's Interior, Southcentral, and Kenai Peninsula districts, offering Career and Leadership Development Events, hands-on agricultural experience, and scholarships.
📍 Statewide (19 chapters across Interior, Southcentral, and Kenai Peninsula districts)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Anchorage Bar Association
Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition
An annual statewide mock trial competition, sponsored by the Anchorage Bar Association, where high school teams argue a simulated court case in front of real attorneys and judges.
📍 Anchorage, AK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Historical Society (Alaska affiliate of National History Day)
Alaska History Day
Alaska's statewide affiliate of National History Day, where middle and high schoolers research a topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, website, performance, or paper, with winners advancing to nationals.
📍 Statewide, AK (online judging, in-person national contest)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature Volunteer Program
Volunteers assist with front desk operations, exhibit research and installation, education programming, and event outreach, typically committing to two 3-hour shifts per month.
📍 Anchorage📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Alaska Performance Scholarship
Merit scholarship for Alaska high-school graduates who complete the required rigorous curriculum and meet GPA or qualifying-test standards. Awards can reach $7,000 per year and $28,000 total at participating Alaska institutions or eligible CTE programs.
📍 AK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Alaska State Council on the Arts / Juneau Arts & Humanities Council
Alaska Poetry Out Loud
A statewide poetry recitation competition for grades 9-12 (with an exception for 8th graders enrolled in 9th-12th grade classes), progressing from classroom and school rounds to a state final in Juneau and National Finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide, state finals in Juneau📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UAA WWAMI School of Medical Education
Alaska PreMed Summit
Participants hear from physicians, advisors and health-profession students and learn about prerequisites, admissions processes, medical education and how to become a competitive applicant for health-profession programs.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium / University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
A statewide STEM research symposium where Alaska high schoolers present original research to a panel of scientists and researchers, competing for recognition and scholarships with a pathway to the national JSHS competition.
📍 Fairbanks, AK (UAF, regional symposium)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Science & Engineering Fair
Alaska Science & Engineering Fair
Alaska students present original scientific or engineering projects, with high-school participants eligible to compete for Alaska's pathway to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska SeaLife Center
Alaska SeaLife Center Teen Volunteer Program
A hands-on volunteer program at Alaska's public aquarium and marine research center, where teens support visitor interpretation, conservation, and rehabilitation work with Alaska's marine wildlife.
📍 Seward, AK📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Alaska Zoo
Alaska Zoo Volunteen Program
Teen volunteers age 16 and older assist with zoo operations, visitor education, and animal-care support after completing a background check and orientation.
📍 Anchorage📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Montana Department of Revenue, Cannabis & Alcohol Regulation Division
Alcohol Responsibility Matters Scholarship
Montana seniors submit original artwork plus a short artist statement about responsible alcohol consumption. The 2026 cycle awarded five one-time $2,000 scholarships and was the program's third annual competition.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana Latino Institute / Alivio Medical Center
Alivio Medical Scholarship
A merit-based scholarship supports graduating high-school seniors and college students planning to pursue medical or health-related education.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
AAHSFF
All American High School Film Festival
Largest film festival exclusively for student filmmakers.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 4 days📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa Department of Education
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
Eligible Iowa students with financial need can receive state financial aid for attendance at an eligible Iowa college or university. The maximum 2026–27 award is $5,486 and can be renewable for multiple semesters.
📍 IA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Nebraska Writers Collective
All Writes Reserved Youth Spoken Word Festival
Nebraska and Iowa high-school teams receive free spoken-word instruction throughout the school year and then perform in a multi-round spring youth poetry-slam festival. The 2026 festival ran from preliminary bouts in March through finals on April 28.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Japan Cartoonists Association
All-Japan Manga Competition (Youth)
Youth-open division of the Japan Cartoonists Association's annual manga award.
📍 Japan (submissions welcome globally)📅 Autumn🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Altru Health Foundation
Altru Generosity in Action Scholarship
Graduating students from Altru's service region pursuing health-care or related science fields can compete for scholarship support.
📍 ND🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Altru Health System
Altru Junior Volunteer Program
High-school students volunteer in a hospital environment while gaining exposure to health-care careers and patient-support operations.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
AICF
American Indian College Fund
Scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending tribal colleges or other colleges.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Arizona
American Legion Arizona Oratorical Contest
Constitution-focused public speaking contest for high school students under age 20, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared speech and a 3-5 minute extemporaneous speech, advancing from post to district, area, state, and national rounds with scholarship prizes.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Arkansas
American Legion Arkansas Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speaking competition for high school students under 20, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from post-level contests to the state department finals.
📍 Local American Legion posts statewide, Arkansas📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Kentucky
American Legion Auxiliary Kentucky Girls State
A week-long American Legion Auxiliary program for rising high school senior girls to debate bills, elect officials, and experience state and local government firsthand, with top delegates advancing to Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.
📍 Kentucky (host campus varies by year)📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Kentucky
American Legion Boys State of Kentucky
An eight-day, hands-on government-simulation program at Western Kentucky University where high school students build and run a mock 51st state government, from city halls up through the state capitol, with top delegates advancing to Boys Nation.
📍 Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Legion Department of California
American Legion California Boys & Girls State
A week-long civic leadership program where high school delegates build a mock city, county, and state government from the ground up, running for office, drafting legislation, and presiding over court proceedings.
📍 Sacramento, CA (California State University, Sacramento)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion Department of California
American Legion California Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest in which high school students compete for college scholarships by delivering prepared and impromptu speeches on the U.S. Constitution, advancing from post to district to state level.
📍 California (Department Finals in Fresno, CA)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Delaware
American Legion Delaware Oratorical Contest
Annual constitutional oratory competition where Delaware high schoolers deliver a prepared speech and an impromptu response on U.S. citizenship, advancing from district to department to national rounds.
📍 Delaware📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Alabama
American Legion Department of Alabama Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech competition for high school students that advances from post to state to national levels, developing knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and public-speaking skills.
📍 Statewide (Alabama); state final in Montgomery📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Georgia
American Legion Department of Georgia Oratorical Contest
High school students under 20 deliver a prepared 8-10 minute oration on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from local Posts through District, Area, and the state Department contest.
📍 Statewide; 2027 Department contest at Historic Mary Persons Auditorium, Forsyth, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Hawaii
American Legion Department of Hawaii High School Oratorical Contest
Constitutional speech contest for Hawaii high schoolers, with the state winner advancing to the national finals where scholarships up to $25,000 are awarded.
📍 Oʻahu Veterans Center, Honolulu📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Iowa
American Legion Department of Iowa High School Oratorical Contest
A constitutional-themed speech competition testing students' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution through a prepared oration and an assigned-topic discourse, advancing from local posts through district, area, and department finals.
📍 Local posts statewide, Iowa📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Kansas
American Legion Department of Kansas High School Oratorical Contest
A constitutional oratory contest for grades 9-12 that builds knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and public-speaking skill, progressing from district to a state (department) competition and on to nationals.
📍 Wichita, KS (Department finals); districts vary📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Maryland
American Legion Department of Maryland Oratorical Contest
A scholarship contest requiring an 8-10 minute memorized speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a shorter speech on an assigned topic, progressing from local American Legion Posts through County, District, and Department (state) levels.
📍 Maryland (statewide)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Montana
American Legion Department of Montana High School Oratorical Contest
A constitutional oratory competition for students under age 20 who deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from post to state to national competition.
📍 Statewide (post-level through Department of Montana finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Nebraska
American Legion Department of Nebraska High School Oratorical Contest
High school students (grades 9-12) deliver prepared and impromptu speeches on the U.S. Constitution, competing for Nebraska scholarships up to $1,500 with a chance to advance to national finals worth up to $25,000.
📍 Statewide Nebraska📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of New York
American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking contest that challenges New York high school youth to improve their speaking skills and develop a deeper appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, with a rehearsed oration and an assigned-topic speech judged at post, county, district, and state levels. The 2026 state final was held March 7, 2026 in Albany, with the state champion advancing to the national contest at Hillsdale College.
📍 New York (statewide, local posts through state final in Albany)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of North Carolina
American Legion Department of North Carolina High School Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking contest for grades 9-12 on the U.S. Constitution, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared speech on citizenship plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from local to county, district, division, and national rounds.
📍 North Carolina (district and division contests statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Ohio
American Legion Department of Ohio Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest for high schoolers combining a prepared oration on citizens' duties under the Constitution with an extemporaneous speech on an assigned topic, advancing from district to department level.
📍 District sites statewide; Department contest in Ohio📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Pennsylvania
American Legion Department of Pennsylvania High School Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking competition for students in grades 9-12 built around knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from the post level to district and state competition.
📍 Statewide, Pennsylvania (post/district/state rounds)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Tennessee
American Legion Department of Tennessee High School Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest in which high school students deliver a prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution emphasizing citizens' duties, then compete on assigned constitutional passages, advancing through district, division, and state rounds.
📍 Statewide, TN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Texas
American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program (Texas)
A constitutional speech contest for grades 9-12 in which students deliver prepared and assigned orations about the US Constitution. Students enter through their local American Legion post and advance through district and division levels to the Texas state finals.
📍 Texas (state finals in San Antonio)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Illinois
American Legion Illinois Oratorical Contest
Statewide public-speaking competition on the U.S. Constitution in which high schoolers deliver an 8-10 minute prepared oration plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from local posts through district and department contests toward national scholarships.
📍 Springfield, IL (Department finals)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Indiana
American Legion Indiana Oratorical Contest
A free constitutional-oratory competition for high schoolers under 20, who deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute assigned-topic speech, advancing from post to district, zone, and state levels.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Kentucky
American Legion Kentucky High School Oratorical Contest
Kentucky's branch of The American Legion's national oratorical scholarship program, in which high school students deliver speeches on the U.S. Constitution at post, district, and state levels for a chance to compete nationally for scholarships up to $25,000.
📍 Regional and state contests across Kentucky📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Maine
American Legion Maine Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking competition on the U.S. Constitution for grades 9-12, combining a prepared 8-10 minute oration with an extemporaneous 3-5 minute response to an assigned constitutional topic, advancing from local posts to district and state finals.
📍 Waterville, ME (state finals, Thomas College)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Michigan
American Legion Michigan Oratorical Contest
A constitutional-themed public speaking contest in which high schoolers deliver prepared and assigned-topic orations on the U.S. Constitution, competing for scholarship money from the department level through the national finals.
📍 Lansing, MI (State Contest)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Minnesota
American Legion Minnesota High School Oratorical Contest
High school students research and deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned constitutional topic, competing for a state title and scholarship money that leads to a national contest awarding up to $25,000.
📍 Anoka Post 102, Anoka, MN📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Missouri
American Legion Missouri High School Oratorical Contest
A Constitutional speech contest challenging Missouri high school (and homeschool) students to explore the U.S. Constitution while competing for scholarship awards, now in its 93rd year in Missouri.
📍 Local, district, and state competitions across Missouri📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion
American Legion National Oratorical Contest (Colorado)
A Constitution-focused oratory competition for high schoolers, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration and a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, progressing from local posts through state and national finals.
📍 Entry through local American Legion posts in Colorado📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Nevada
American Legion Nevada Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking competition for high school students that requires an 8-10 minute prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute extemporaneous speech on an assigned amendment, progressing from post to district to state to national rounds.
📍 Statewide (posts/districts), final round in Carson City📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of New Hampshire
American Legion NH High School Oratorical Contest
A speech competition on the U.S. Constitution and citizens' duties to government, advancing from local Legion posts through district and state rounds toward the national contest.
📍 Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH (state finals)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Oregon
American Legion Oratorical Contest (Department of Oregon)
A three-tier (Post, District, Department) public speaking competition for grades 9-12 on the U.S. Constitution, combining a prepared 3-5 minute oration with an unrehearsed 3-5 minute response to an assigned constitutional topic.
📍 Statewide, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion Department of Utah
American Legion Oratorical Contest (Utah)
A constitutional speech competition for high school students under age 20, progressing from post to district to state finals. Utah winners receive up to $1,500 and can advance to national scholarships of up to $25,000.
📍 Historic Old Courthouse, Provo, UT (state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Washington
American Legion Oratorical Contest (Washington)
Constitutional speech contest for high school students, advancing from post level to the Washington state contest, with the department winner certified to the national Oratorical Contest.
📍 Washington (local American Legion posts, state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Wyoming
American Legion Oratorical Contest (Wyoming)
A scholarship speech contest on the U.S. Constitution for high school students, progressing from post to district to state level with the state winner advancing to nationals.
📍 Wyoming📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of New Mexico
American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Contest - New Mexico
High school students prepare an 8-10 minute oration on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute discourse on an assigned constitutional topic, competing through post, district, and department levels. State winners advance to the national contest, where finalists compete for scholarships up to $25,000.
📍 New Mexico (local American Legion posts, with district/department finals)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of South Dakota
American Legion South Dakota High School Oratorical Contest
A scholarship speech competition on the U.S. Constitution for South Dakota high school (or junior high) students under 20, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic delivered without notes; district and department winners advance toward the national contest and its scholarships.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Virginia
American Legion Virginia High School Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking scholarship contest in which students deliver speeches on the U.S. Constitution, advancing from post to district, region and Department (state) contests.
📍 Virginia (local American Legion posts)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of West Virginia
American Legion West Virginia High School Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest for West Virginia high school students that runs from post and district rounds to a state final, with the state winner advancing to the national finals.
📍 District contests and state final at American Legion Post 31, Shinnston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8/10/12)
Series of national math competitions leading to USAMO/USAJMO and IMO selection.
📍 United States⏱ 75 min📅 Fall🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps Summer of Service
Service opportunities for teens through select programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Council on Economic Education
Amerisure Michigan Economics Challenge
A team-based economics testing competition with Standard and Advanced (AP/IB) divisions, culminating in a three-round State Finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Detroit Branch.
📍 Detroit, MI (State Finals)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars — Europe & Asia
Fully funded summer research at host institutions across Europe and Asia for undergraduates in the sciences.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Washington's Mount Vernon
Ammerman Student Leadership Program at Mount Vernon
A free day-long program for high school juniors and seniors in student government associations, with leadership facilitation on George Washington's example, a role-playing game as Washington's cabinet and estate experiences including a Mansion tour.
📍 Mount Vernon, VA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Amplify Utah (with The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah College Media Alliance and partners)
Amplify Utah High School Newsroom
A statewide initiative building a pipeline for high school journalism, publishing student commentary and stories through media partners including The Salt Lake Tribune. Students submit stories and images by email and are credited when partners republish them.
📍 Utah (statewide, submit online)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Advanced Materials Research Institute, LSU New Orleans
AMRI High School Summer Research Program
An 8-week, full-time paid research experience where high schoolers from the Greater New Orleans area work side-by-side with scientists in labs spanning chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, psychology, and mathematics.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Ana Maria Samaniego Scholarship in the Arts
$1,000 scholarship for an LCPS senior planning to major in the arts at a New Mexico college or university.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Analytics U
Free week-long summer program at the Carlson School for high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, introducing data science for real-world problems with college access and industry networking, including an immersive day at the Mall of America. Meals and parking covered; application includes a short essay.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Anita L. Sabichi, MD Music Scholarship
$2,000 award for an LCPS senior planning to major in music at a New Mexico institution.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP)
ANSEP Acceleration Academy (Full-Time, Academic Year)
A full academic-year program letting rising 9th-12th graders take college coursework alongside high school, allowing students to earn three or more years of college credit before graduating.
📍 Anchorage, Mat-Su, Bethel, Nome, and Kotzebue, AK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) / University of Alaska Anchorage
ANSEP Acceleration Academy (Statewide Summer)
A 5-week residential summer program at UAA where high schoolers live on campus and take a college-level math, science, or Alaska Native studies course while earning transferable college credit.
📍 Anchorage, AK (UAA campus)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program
ANSEP Acceleration High School
Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.
📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) / University of Alaska
ANSEP Summer Bridge
A year-long transition program for Alaska high school seniors admitted to UAA or UAF in an ANSEP-approved STEM degree program, providing academic, social, and professional skill-building before and during freshman year.
📍 Anchorage / Fairbanks, AK (UAA / UAF)📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
An intensive seven-week summer research program in which twelve rising high school seniors and recent graduates work one-on-one with Texas Tech faculty. Open to almost any academic area, from natural sciences and mathematics to humanities and fine arts, with weekly seminars and field trips.
📍 Lubbock, TX📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Idaho Commission on the Arts (Arts Idaho), administered via the Anthony Quinn Foundation
Anthony Quinn Scholarship
A scholarship for high school students accepted to a recognized pre-college or summer intensive arts program, covering literary arts, media arts (animation, film, video), performing arts, and visual arts.
📍 Idaho (national program, application online)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Australian National University
ANU Extension
University-level courses for high-achieving high school students in Canberra.
📍 Canberra, Australia⏱ 1 year📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Apple Inc.
Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
📍 Global⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Academic Pathways
Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)
Summer program for Milwaukee-area rising juniors, rising seniors and June graduates aged 16+ to build interest in medicine, biomedical research and allied health careers.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Saturday Academy
Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE)
An eight-week, full-time paid summer internship pairing rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a professional scientist or engineer mentor across Oregon and SW Washington, including specialty tracks such as a Machine Learning internship through Portland State University.
📍 Portland Metro, Eugene, Corvallis, Bend, and Vancouver WA area📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of the District of Columbia
Architecture Summer Camp
Students sketch designs, build physical models and use AI, digital modeling, laser cutting and 3D printing to develop an original architectural project.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arctic Education Foundation (Arctic Slope Regional Corporation)
Arctic Education Foundation At-Large High School Scholarship
Awards $2,000 each to high school seniors who are Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) shareholders or descendants, based on academic performance, leadership, and community service.
📍 Statewide (ASRC Region, North Slope)📅 June🎓 Grade 12
Selective
South Dakota Board of Regents
Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship
A scholarship for Native American high school seniors who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe with a reservation in South Dakota or North Dakota, intended for students pursuing agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or natural resources degrees at an eligible postsecondary institution.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne Exemplary Student Research Program
Chicago-area students conduct year-long research mentored by Argonne scientists.
📍 IL⏱ School year📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Arizona 4-H
Arizona 4-H Teen Leadership Programs
Leadership pathways for high schoolers including Healthy Living Ambassadors, STEM and Ag Ambassadors, and Camp G.R.I.T. counselor roles, plus 4-H Foundation scholarships for graduating seniors.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Community Foundation
Arizona Community Foundation Scholarship Program
One general application matches students with more than 160 scholarships covering universities, community colleges, technical schools, and vocational programs.
📍 AZ🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Arizona DECA
Arizona DECA High School Chapters
Career and technical student organization preparing high schoolers for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through competitive events and leadership conferences held across seven Arizona districts.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona FCCLA
Arizona FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Career and technical student organization built into Family and Consumer Sciences education, offering 35+ competitive events in culinary arts, fashion/interior design, and early childhood education, plus scholarships at the State Leadership Conference.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona FFA / National FFA Organization
Arizona FFA Association
Statewide agricultural education and leadership organization with FFA chapters in over 84 Arizona high schools, offering supervised agricultural experience projects, leadership conferences, and career development events.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) / PlayVS
Arizona High School Esports League
Officially sanctioned interscholastic esports leagues for Arizona high schools competing in titles like League of Legends, Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with varsity and JV divisions culminating in a state championship.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education / State Bar of Arizona
Arizona High School Mock Trial Program
Simulated trial competition for students in grades 9-12, pairing teams with practicing attorney coaches, with regional tournaments in March feeding into a state tournament in Phoenix and the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📍 Phoenix, AZ (state tournament)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona HOSA
Arizona HOSA — Future Health Professionals
Career and technical student organization for students interested in healthcare careers, offering competitive events and leadership development through chapters based in Arizona high schools.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Interscholastic Press Association
Arizona Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA)
Statewide association supporting middle and high school journalism programs (newspaper, yearbook, web, broadcast, literary magazine) with a fall contest, Student Journalist of the Year award, and adviser resources.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Commission on the Arts / University of Arizona Poetry Center
Arizona Poetry Out Loud
Statewide poetry recitation contest for high school students that advances champions from the classroom through school, regional, state, and national competition, with free curriculum materials provided to participating teachers.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Restaurant Association
Arizona ProStart Invitational
Two-year high school culinary arts and restaurant management program culminating in a state invitational competition, with winners earning institutional scholarships and advancing to the National ProStart Invitational.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AzSEF)
Students advancing from qualifying fairs present original science or engineering research at Arizona's statewide fair. Senior Division Grand Award winners advance to Regeneron ISEF.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center Teen Volunteer Program
Teens support exhibitions, STEM demonstrations, guests, and educational programming while earning community-service or service-learning hours.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Phoenix Film Foundation
Arizona Student Film Festival
Statewide short-film competition, running since 2007, for grade school and high school filmmakers whose selected films screen during the Phoenix Film Festival; the Best High School Film wins a $1,000 scholarship.
📍 Phoenix, AZ📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
Lottery-funded scholarship for Arkansas students attending eligible higher-education institutions. Traditional graduating seniors can qualify through a Diploma of Merit or qualifying academic/test criteria.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas and the World: International Affairs Summer Camp
Fifty Arkansas students study international relations, diplomacy, the UN and Model UN before representing countries in General Assembly simulations and crisis exercises.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Arkansas Children's
Arkansas Children's Hospital Junior Volunteer Program
High school students volunteer in hospital settings at Arkansas Children's, committing to weekly shifts for a minimum of six months (or a condensed summer track), after references, an interview, and required immunizations.
📍 Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR / Arkansas Children's Northwest, Springdale, AR📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas College Bound
Students with disabilities experience college life while learning about postsecondary academic expectations, accommodations and preparation for further education or training.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation Scholarships
Arkansas students complete an eligibility quiz and can be matched with dozens of donor-funded scholarships based on geography, school, intended major, activities, and other criteria.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Activities Association / High School Esports League
Arkansas High School Esports League
Arkansas high schoolers compete on official school esports teams sanctioned by the AAA in titles including Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2, with fall and spring seasons and standard academic-eligibility rules.
📍 Statewide, Arkansas (online competition through school teams)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day Arkansas (affiliate)
Arkansas History Day
A year-long historical research program in which students create papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest and potentially the national competition.
📍 University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR (state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas PBS / Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Arkansas PBS Emerging Filmmakers Program
A statewide student filmmaking showcase accepting narrative, documentary, music video, PSA, and animated shorts from grades 5-12, including an Arkansas Historic Places Student Film Prize specifically for high schoolers, with screenings and workshops at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
📍 Hot Springs, AR (festival); submissions via FilmFreeway📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Arts Council / National Endowment for the Arts / Poetry Foundation
Arkansas Poetry Out Loud
A free program for grades 9-12 (including homeschoolers) that builds public-speaking skill and confidence through memorization and recitation of poetry, culminating in a statewide championship.
📍 Little Rock, AR (state finals)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas State Coding Competition
School teams of up to three students solve programming challenges in Arkansas's statewide coding competition. Awards are deposited into Brighterfuture 529 accounts.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Dependent Scholarship
Eligible dependents of qualifying Idaho military personnel or public-safety officers can receive substantial postsecondary educational assistance.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Art
Pre-College Art program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Art Doing Its Part
Mississippi high-school students create artwork, slogans, and short reflections explaining connections between litter and waterway pollution. The statewide contest highlights regional environmental challenges and uses winning work in public-awareness campaigns.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Mason University College of Education and Human Development
Artificial Intelligence Summer Camp (ACCESS Academy)
Free one-week day camp where students learn machine learning basics through problem-based projects with beginner-friendly tools and prototype and present their own ideas.
📍 Arlington, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ArtWorks for Milwaukee
ArtWorks for Milwaukee High School Internship
Five-month paid internships for Milwaukee-area high school students who build career skills through public arts projects, in seasonal areas such as Environmental Arts and Community Arts plus Mental Health Advocacy.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Art Museum
ArtXpress Summer Internship (Milwaukee Art Museum)
A four-week paid summer internship where Milwaukee-area teens ages 16-18 work with local artists to design a mural about a city issue, mentor MPS elementary students as museum docents, and see the mural displayed on a Milwaukee County bus.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program
ASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
📍 CA⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ashoka
Ashoka Young Changemakers
Global community of young people (10–20) already leading social innovation projects; selected changemakers receive mentorship, storytelling support, and network access.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Ongoing fellowship📅 Rolling · by country🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
AAJA
Asian American Journalists Association JCamp
Free six-day multicultural journalism program for high school students.
📍 Rotating (US)⏱ 6 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
APIA Scholars
Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander American students entering college.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
APhO
Asian Physics Olympiad
Asia-Pacific regional physics olympiad; selection through each country's national physics olympiad.
📍 Asia-Pacific (rotating)📅 Varies by country🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology / ASM International
ASM Exploring Materials in Your World
Free selective materials-science program using laboratory equipment, experiments and team problem solving to investigate how materials behave and are engineered.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
News Literacy Project
ASNE High School Journalism Institute
Free media-literacy and journalism resources and student programs.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Aspen Institute
Aspen Challenge
City-based design challenge for high school teams to solve community problems.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Mason University (GMU)
Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
A summer internship program that provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct research, develop new ideas, and invent new technologies.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona State University
ASU SCENE
Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.
📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The Westminster Schools (StudioW)
Atlanta High School Film Festival
Founded in 2018 by Westminster's StudioW program, this student-run festival showcases short films from high school and middle school filmmakers across the southern United States, free to submit and attend.
📍 The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
College Foundation of North Carolina
Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship
Need-based scholarship for graduating seniors from fourteen designated North Carolina counties attending NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill or UNC Greensboro.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Auburn University College of Engineering
Auburn Engineering Summer Camps (HS Track)
One-week intensive workshops in robotics, aerospace, and medical engineering for Alabama high school students.
📍 Auburn, AL⏱ 1 week📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute Teen Volunteers
Teen volunteers support Audubon's wildlife, conservation, education, and guest-engagement mission across its New Orleans nature attractions while working alongside staff and gaining practical experience.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Audubon Connecticut
Audubon Sharon Summer Internships (Youth)
Research and education internship at a wildlife sanctuary focusing on birds and habitat health.
📍 Sharon, CT⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
National Audubon Society
Audubon Youth Leaders
Stipended conservation-leadership cohorts for teens nationwide.
📍 Multiple📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival Young Filmmakers Competition
A free-to-enter competition for filmmakers ages 13-18 whose selected animated, documentary, and narrative shorts screen at the Young Filmmakers Showcase. Part of a broader program that also includes summer film camps and festival scholarships for Texas students.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EcoRise
Austin Youth Climate Council
A year-long program where Austin-area high school students partner with local community organizations on real-world climate and environmental projects. The 2025-26 cohort had 39 students from 17 schools and awarded $17,000 in total stipends.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Austin Youth River Watch
Austin Youth River Watch
A service-learning program for Austin-area high school students with weekly after-school and intensive summer sessions on water quality testing, macroinvertebrate sampling, and habitat restoration. Students earn $20/hour with transportation and meals provided, and there is no GPA requirement or application.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University
Avenues of Scientific Discovery
Students choose from hands-on STEM sessions and interact with university faculty during a one-day science-discovery conference.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Orange County Community Foundation
AVID Scholarship Fund
Graduating Orange County AVID students can receive donor-funded scholarships supporting college attendance and completion.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
📍 Nationwide⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio State Manufacturing & Materials Joining Innovation Center
AWS Foundation & Mₐ²JIC High School Internship
Paid eight-week research internship in welding engineering, materials science, advanced manufacturing, automation and robotics; students complete a research project and poster.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Aspiring Youth Academy / ASU Edson E+I
AYA Innovation Hub (Powered by ASU)
Entrepreneurship and financial-literacy program connecting teens with mentors through monthly events and a free hands-on Spring Break Innovation Camp, deliverable as a class, elective, or after-school club.
📍 Tempe/Scottsdale, AZ (ASU)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Major merit scholarship for a Delaware senior enrolling at the University of Delaware.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Temple University
B4USoar
Free Temple college classes and mentoring for Philadelphia students.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (BACH)
BACH Fellows Program
A five-week paid summer healthcare-exposure internship for Baltimore City rising juniors and seniors, placing up to 60 students annually at major hospitals (Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical Center, Sinai, MedStar) to shadow professionals and explore allied health careers.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Bank of America
Bank of America Student Leaders
Paid 8-week summer internship with nonprofits + leadership summit in DC.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Trinity College
Bantam Bound
Selective two-day fly-in introducing prospective seniors to Trinity through professor-led mock classes, student discussions and exploration of campus and Hartford.
📍 CT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
AAPT
Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers
Scholarships for high school students who plan to pursue a career in physics teaching.
📍 Multiple📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Base Pair Biomedical Research Mentorship
High-school students, primarily from Murrah High School and the Jackson Public School District, complete rigorous biomedical-research preparation and then work in UMMC laboratories with faculty mentors. Students can earn high-school credit and have historically co-authored scientific presentations and publications.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bay Area Urban Debate League
Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL)
A nonprofit that makes competitive policy debate accessible to every Bay Area public middle and high school student through tournaments, practices, and college debate mentorship.
📍 Oakland, CA / Bay Area📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BBC
BBC Young Musician
UK-wide music competition for musicians up to age 18; broadcast internationally.
📍 United Kingdom📅 Autumn🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Burlington City Arts with Juniper Creative
BCA Youth Artist Apprenticeship Program
A paid four-week public art residency where Burlington-based youth work with professional artists to design and paint a mural, from concept development through installation.
📍 BCA Center, 135 Church Street, Burlington, VT📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Rowan University
BEAM — BioEngineering And Me
Free virtual biomedical-engineering experience featuring faculty presentations, demonstrations, workshops and collaborative activities.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CERN
Beamline for Schools
CERN physics competition where student teams worldwide propose and run an experiment at a real particle accelerator.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland + Remote proposals📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
ELASH / Bebras US
Bebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
📍 Online⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BeHERE Nevada / UNLV / UNR
BeHERE, BeWELL Behavioral Health Camp
Overnight camp introducing counseling, social work, psychology, psychiatry and other behavioral-health careers through workshops, tours and a student project showcase.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Florida Department of Education
Benacquisto Scholarship Program
National Merit Scholars meeting Florida requirements can receive funding designed to cover the institutional cost of attendance after other specified awards.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Benedict College
Benedict College Upward Bound
Academic-year and six-week residential college-preparation program for eligible students from partner districts.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Bennington Museum
Bennington Museum Curatorial Internship (High School)
A paid summer curatorial internship for high school students at the Bennington Museum, working mainly with the Collections Manager while also gaining experience in marketing, education and visitor services.
📍 Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Artists Awards
A free competition for high school artists submitting two-dimensional work (paintings, drawings, photographs), three-dimensional work (sculpture, ceramics) or digital media (video, audio, animation up to 2 minutes), with cash prizes and scholarships for winners who enroll at Bennington.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Innovators Awards (AI)
A free competition for high school students with three AI-focused submission tracks: creating an original artistic work using AI with a reflective essay, writing a critical essay on AI's ethical, social or cultural impact, or building an AI solution to a real-world problem with a short video demonstration.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Musicians Awards
A free competition for high school musicians submitting one original composition of up to five minutes in any form (electronic, song or instrumental), with cash prizes and scholarships for winners who enroll at Bennington.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Scientists Awards
A free competition for high school students in the Natural Sciences category, submitting visual work such as field guides, scientific drawings, research posters or process diagrams that show their understanding of the natural world.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📍 Online📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Best Buddies
Best Buddies International
Friendship and inclusion program pairing students with peers with intellectual disabilities.
📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Best Buddies
Best Buddies Youth Leadership
Build friendships with people with IDD; chapter and leadership opportunities.
📍 Multiple schools⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Mississippi Scholastic Press Association / University of Mississippi
Best of Mississippi Student Media Competition
Students at MSPA-member publications compete for individual and publication awards in newspaper/magazine/site, yearbook, broadcast, and literary-magazine categories. All MSPA contests are free to enter.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Haslam College of Business
BETS Program (Business Education for Talented Students)
A free, ten-day residential summer program introducing rising Tennessee high school seniors to all aspects of the business world, including lodging, transportation, and ACT prep as part of the package.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore
BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program
Eight-week full-time biomedical/cancer research placement followed by optional school-year work. Students receive a $2,500 stipend, meal support and transportation assistance.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio State University, Department of Mathematics
Beyond the Classroom Summer Camp
A free in-person summer camp inviting middle and high schoolers to explore recreational mathematics, puzzles, and programming through nontraditional, staff-led activities that build confidence and culminate in a final project.
📍 Columbus, OH (Ohio State University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mountain Lake PBS
Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival
A student filmmaking festival for ages 14-18 in New York, Vermont and Quebec, with documentary, narrative, thriller, open and 60-second categories and a Red Carpet Showcase each June.
📍 Online submission via Launchpad; showcase in Plattsburgh, NY📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Bieri Family Broadcast Journalism Scholarship
$1,000 scholarship for an LCPS senior majoring in broadcast journalism at NMSU.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
College Board
BigFuture
A free, comprehensive set of digital resources that helps all students take a productive first step after high school. Includes information on planning for college and scholarships.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute MyImpact Challenge
Civic engagement competition awarding scholarships for student-led community impact projects.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Biogen
Biogen Community Lab
Free hands-on biotech labs and high school research opportunities at Biogen sites.
📍 Cambridge, MA + RTP, NC⏱ Day to weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State University, Department of Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences Summer Research Program
A four-week summer lab internship where high school students work alongside faculty and graduate student mentors on live research, such as studying bluebanded goby fish behavior, and present their findings at academic conferences.
📍 Pocatello, ID (ISU campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME)
BioME Student Showcase
A life-science research poster competition for Maine students in grades 9-12, focused on projects in healthcare, agriculture, or industrial/environmental biotechnology, judged by Maine scientists and entrepreneurs.
📍 University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan Medical School
BioMed Focus
Rising juniors and seniors complete an eight-week independent biomedical research project in a U-M laboratory, write a manuscript, and give a research presentation. Scholars receive $4,000; the 2027 program runs June 14–August 6.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Johns Hopkins University
Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT)
Rising sophomores through seniors spend five weeks conducting hands-on biophysics and biomedical research while studying scientific writing, mathematics, data analysis, and bioethics. The program is a paid internship; Hopkins materials list a $5,500 stipend.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Genspace
BioRocket Internship
Six-month biotechnology internship combining spring training with summer research in molecular/synthetic biology. Participants receive a $2,000 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Biotechnology Summer Experience
Students conduct an authentic molecular-biology and bioinformatics project involving DNA purification, PCR, restriction digestion, gel electrophoresis and analysis of gene sequences using professional bioinformatics tools.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NDSU Department of Computer Science
Bison Cyber Day Camp (GenCyber)
A free NSA/NSF-funded GenCyber camp for high schoolers covering programming, cybersecurity, robotics, and artificial intelligence, with day and overnight options and meals provided.
📍 Fargo, ND (NDSU campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown University
Black & Indigenous Histories and Leadership Program
Local-history and leadership program centered on Black and Indigenous Rhode Island history.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Brown University Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, with Tomaquag Museum
Black and Indigenous Histories Summer Institute (BIHSI)
A free, week-long in-person institute for high schoolers exploring Black and Indigenous histories of New England through classes, museum visits, guest speakers, and reflective discussion, held at Brown University.
📍 Providence, RI (Brown University)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Black Girls CODE
Black Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LA County Department of Arts and Culture
Bloomberg Arts Internship — Los Angeles County
Students work at arts and cultural organizations while completing intensive college-readiness training, professional development, mentorship and career preparation.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
Blue Crab Bowl (Virginia Regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl)
Virginia's regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl, in which up to 16 teams of five high school students answer questions on ocean science topics including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, maritime history and marine policy.
📍 Gloucester Point, VA (VIMS)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Blue Marble Review
Blue Marble Review
Online literary journal of writing and art by teens worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
NCSSM-Durham
Blue Mirror
Primarily student-run art and literature journal publishing creative writing and visual work from NCSSM students multiple times each year.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Blue Ocean Strategy / various
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Free global pitch competition with cash prizes. Teams pitch a novel business idea via video; finalists present live.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MIT
Blueprint by HackMIT
Annual learnathon and hackathon for HS students at MIT.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest
Mississippi students depict native fish or wildlife species through original artwork. Winners receive gift cards, publication in Mississippi Outdoors, and display on MDWFP platforms.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LSU Health Shreveport
Bobbie Cates Hicks SMART Program
A yearlong research opportunity for academically advanced high school seniors from Caddo, Bossier, and DeSoto parishes to conduct hands-on research with LSU Health Shreveport faculty mentors on topics such as Parkinson's disease progression and cancer cell studies.
📍 Shreveport, LA📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Boettcher Foundation
Boettcher Scholarship
Highly competitive merit scholarship for graduating Colorado seniors attending participating four-year Colorado institutions. Selection emphasizes academics, intellectual curiosity, leadership, service, and character.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
World Food Prize Foundation
Borlaug-Ruan International Internship
Eight-week international research internship for World Food Prize Youth Institute alumni.
📍 International⏱ 8 weeks📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Area Health Education Center Summer Enrichment Program
A paid six-week summer program for Boston high schoolers interested in health careers, including interactive workshops, networking with health professionals, field placements at community health organizations, and weekly field trips.
📍 Boston, MA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Boston Family Scholarship
Nevada high-school seniors pursuing a teaching degree at a four-year Nevada college may qualify for this education-focused award.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
City of Boston
Boston Mayor's Youth Council
Boston high-school students represent youth in city government, collaborate with officials, and develop projects addressing community and civic issues.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Boston
Boston SuccessLink
Free paid summer employment program for Boston youth ages 14-18.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boston University
Boston University Lab Apprenticeship in Science & Technology (BLAST)
Boston-area students participate in a paid biomedical-science internship featuring laboratory practicums and mentoring; the longer-term program can lead into immersive laboratory research.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest for teens combining art, writing, film, and music with environmental advocacy.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
U.S. DOE / Bonneville Power Administration
BPA Regional High School Science Bowl
Fast-paced team competition covering math, physics, chemistry, biology, earth/space science and energy.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
International Brain Bee
BrainBee Neuroscience Competition
International neuroscience competition for high schoolers with local, national, and global rounds.
📍 Global⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brandywine Zoo
Brandywine Zoo VolunTEEN Program
Summer volunteer program for teens 14 and older to lead conservation education activities for guests, assist in the barnyard, and support summer camp at the Brandywine Zoo.
📍 Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington, DE📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Breakthrough
Breakthrough Collaborative
Free summer and school-year academic program for first-generation, low-income middle schoolers; high schoolers can serve as teaching fellows.
📍 30+ US cities⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Breakthrough Houston
Breakthrough Houston High School Volunteer Tutors and Teaching Assistants
High school juniors and seniors can volunteer as academic tutors for middle schoolers, or as teaching assistants delivering STEM and humanities project-based lessons on Saturday mornings. Sites include Connect Community, HISD, and St. John's School; applications are submitted by Google Form.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Breakthrough Prize Foundation
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Create a short video explaining a big idea in science or math. Global competition for ages 13–18 with a $250K college scholarship.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Fairfield University
Bridgeport Tuition Grant
Eligible Bridgeport high-school graduates admitted to Fairfield can receive full tuition, with additional need-based aid potentially covering other costs.
📍 CT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
Bright Flight
State merit scholarship for top-scoring Missouri high-school seniors who attend approved Missouri postsecondary institutions. No separate Bright Flight application is required.
📍 MO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Washington Health Careers Opportunity Program
BRIGHT-UP (Biomedical Research Internship for Growth of High school Trainees from Underrepresented Populations)
A paid summer internship giving high school students hands-on biomedical research experience in UW labs: one week of orientation and training, then a six-week lab placement, weekly career development meetings and a closing symposium.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brilliant.org
Brilliant.org High School Problem Solving Track
While the physical show has locations, the virtual 'Think Tank' and 'Daily Challenge' offer online logic and math problems for students nationwide.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (Weekly)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UKMT
British Informatics Olympiad (Open to Int'l)
Solve complex math and computer science problems created by the UK Mathematical Trust.
📍 Global⏱ 1 day📅 November 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oxford
British Physics Olympiad
A tiered set of national physics competitions (Junior, Senior, Round 1/2) open to UK secondary students, with international variants schools worldwide can register for.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ Exam📅 Nov (senior) · Mar (junior)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSSM-Durham
Broad Street Scientific
Student STEM research journal publishing original work by NCSSM-Durham Residential and NCSSM Online students.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
A six-week paid summer research program for rising high school seniors near Boston to conduct original biomedical research with Broad Institute scientists in areas like cancer biology, chemical biology, and computational biology.
📍 Cambridge, MA📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Southern Mississippi School of Media and Communication
Broadcast Boot Camp
A free five-day summer program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from underserved Mississippi communities, offering hands-on experience creating digital and television news with professional equipment, run with the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and Mississippi Scholastic Press Association.
📍 Hattiesburg, MS📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Brookfield Zoo King Conservation Science Scholars
Year-round college and career readiness program for students in grades 9-12 combining STEAM coursework, guest-facing interpretation work, and conservation science activities, requiring at least 80 engagement hours annually.
📍 Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Brookfield, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center
Brown Cancer Center High School Summer Research Program
Students complete two weeks of intensive wet-lab and drug-discovery work followed by seven weeks of mentored cancer research, then present their results at a poster showcase and research retreat. Participants receive $3,500.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Brown University
Brown Collegiate Scholars
Four-year college-access program with tutoring, mentoring, summer residential experiences, SAT/application preparation and advising.
📍 RI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL)
N/A
📍 Off Campus or On Campus🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Brown Experiential Education (BEE)
N/A
📍 Off Campus🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Brown Pre-College Online
Experience Brown Pre-College wherever you are.
📍 Online📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown University
Brown Summer High School
Three-week academic enrichment in English, math, science and social studies plus college readiness.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering
Brown-Forman INSPIRE
Students spend a residential week exploring engineering, college preparation, and career pathways through faculty workshops, industry field trips, mentorship, and a team design challenge culminating in a presentation.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Schubert Club
Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition
An annual classical music competition for young musicians across Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa, with video preliminaries followed by in-person finals at Macalester College and over $70,000 in scholarships awarded across about fifteen instrument and voice categories.
📍 Macalester College, St. Paul, MN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama High School Athletic Association / Bryant-Jordan Foundation
Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program
Alabama high-school seniors at AHSAA member schools can be nominated for Scholar-Athlete or Achievement Awards, with 96 scholarships awarded annually.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
BS Biology Club, BS Neuro Club & Medspire
BS Neuroscience Research Initiative (NRI)
A student-led program for high school students interested in neuroscience, biology, medicine and research. Phase 1 is a series of neuroscience education sessions taught by experienced students and Brain Bee competitors. Phase 2 is mentored systematic-review research: choosing a research question, searching the literature, screening and analyzing studies, and learning scientific writing.
📍 Online⏱ Phase 1: Oct 17 to Nov 17, 2026; Phase 2 dates to be announced📅 October 15, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute and Dane County School Consortium
BTC Institute Biotechnology Youth Apprenticeship Program
Paid biotechnology youth apprenticeship for students in partner Dane County districts, combining 450 hours of work in an industry or UW-Madison research lab with a weekly biotechnology course.
📍 Fitchburg, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Ohio
Buckeye Boys State
A week-long residential educational and leadership program at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) that exposes young men entering their senior year to civic engagement through simulated city, county, and state government, elections, and law.
📍 Miami University, Oxford, OH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Ohio
Buckeye Girls State
A week-long residential citizenship and leadership program at Bowling Green State University for young women who have completed their junior year of high school, featuring mock political parties, campaigns, elections, and legislative sessions.
📍 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Build Dakota Scholarship Fund
Build Dakota Scholarship
A full-ride scholarship covering tuition, fees, books, and other required expenses for students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota's technical colleges, in exchange for a commitment to work in South Dakota after graduation.
📍 South Dakota technical colleges statewide📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
North Dakota NASA Space Grant Consortium
Build the Moon Challenge
Teams design lunar-regolith concrete mixtures while applying aerospace engineering, materials science, prototyping and experimental design.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
Building Engineering Pathways
Students use engineering laboratories and fabrication spaces to tackle design projects, team challenges and real-world engineering problems.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tulsa Community College
Building Your Sustainable Future
Sustainability-centered STEM exploration.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Built By Girls
Built By Girls Wave Program
A peer-mentorship program connecting high school girls with women in tech.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 November 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bullock Museum Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16 and up serve as gallery roamers, podium attendants, and program and event helpers at the state history museum. Applicants complete an online application and interview and commit to at least six hours per month.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Burger King Foundation
Burger King Scholars
Annual scholarships for HS seniors with work, leadership, and academic experience.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Health Tech Alley / Maryland Innovation Center
Business Analytics, Data Science and AI Youth Apprenticeship Program
A 12-month youth apprenticeship based at the Maryland Innovation Center in Columbia where high school seniors train in data analytics, AI, machine learning, and cloud computing while earning Google and Microsoft industry credentials and completing a year-long research project.
📍 Columbia, MD (Howard County)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business
Business Bootcamp
A day-long college-readiness program for rising high school juniors and seniors with a 3.2+ GPA, offering workshops, speaker panels, and professional-development sessions on pursuing a college degree and career in business.
📍 Columbus, OH (Ohio State University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Business: What Is It Good For?
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
C-SPAN
C-SPAN StudentCam
Annual student documentary competition on public policy.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 January🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Caesars Nevada Team Member Scholarship
For graduating Nevada high-school seniors who are children of qualifying Caesars Entertainment employees, with emphasis on dependents of wage and tip earners.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Tech University
CAKE: Creativity, Agriculture & Knowledge of Enterprise
Students investigate Arkansas agriculture and tourism through science laboratories, agritourism activities, enterprise development and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
California Water Service
Cal Water Scholarship Program
Students in Cal Water service areas compete for college or vocational-school scholarships based on academics, service and financial need.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
California Envirothon
California Envirothon
A team-based natural resources competition for high school students covering soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and a current environmental issue, culminating in an oral presentation.
📍 California (state event location varies annually)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Forestry Challenge
California Forestry Challenge
California's premier natural resource competition for high school students, similar to Envirothon.
📍 CA⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day California (NHD-CA)
California History Day
A year-long research program in which students create documentaries, exhibits, papers, websites, or performances on a historical topic, competing from county contests up through state finals.
📍 California statewide (county contests); state finals in Sacramento📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California Restaurant Foundation
California ProStart Cup
The state's premier culinary arts and restaurant management competition for high school ProStart students, featuring a live Culinary Cup (60-minute three-course meal) and a Management Cup (restaurant concept pitch).
📍 California (2027 event held March 1-2)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California State Board of Education
California State Board of Education Student Member
One California public-school senior is appointed as a full voting member of the State Board of Education, participates in state education policymaking and represents student perspectives at board and advisory meetings.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
CAMH Teen Council Open Call: Utopias
An open call for teen artists aged 13-19 from the Greater Houston area to submit work in any media (2D, 3D, new media, installation, performance) exploring utopian themes for a museum exhibition. Selected artists receive a modest honorarium.
📍 Houston, TX📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Washington University
Caminos al Futuro
Three-week residential program where rising seniors examine social, political and economic issues affecting Hispanic and Latino communities and develop leadership/community-impact projects.
📍 DC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Willamette University
Camp College
Free three-day/two-night program with sample classes, college-search workshops and visits to neighboring campuses.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LSU AgCenter
Camp CRISP
A summer internship immersing high school students and teachers in agricultural research on climate-resilient rice production, covering breeding, genomics, pathology, entomology, AI, and precision agriculture.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Lincoln Park Zoo
Camp Teen Volunteer Program
Teens entering grades 9–12 complete a five-week service-learning placement supporting the zoo's conservation-focused summer camp. The position is volunteer rather than paid employment.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Central Michigan University College of Medicine
CampMed (CMU College of Medicine)
Two-day intensive summer program for high school students interested in medicine and health fields: medical case studies, casting and suture clinics, and time with current medical students. Listed as free (scholarship-based); the 2026 cycle is closed and the next application cycle opens April 2027.
📍 Mount Pleasant, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Waterloo (CEMC)
Canadian Computing Competition (CCC)
Free competitive programming contest run by Waterloo's CEMC; open worldwide and used as a qualifier for the Canadian Computing Olympiad.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine / AHEC
CANOE Academy
Graduating seniors explore healthcare through problem-based learning, pre-health advising, clinical certifications, professional networking and residential university programming.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
European Space Agency
CanSat Competition (ESA)
Build a satellite the size of a soda can. National rounds in ESA member states; European final each spring.
📍 Various📅 National rounds fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism, University of St. Thomas
Capitol Reporting Workshop
Free winter workshop for Twin Cities high school students on legislative reporting: youth-led news teams work with local journalists to produce 700-800 word stories and multimedia content, culminating in Youth Day at the Capitol. 18 competitive spots; $200 stipend on completion.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Archives, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Capturing Oral Histories Workshop
A free workshop teaching participants the fundamentals of recording and preserving oral histories, including practical interviewing techniques and tips for documenting personal stories.
📍 Bismarck, ND📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC San Diego
Cardiovascular Institute Summer Research Program
Eight-week mentored cardiovascular-science research experience with clinician-scientists, a core lecture series, research training, and clinical-shadowing opportunities.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Carolina Community College System / NC DPI
Career and College Promise
North Carolina high-school students take tuition-free college courses through community-college and cooperative pathways and can earn transferable college credit before graduation.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Education
Career and Technical Education Scholar Award Program
Recognizes NJ students who demonstrate high achievement in an approved CTE program, academics, college-level/work-based learning, leadership, and service. Eighty-three students received the 2026 award. Note: this is a recognition award with no cash prize, and students cannot apply directly; districts nominate top 12th-grade CTE students.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Explora X Studio
Career Pathways Internship Program
Two-year paid STEAM internship beginning with rising juniors. Interns receive workforce training, mentorship, portfolio development, financial-literacy instruction and opportunities for embedded internships at Explora.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education
Career Quest Summer Internships (Seattle Public Schools)
Paid summer internships that pair high school students with local businesses and SPS departments in fields such as architecture and design, business and marketing, construction management, finance, education, IT and skilled trades, with a weekly launch day and CTE credit.
📍 Seattle, WA (Franklin High School and internship sites)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Career-Based Scholarship
Supports Delaware students pursuing high-demand fields such as computer science, data science, engineering, finance, nursing and healthcare administration at Delaware institutions.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall NYO-USA
Free national youth orchestra summer training and tour for ages 16-19.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 1 month📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Carroll College
Carroll College Early Access Program
A tuition-free program letting Helena-area high school juniors and seniors with a 3.25 GPA take up to two Carroll College courses per semester, taught alongside current college students on campus.
📍 Carroll College, Helena, MT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ulakaia Center (formerly The Aleut Foundation / Aleut Corporation)
Cash for Good Grades
An academic-incentive program from the Aleut Corporation's education arm that pays cash rewards to grades 7-12 students who are Aleut Corporation shareholders or descendants for good grades and attendance.
📍 Statewide (Aleut Region)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NC State University
Catalyst: Creating Opportunities in STEM for Students with Disabilities
Year-long STEM and college/career-readiness cohort with workshops, field experiences, certifications and access to paid STEM internships.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center
Catherine Coleman Literary Arts, Food, and Social Justice Summer Program
Mississippi high-school writers spend a residential week studying poetry, fiction, screenwriting, Southern foodways, and social-justice history with professional writers. Students completing the program receive a $300 stipend.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Bar Association
CBA Law Camp
A free week-long day camp at UConn School of Law for high schoolers who have overcome adversity or would be first in their family to enter the legal profession, featuring mock trial prep, court observation, and mentorship from attorneys and judges.
📍 UConn School of Law, Hartford, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
CBVI Scholarship Program
Scholarships for qualifying students served by the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired who are pursuing further education.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
George Mason University Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Northern Virginia Node / Children's Science Center
CCI Scholars High School Cybersecurity Internship (Northern Virginia)
A seven-week summer internship that gives rising seniors and recent graduates of Northern Virginia public high schools professional skills training and placement with local cybersecurity and STEM industry partners.
📍 Northern Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Coastal Carolina University INBRE / SCoRE Program
CCU HCHEC Sponsored Research (SCoRE High School Track)
A paid summer research program placing Horry County high school students in Coastal Carolina University labs, where each student works alongside a faculty mentor and an undergraduate researcher; past participants have published work and presented at conferences.
📍 Conway, SC (Coastal Carolina University)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Community College of Vermont
CCV Dual Enrollment and Early College
Free pathways for Vermont students to earn college credit before graduating, including up to six free dual enrollment credits for juniors and seniors, Fast Forward credit for technical center programs, and a full senior year of Early College.
📍 Vermont (CCV locations and online)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers
Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF) Student Categories
A regional film festival with dedicated student divisions (freestyle, narrative short and long form, documentary) plus a $1,000 Collins Road Theatres scholarship and a Student Audience Choice award at a discounted-ticket Student Cinema Sunday screening.
📍 Cedar Rapids, IA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Western Governors' Foundation
Celebrate the West — Idaho
High-school students create artwork inspired by their western state and compete first for state recognition and then regional awards.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Duke University Department of Cell Biology
Cell Biology Academy (CeBA)
Six-week paid laboratory research academy for Triangle-area high-school students, with close mentoring in contemporary cell and molecular biology.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Waterloo (CEMC)
CEMC Math Contests
Suite of free math contests (Pascal, Cayley, Fermat, Euclid, CSMC) written by Waterloo; open internationally through registered schools.
📍 School-administered (Global)⏱ 60–150 min📅 School registration by contest🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES)
A Farmington, Maine nonprofit where youth ages 10-24 launch and run real businesses out of a retail store, makerspace, and 'Changemaker Campus,' guided by workshops from engineers and working professionals.
📍 Farmington, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Central Massachusetts Brain Bee
A free regional neuroscience competition at UMass Chan for Central Massachusetts high schoolers in grades 9-12, featuring a written exam and oral elimination rounds on neuroanatomy, nervous system function, and neurological disease, with the winner advancing to the USA National Brain Bee.
📍 Worcester, MA📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CERN
CERN Summer Student Programme
Paid 8–13 week summer programme at CERN for undergrads worldwide in physics, engineering, or computing.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
CFA Institute
CFA Institute Research Challenge
Global equity research and analysis competition with high school divisions in some regions.
📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Chaminade University of Honolulu (GEAR UP)
Chaminade University Summer Institutes
Free 10-day courses for rising Hawaii public high school juniors and seniors, funded by a federal GEAR UP grant, covering subjects from marine science to entrepreneurship to spoken word poetry.
📍 Honolulu, Oʻahu (Chaminade University campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Oklahoma City Community College
CHAMPS — Careers in Health and Medical Professions
Exploration of health and medical professions through hands-on activities.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
CHAMPS (Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service)
A UAMS outreach program that lets junior high and high school students explore health professions through hands-on activities and presentations by healthcare professionals across UAMS's regional campus network.
📍 UAMS Regional Campuses, statewide Arkansas📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholarship
Recognizes outstanding Oklahoma seniors for academics, leadership and community service.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Changemakers in Computing
A free summer program that teaches technology, society and justice through project-based learning, with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, AI and tech ethics and college preparation led by UW undergraduate mentors.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Chapman University
Chapman University Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
A writing contest for high schoolers exploring the impact of the Holocaust through various creative prompts.
📍 Online📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Charles Butt Foundation, Raising Texas Teachers
Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers
A scholarship for aspiring teachers, open to students from their senior year of high school through junior year of college, at 30+ partner Texas universities. Recipients commit to teaching in Texas public schools that are Title 1, economically disadvantaged or in priority subject areas.
📍 Texas (partner universities)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship
Merit scholarship for high-achieving Delaware seniors attending an accredited undergraduate institution full time.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society
Chemathon
An annual, free-to-enter chemistry competition for high school chemistry students from Maryland, Northern Virginia, and DC, organized by area teachers and chemists and hosted at the University of Maryland College Park chemistry department.
📍 College Park, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Kansas Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering
Chemical Engineering Experience in Research (ChEER) for Youth Interns
Students ages 15–18 conduct non-hazardous chemical-engineering research under graduate or postdoctoral mentors, participate in research meetings, analyze data, and present results. The internship is unpaid and intended for students who can commute locally.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society, Detroit Section
Chemistry Olympiad (Detroit Section, USNCO)
A local qualifying round of the United States National Chemistry Olympiad in which Southeast Michigan high school chemistry students take a free exam, with top scorers advancing toward the national exam and international team selection.
📍 Southeast Michigan (nine-county Detroit Section area)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Student Leadership Program
High-school students join a year-round leadership network, attend primarily virtual monthly meetings, participate in advocacy and conservation events, and design an evidence-based environmental action project.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer
CHET Dream Big! Competition
Connecticut students submit an essay, video or artwork addressing their aspirations or how they can help their community, competing for CHET college-savings awards.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Cheyenne
Cheyenne Mayor's Youth Council
A one-year council for high school students to learn how local government works and influence policies affecting young people, working with the mayor and city officials.
📍 Cheyenne, WY📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CHI Health
CHI Health Teen Volunteer Program
Teen volunteers age 14 and up serve after-school and weekend shifts at CHI Health hospital locations across Nebraska, completing training and a one-year minimum commitment (no hands-on patient care).
📍 CHI Health locations statewide, NE📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chicago EYES on Cancer
A two-year cancer-research program combining two full-time eight-week summer laboratory experiences with school-year virtual enrichment. High-school participants receive a $5,000 taxable stipend each year.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Field Museum / Youth Conservation Action partners
Chicago Green Ambassadors Program
Paid youth interns explore environmental issues affecting Chicago communities and connect residents with neighborhood green spaces through conservation and community-engagement work. It particularly serves youth from several South and West Side neighborhoods.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA)
Chief Manuelito Scholarship Program
Merit scholarship for Navajo Nation high school graduates who meet GPA and ACT/SAT thresholds and have completed Navajo Language and Navajo Government coursework, providing $7,000 per academic year toward college.
📍 Window Rock, AZ (Navajo Nation)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Children's Hospital Colorado
Child Health Research Internship
Participants conduct child-health research with faculty mentors, attend a weekly research lecture series, and present their work at the end of the internship.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta VolunTEEN Program
The VolunTEEN Program lets high school students ages 15-18 support hospital staff and patients across an eight-week summer commitment, with at least one three-hour shift per week.
📍 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital locations, Atlanta, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Children's Mercy High School Student Volunteer Program
A summer hospital volunteer program for high schoolers at least 16 years old, supporting guest services, hospitality, and outpatient activities to make patients, families, and visitors feel welcome throughout the hospital.
📍 Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Children's Museum of New Hampshire
Children's Museum of New Hampshire Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 15+ can assist with museum programs, summer camps, student activities and drop-in STEAM experiences involving art, culture and science.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Freedom Forum
ChiPS Chips Quinn Scholars (pipeline)
Diversity journalism pipeline programs for students of color.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Idaho College of Engineering / Chobani Foundation
Chobani Engineering Scholars
A multi-year, need-based scholarship for Magic Valley students entering their first year in the University of Idaho College of Engineering, funded by the Chobani Foundation to grow the region's engineering talent pipeline.
📍 Moscow, ID (University of Idaho) / Magic Valley region📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board
Students complete community projects, leadership development, trainings and civic service in the Choctaw service area.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Christin Slaughter Memorial Scholarship
$500 scholarship for a female graduating senior from Arrowhead Park ECHS pursuing biology or pre-medical science in New Mexico.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media
A fully paid one-week workshop for 12 selected rising high school seniors with a career interest in journalism, combining classroom study, real-world reporting, and professional mentors.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
CI: Healthcare
A free, activity-filled day for 10th-12th graders exploring healthcare careers through hands-on sessions at a university campus.
📍 Central Louisiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Connecticut Association of Schools / Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
CIAC Esports
Connecticut's CIAC-sanctioned varsity esports league, run with PlayVS, competes in titles like Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, and Mario Kart across fall/winter and spring seasons, culminating in state championship events.
📍 Member high schools statewide; 2026 championship at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Experience
Free two-day residential college-immersion event with academics, admissions, financial aid, student interaction and overnight campus life.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Chicago International Film Festival / Cinema Chicago
CineYouth Film Festival
Annual festival showcasing films by filmmakers age 22 and under, featuring in-theater and online screenings, hands-on workshops, and live Q&As with industry professionals, with free public admission.
📍 FACETS, Chicago, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The CIRI Foundation
CIRI Foundation Raven Fund Jump Start Scholarship
Provides up to $2,000 per year to Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) shareholders and descendants who are concurrently enrolled in high school and college-level coursework, plus up to $500 annually for personal expenses.
📍 Statewide (CIRI Region, Southcentral Alaska)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
Citizen Diplomat Academy
A free virtual exchange program for high schoolers ages 14-18 to meet peers from Philadelphia's Sister Cities (such as Tianjin, Frankfurt, and Kobe) and build cross-cultural understanding through live sessions and activities.
📍 Philadelphia, PA (virtual)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Milwaukee Common Council / City Clerk
City of Milwaukee Youth Council
A 17-member council of Milwaukee residents ages 14-18 that meets at City Hall on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, serves a one-year term and helps allocate Community Development Block Grant youth funding.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Wichita
City of Wichita Leadership Internship Program
High-school and college students can work with city departments on areas such as planning, courts, purchasing, administration, and other public-service functions. Positions may be paid or unpaid depending on placement.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City Year
City Year Young Heroes
Volunteer service-learning Saturdays for middle and high schoolers.
📍 Multiple📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
InsideOut Literary Arts
Citywide Poets (InsideOut Literary Arts)
Free weekly after-school creative writing workshop for Detroit-area high school students, held virtually and at eight school sites. Includes poetry slams, open mics, publication in an annual anthology, an audition-based Performance Troupe, a Youth Advisory Board, and a college scholarship for seniors.
📍 Detroit, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Calista Education and Culture, Inc.
Ciutmuarluni
A youth leadership and postsecondary-readiness program for 11th and 12th graders in the Calista Region, combining Elder-led cultural immersion with college campus visits, financial-aid guidance, and career exploration.
📍 Calista Region (LKSD, LYSD, Yupiit, and Kuspuk school districts), Alaska📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Civic Spirit
Civic Spirit Civics Day
National civics competition for middle and high school students from diverse religious schools.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Westminster University Honors College
Civility Scholars High School Essay Contest
Non-partisan 600-word essay contest for Utah high school students on civil discourse in public life. The winner receives a $2,000 cash prize and finalists earn a $1,000 scholarship to Westminster University.
📍 Utah (statewide); Westminster University, Salt Lake City📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Claflin University
Claflin University Upward Bound
Free TRIO academic/college-access programming for qualifying Orangeburg/Calhoun-area students.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
The Trustees of Reservations
Claire Saltonstall Education Program (CSEP) Environmental Training Internship
A six-week, up to 20-hour-per-week internship on Martha's Vineyard rotating high school students through environmental education, stewardship management, shorebird monitoring, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture with Trustees conservation staff.
📍 Martha's Vineyard, MA📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Valley City State University
Clarinet Day
Clarinet students attend demonstrations, lessons, masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals and a university recital.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Clark Planetarium (Salt Lake County)
Clark Planetarium Youth Volunteer Program
Volunteer program for 16- and 17-year-olds who help with guest engagement, exhibit interpretation, STEAM demonstrations, public star parties and data collection. Requires a 4-hour-per-week commitment for a year, a 2-hour orientation and a $15 background check (fee waivers available).
📍 Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Clark Scholars Program
Intensive research with TTU faculty across STEM and humanities. $750 stipend, room and board covered.
📍 TX (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Clean Energy Internship Program — High School Vocational Track
Eligible Massachusetts vocational-technical high-school students can obtain paid internships with clean-energy and water-innovation employers during the academic year and summer.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
Clean Water Ambassadors High School Internship
A paid internship for a cohort of 12 high school students who learn about local environmental issues and clean water solutions, practice educating community members, take field trips and interview environmental professionals.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Clemson University
Clemson CAFLS Summer Program (SPECTRA)
A residential program for diverse students to explore agriculture and natural resource careers at Clemson.
📍 Clemson, SC⏱ 1 week📅 April 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
California Coastal Commission
Climate Storytelling Contest
Middle- and high-school students communicate their experiences and feelings about climate change through a podcast, photo essay or personal narrative essay.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Anatomy Summer Experience (CASE)
A one-week program with hands-on human cadaver anatomy labs taught by WVSOM medical school instructors, including exposure to a medical school classroom and interaction with osteopathic medical students.
📍 Lewisburg, WV📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
Closer Look: Primary Care Medicine
A free one-on-one job shadowing program for high school seniors, pairing students with primary care providers for up to 40 hours over a week.
📍 Central Louisiana📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Colorado Area Health Education Center / CU Anschutz
COAHEC HOPE Program
Colorado students participate in monthly statewide healthcare sessions on infectious disease, epidemiology, addiction medicine, behavioral health, nutrition and AI in healthcare. Completing three sessions can qualify students to apply for the HOPE Institute summer camp.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Coca-Cola Foundation
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
USD 20K college scholarships for 150 graduating seniors annually. Free to apply.
📍 Online application⏱ Senior year📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Code2College
Code2College Summer Program
Summer program for Texas students to gain technical skills and professional development.
📍 TX⏱ Various📅 February 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CodeDay
CodeDay Labs Fellowship
High school students are paired with industry mentors to build a real-world software project.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months📅 May 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Codeforces
Codeforces Educational Rounds
Free competitive programming platform with weekly contests for students worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ 2 hours📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Coding for Cancer
A four-week virtual program where students learn the R programming language and cancer biology, then carry out an individual research project with support from computational biologists.
📍 Online (Fred Hutch, Seattle, WA)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Coding it Forward
Coding it Forward Civic Innovation Corps
Summer civic-tech fellowship placing students at federal agencies (mostly college, some HS programs).
📍 United States⏱ 10 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Maine Cohen Institute for Leadership & Public Service
Cohen High School Summer Leadership Program
Rising seniors nominated by their schools attend a fully funded residential program combining college-level leadership study, public service, team-building, outdoor leadership, and interaction with prominent leaders.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Children's National Hospital
Colaco Scholar Program
One or two area high-school students spend about eight weeks in Children's National's clinical laboratory learning medical testing, shadowing pathologists/hematologists and participating in research projects.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Meharry Medical College School of Applied Computational Sciences & Fisk University
Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy
A free, NASA-funded residential week introducing high school students to robotics, data science, and immersive VR/AR/MR technologies, including programming a Sphero robot to simulate planetary orbits and building rubber-band-powered rovers.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Society of Women Engineers Central New Mexico / NMEF
Colleen Conley Memorial Scholarship
Renewable engineering scholarship worth $1,500 per year for up to four years, administered through the New Mexico Engineering Foundation.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UW-Madison School of Education
College Access Program in Education (CAPE)
A two-week residential summer experience on the UW-Madison campus for rising seniors interested in education or health professions, with a two-credit college course, college-prep seminar and exposure to School of Education research.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
QuestBridge
College Admissions Conferences (through College Prep Scholars Program)
Exclusive access to college admissions conferences as part of the College Prep Scholars Program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
College Affordability Guide
College Affordability Guide
Provides clear, correct info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree, and to offer a fresh analysis of which colleges are doing the most to make high-quality education affordable.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism / University of St. Thomas
College Essay Workshop
Twin Cities students spend four days developing a polished college or scholarship essay through brainstorming, drafting, professional mentorship, and peer review. Tuition was fully covered in 2026 and completers received a stipend toward transportation and application fees.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Chicago Botanic Garden
College First
CPS sophomores and juniors participate in a seven-week paid summer experience that combines environmental coursework with a mentored scientific investigation, field trips, and college preparation. School-year follow-up opportunities are also provided.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City University of New York / NYC Public Schools
College Now
Free dual-enrollment program allowing NYC high-school students to take CUNY courses and earn college credit before graduation.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
QuestBridge
College Prep Scholars Program
Get a head start to a top college as a high school junior with scholarships, awards, and resources designed to help you stand out in college admissions. Offers expert guidance, access to summer program scholarships, college admissions conferences, personalized support, and community.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Delaware
College Readiness Scholars Institute (CRSI)
Multi-year college-access program beginning with an intensive summer session and continuing through the school year with academic seminars, admissions guidance and personal-development programming.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
State of Alabama / CollegeCounts
CollegeCounts Scholarship
Need-based scholarship for eligible Alabama high-school seniors planning to attend an eligible Alabama college or university. Awards are listed at $4,000 for four-year institutions and $2,000 for two-year institutions.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg Public Archaeology Institute for High School Students
A week-long field program where rising 9th-12th graders work alongside Colonial Williamsburg archaeologists on excavation, site recording and interpretation, and finish by leading a site tour.
📍 Williamsburg, VA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Envirothon Colorado
Colorado Envirothon
A hands-on natural resource competition where high school teams test their knowledge in soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a rotating current environmental issue.
📍 Colorado State University Spur Campus, Denver (state competition)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado Restaurant Foundation / Colorado Restaurant Association
Colorado ProStart Student Invitational
Annual culinary and hospitality-management competition for ProStart students from 20+ Colorado high schools, competing for the Sysco Denver Hospitality Cup and scholarships.
📍 Colorado (varies by year)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium / CU Boulder College of Engineering
Colorado Space Grant Consortium - Academic Partner Programs
NASA-affiliated statewide consortium offering high schools free participation in programs like the Colorado Robotics Challenge, DemoSat, Wearables Quest, and CARMA Quest through Academic Partner status.
📍 University of Colorado Boulder (hub); 21 partner institutions statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University
Columbia Junior Science Journal
Peer-reviewed high-school-authored science journal at Columbia.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Annual (opens July, closes October)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University
Columbia Science Honors Program
Free Saturday science program for NYC-area HS students, taught by Columbia faculty.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Year-long📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Cyber Range (Virginia Tech)
Commonwealth Cyber Cup (Virginia High School Capture the Flag Competition)
Virginia's statewide high school cybersecurity capture-the-flag competition in which teachers sign up student teams to compete in a practice round and an in-person final round to be named the best team in the state.
📍 Virginia (final round at Germanna Community College, Culpeper)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Commonwealth Foundation
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Global short-fiction prize open to writers from Commonwealth countries.
📍 Commonwealth countries📅 November🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Community Foundation Scholars Program
Scholarships for central-Oklahoma graduating seniors who demonstrate meaningful school and community involvement.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Compassionate Communities: Mental Health Training Program
High-school students receive mental-health awareness training and Teen Mental Health First Aid instruction designed to help them recognize and respond appropriately to signs of mental-health or substance-use challenges among peers.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Computational Biology
Pre-College Computational Biology program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
US House of Representatives
Congressional App Challenge
District-level coding competition open to every US high schooler.
📍 All US districts⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of Congressman Jared Golden
Congressional App Challenge - Maine's 2nd District
An annual nationwide coding competition, open to middle and high school students residing in Maine's 2nd Congressional District, who design an original app for desktop, web, mobile, or other devices in any programming language.
📍 Maine's 2nd Congressional District📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
US House
Congressional Art Competition
Nationwide art contest with winning art displayed in the US Capitol.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Congressional Award Foundation
Congressional Award
Award for ages 14-23 earning bronze/silver/gold for service, fitness, expedition, and personal development.
📍 United States⏱ 6-24 months📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
U.S. House of Representatives Members
Congressional District Office Internship
High school students can intern in their local district offices to learn about constituent services and local policy.
📍 Local Districts⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of North Dakota / Williston Basin CTE Center
CONNECT Energy Education Workshop
Juniors and seniors explore engineering and energy careers through hands-on activities with UND and regional energy professionals.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Minnesota MnCAV Ecosystem
Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Camp
Students explore self-driving vehicles, drones, teleoperations, programming, and transportation technology, including building and programming an automated electric skateboard. The camp is free and lunch is provided.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Connecticut Children's Teen Volunteer Program
A hospital volunteer program for teens 15 and older who commit to weekly shifts assisting with clerical work, hospitality, play activities, and pet therapy support, with a dedicated summer track running late June through August.
📍 Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Debate Association (CDA)
Connecticut Debate Association
Connecticut's statewide high school debate league runs a season of monthly tournaments in college parliamentary format, culminating in State Finals open only to debaters who qualified through earlier league competition.
📍 Tournaments hosted at member high schools statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DECA Inc. / Connecticut DECA
Connecticut DECA
Connecticut's chartered DECA association serves 58 chapters and over 2,500 student and adviser members statewide, running state and regional conferences and competitive events in marketing, management, finance, and entrepreneurship that feed into the International Career Development Conference.
📍 Statewide (58 CT high school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut's Conservation Districts
Connecticut Envirothon
A team-based environmental science competition for Connecticut high schoolers covering soils, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and a rotating current-issue scenario, with the state-winning team earning a paid trip to the national NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Statewide, with training workshops (e.g., at UConn) and a spring field-day competition📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CT FBLA
Connecticut FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Connecticut's chapter of the national business student organization, running a Fall Leadership Conference and a Spring Leadership Conference with competitive business events, officer elections, and networking workshops for local chapters statewide.
📍 Berlin, CT (state office); chapters and conferences statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National FFA Organization / Connecticut Agricultural Science and Technology Education
Connecticut FFA
Connecticut's state FFA association pairs classroom agricultural science instruction with supervised agricultural experience and leadership development, offering Career Development Event and Leadership Development Event competitions plus an annual state convention.
📍 Statewide (chapters at CT agricultural science high school programs)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Democracy Center / National History Day affiliate
Connecticut History Day
An affiliate of National History Day, Connecticut History Day engages thousands of middle and high school students in original historical research presented as exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers, or performances at regional and state contests, with top finishers advancing to the national contest.
📍 Regional contests in Fairfield, Storrs/Mansfield, New Haven, Norwich, and Torrington; state contest in Hartford📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CT HOSA
Connecticut HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
Connecticut's HOSA affiliate holds Fall and Spring State Leadership Conferences where high school health-science students compete in 25+ events such as Biomedical Debate, EMT, and Medical Innovation, with winners advancing toward the International Leadership Conference.
📍 Statewide (health science program chapters); conferences held each March📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Invention Convention / NextMinds
Connecticut Invention Convention
Students design inventions addressing real problems and advance through school, independent or community pathways to Connecticut's statewide invention competition.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association / CT Hospitality Educational Foundation
Connecticut ProStart Invitational
Connecticut's statewide culinary and restaurant-management competition for ProStart high school students, who prepare a three-course meal in 60 minutes on two butane burners (Culinary track) or pitch a restaurant concept to industry judges (Management track), competing for college scholarships.
📍 Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Conrad Foundation
Conrad Challenge
International innovation and entrepreneurship competition addressing global grand challenges.
📍 USA finals + global teams📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association
Conservation Corps
Conservation crews for youth and young adults.
📍 Various US locations📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Conservation Discovery Corps
Year-long teen volunteer program combining field-conservation research, zoological career exploration and public conservation education.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
Coolidge Connecticut Open
High-school students compete in four rounds of structured debate, with undefeated varsity competitors earning invitations to the national Coolidge Cup.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
Coolidge Scholarship
The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. This one-of-a-kind scholarship may be used at any accredited college or university in the U.S.
📍 Any accredited college or university in the U.S.📅 Not yet announced — officially listed as TBD on the Coolidge Scholars' own site🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cornell Tech
Cornell Tech Summer Innovation Intensives
A three-week, non-residential summer program on Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus where high schoolers build an AI-powered product while learning ethical coding, data science, and product innovation from Cornell Tech faculty.
📍 New York, NY (Cornell Tech, Roosevelt Island)📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Nebraska
Cornhusker Boys' State
A weeklong civics and leadership program since 1938 where rising high school seniors build a model city, county, and state government, electing officials and running a mock legislature and judiciary on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
📍 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Nebraska
Cornhusker Girls State
About 400 Nebraska high school juniors spend a week on the UNL campus building and running a mock city, county, and state government, participating in elections, legislative sessions, and mock trials, with little or no cost to families.
📍 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Coro Northern California
Coro Youth Fellows
Civic leadership fellowships for young people exploring careers in public affairs.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Helena-West Helena School District
Cougar Next Level Scholars Institute
Advanced interdisciplinary program combining research, STEM, literature, leadership, civic innovation, seminars and innovation labs around real-world problems.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Detroit Zoo
Counselor in Training — Safari Camp
Teens ages 15–17 mentor younger Safari Camp participants while developing leadership, education, and camp-counseling skills. Applications for summer 2027 open in March 2027.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE)
Propose, design, and conduct your own research project, working on topics and seeking answers to questions that are currently unknown to the specific discipline.
📍 On Campus or Online📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery Legal Art Contest
Students interpret a legal theme through an essay, poem, visual artwork or musical composition. The 2026 theme was "Equity: What Does it Mean to You?"
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Creative Art Society (Southeastern Michigan)
Creative Art Society Visual Art Scholarships
Three $750 scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors, alumni, or residents of Michigan's Downriver communities pursuing visual arts degrees such as fine arts, art education, architecture, graphic design, or artistic welding.
📍 Downriver Michigan (Wayne County)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center
Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival
High-school students submit and present essays, poetry, spoken word, fiction, performing arts, or visual art before audiences of students and professors during this annual interdisciplinary festival.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Temple University
Creative Scholars
Year-long full-scholarship Saturday art/design program for Philadelphia students with financial need.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 10, 12
Selective
Iowa State University College of Design
Creators of Tomorrow
Students interested in art, planning, and design complete a hands-on multidisciplinary project, interact with design professionals and current students, tour campus, and receive college and financial-aid guidance. The one-day program is free and offered in spring and fall.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line Counselor
Volunteers over 18 (or high school seniors) provide mental health support via text; requires 200 hours of commitment.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Washington University in St. Louis Cancer Research Club
CRISPr — Cancer Research Inspiring Future Scientists Program
Nine-week cancer-research internship pairing high-school students with WashU biomedical research labs for roughly 40 hours/week, plus workshops and a final symposium. Participants receive a $4,800 stipend.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges Teen Summer Volunteer Program
High school students in grades 9-12 can join one of three summer teen volunteer tracks - Grounds Crew, Youth & Family Art Crew, or the Junior Instructor Program - developing leadership and communication skills while earning service hours.
📍 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Code.org
CS Principles from Code.org
High-quality AP Computer Science preparation and advanced CS courses.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
CS Scholars
Pre-College CS Scholars program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Colorado School of Mines
CS@Mines Cyber Camp — Exploring IoT: Data Security and Privacy
Two-day camp covering IoT security, privacy, networking, data analysis, cyberattacks and AI-based defensive techniques through hands-on activities.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines Department of Computer Science
CS@Mines High School Research Internship
High-school students join Mines faculty research groups in areas such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and computing. Remote and in-person placements can be available.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard University / edX
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Harvard's world-famous introduction to computer science. While self-paced on edX, it offers a certificate and a deep dive into programming.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Self-paced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard / edX
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to computer science from Harvard University available for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Self-paced — no fixed deadline🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
CTAHR Summer Research Institute
Eight-week program where students conduct original faculty-mentored laboratory, field or library research addressing food systems, sustainability, community resilience and related problems, then present at a research symposium.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northern Arizona University ¡MIRA!
Cultural and Academic Research Experience (CARE)
High-school students conduct hands-on STEMM research with mentors while receiving college-preparation training. In-person participants can receive housing, meals, and a stipend up to $4,500; a virtual research track is also offered.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Central Washington University High School Partnerships
CWU College in the High School
Students in grades 9-12 take CWU university courses taught by approved high school teachers on their own high school campus and earn transferable CWU credit on an official transcript.
📍 Partner high schools across Washington State📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
CyberWyoming Alliance / Wyoming State Library
Cyber-in-a-Box School Video Challenge
An annual school video challenge where teams of up to five students in grades 6-12 script, film and edit a short video; the 2026-2027 topic is Exploring AI and Data Privacy. Teams receive $50-$100 for equipment (or pizza) plus prizes.
📍 Wyoming (school-based teams)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cyber.org
Cyber.org Range Competitions
Free cybersecurity courses, range exercises, and competitions for K-12.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
University of Mary
CyberConnect CTF
Four-person high-school teams solve cybersecurity challenges in a capture-the-flag competition for cash prizes.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho National Laboratory
CyberCore Camp
High-school students complete hands-on cybersecurity and computing activities connected to INL's national-security and cyber research. Free INL STEM Scholars camp for grades 9-12; the 2026 sessions (June 15-18 and June 22-25) have passed and registration is closed. Check INL's STEM Scholars page for 2027.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CyberPatriot
CyberPatriot
A cybersecurity competition for high school teams to learn and apply cybersecurity skills in a virtual environment. Teams compete to find and fix vulnerabilities in simulated operating systems.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Air & Space Forces Association
CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense
National youth cybersecurity competition with middle and high school divisions.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Gallatin College Montana State University
Cybersecurity Summer Initiative Camp
Free summer cybersecurity camp where students explore networks, files, cyber hygiene and security through hands-on activities and a concluding challenge. The program includes high-school students within its grades 6–12 range.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Cynthia Chapman Memorial Scholarship
Northern Nevada seniors with a background in music who intend to pursue a science-related degree may apply; preference is given to Eureka County applicants.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Michigan Department of Chemistry
D-RISE
Cass Technical High School students spend seven weeks doing full-time mentored chemistry research while living on the U-M campus during the week.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
DAAD
DAAD RISE Germany
Summer research internships in Germany for undergraduates from North America, UK, and Ireland; monthly stipend + travel.
📍 Various📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Selective
State of South Dakota
Dakota Corps Scholarship
A full-tuition scholarship for South Dakota high school graduates who commit to working in a critical-need occupation in South Dakota after completing an undergraduate program at a participating in-state college.
📍 South Dakota colleges statewide📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Dallas Public Library
Dallas Youth Poet Laureate
A one-year laureate position for poets ages 15-20 who live in or attend school in Dallas, chosen through the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition. The laureate receives a $1,000 scholarship and gives public readings.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Maine Community Foundation
Daniel Cardillo Charitable Fund
Maine young people needing financial assistance can receive support to pursue meaningful artistic, academic, athletic, vocational, or experiential opportunities outside traditional school.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Daniels Fund
Daniels Scholarship Program
Major scholarship for graduating seniors demonstrating character, leadership, service, and academic promise. Colorado students are eligible.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Education
Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conferences
Seven regional conferences for middle- and high-school students with disabilities featuring student-led workshops on self-advocacy, leadership, IEP participation, college and workplace rights. Attendance is free.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
DASH into Dentistry
A free one-day program for 11th-12th graders, including charter bus transportation, offering a day at the LSU School of Dentistry.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Data Science Academy
On-campus academy focused on data science principles and applications.
📍 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Data Science Competition
A global competition for high school students centered around data science challenges.
📍 Remote📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of the District of Columbia
Data STEAAM Summer Camp
Six-week business-intelligence and research program where DC students use data analytics to study agriculture, energy, architecture and public-policy problems while working in university labs and research farms.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Davidson Institute
Davidson Fellows
Scholarships of USD 10K, 25K, and 50K for students under 18 with significant work in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.
📍 Online application⏱ Project-based📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Davidson College
Davidson Summer Promise Program
Free residential college-access program that begins before ninth grade and brings participants back to Davidson for annual summer enrichment through high school.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Davis United World College Scholars
Davis Projects for Peace
$10,000 grants for undergraduates worldwide to design and implement grassroots peace projects.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
Day In the Life (UAMS Health Careers)
A one-day event for high school seniors to shadow healthcare professionals and tour medical facilities, giving a first-hand look at day-to-day work in various health careers.
📍 UAMS Regional Campuses, statewide Arkansas📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
Day with the Doctors
A free one-day, campus-based program for 11th-12th graders featuring 8+ rotations including anatomy lab visits to expose students to medical careers.
📍 Central Louisiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
DC College Access Program
DC CAP University Partner Scholarship
Eligible DC public and charter seniors can receive renewable DC CAP funding combined with additional aid from participating university partners and long-term college-success coaching.
📍 DC🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Career and Technical Education DC / FBLA-PBL
DC FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
The high-school division of Future Business Leaders of America, giving DC students in business CTE programs access to leadership development, business competitions, and local-to-national networking and travel.
📍 Washington, DC (chapters at Friendship Collegiate PCS, Jackson-Reed HS, and other DC high schools)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Career and Technical Education DC / HOSA
DC HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
A CTSO for DC students in health science and biomedical programs, offering competitive events, health career exploration, and leadership conferences that build toward the international HOSA conference.
📍 Washington, DC (chapters at McKinley Technology, Coolidge, Jackson-Reed, and other DC high schools)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC DOES
DC Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment
Free paid summer jobs for DC youth 14-24. Wide range of placements.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 6 weeks📅 Feb-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Career and Technical Education DC / SkillsUSA
DC SkillsUSA
A partnership of DC students, CTE teachers, and industry professionals building workplace and technical skills through competitions in trades and technical occupations, from culinary arts to audio/radio production.
📍 Washington, DC (chapters at Roosevelt, Coolidge, Anacostia, Ballou, and other DC high schools)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
DC STEM Fair
DC students present original STEM research at the District's official science and engineering fair. High-school overall winners and runners-up can advance toward Regeneron ISEF.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Career and Technical Education DC / TSA
DC TSA (Technology Student Association)
A STEM-focused CTSO for DC students at chapters including Cardozo and H.D. Woodson high schools, running competitive events in areas like technical design, debating tech issues, and extemporaneous speech.
📍 Washington, DC (chapters at Cardozo and H.D. Woodson high schools)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Children and Families
DCF Youth Council
Youth ages 15–23 with current or past DCF involvement serve two-year terms, helping redesign programs, influence policy and present recommendations directly to state leadership. Recruitment for the 2026–27 term is active.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Debate Mate
Debate Mate
After-school debate mentoring by university student coaches, delivered to state schools across the UK and now internationally; free for participating schools.
📍 UK + Global partner schools⏱ School-year program📅 School enrolment: fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
DECA Inc.
DECA Competitive Events (ICDC)
One of the world's largest business competitions for students to demonstrate their professionalism in multiple event categories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 January 10🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Decision for Dentistry
Three-phase program for 45 NJ high-school students featuring dental impressions, clinical observation, mentorship and an admissions symposium. The 2026–27 program dates are already scheduled.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines
DECTech Intern
High-school interns assist Mines outreach programs and help deliver computing and technology activities for younger K–8 students.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, 4-H Youth Development
Delaware 4-H State Teen Council
Leadership program in which Delaware 4-H members age 13 and older serve as program ambassadors, plan community service and philanthropic activities, and lead the annual State Teen Conference.
📍 University of Delaware, Newark, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Department of Education
Delaware ArcGIS StoryMap Competition
Students use maps, data, images and narrative to investigate a real issue. The 2026 high-school theme focused on sustainability challenges in students' communities.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Community Foundation
Delaware Community Foundation Scholarship Program
A common application matches students to dozens of scholarships based on school, county, intended field, financial need and other criteria.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Delaware DECA
Delaware DECA
State association of DECA preparing high school students in marketing, business, finance, and hospitality pathways for competitive events and leadership conferences.
📍 Statewide (Delaware)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Envirothon / New Castle Conservation District
Delaware Envirothon
Statewide environmental problem-solving competition for high school teams of five, testing knowledge of aquatic ecology, soils, forestry, wildlife, and current environmental issues through hands-on stations and an oral presentation.
📍 Delaware (rotating host site)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Delaware FCCLA
State chapter of FCCLA offering leadership conferences and competitive events in family and consumer sciences for Delaware middle and high school students.
📍 Statewide (Delaware)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware FFA Association / Delaware Department of Education
Delaware FFA Association
Statewide agricultural education organization for middle and high school students, offering Career Development Events, leadership conferences, and participation at the Delaware State Fair.
📍 Statewide (Delaware)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Law Related Education Center / Delaware Judiciary
Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition
Statewide competition where student teams argue a case as attorneys and witnesses before real judges and scoring juries over two days at Wilmington's Leonard L. Williams Justice Center.
📍 Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Historical Society
Delaware History Day
Year-long historical research and creative expression program for students in grades 6-12, culminating in a statewide competition judged on research quality, theme connection, and presentation.
📍 Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware HOSA
Delaware HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
State chapter of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, offering competitive events, community service, and leadership development for students pursuing healthcare careers.
📍 Statewide (Delaware)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Press Association
Delaware Press Association High School Communications Contest
Annual statewide journalism and communications contest for Delaware student writers, photographers, and media makers, with first-place winners advancing to a national competition.
📍 Delaware📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Restaurant Association / Delaware Restaurant Foundation
Delaware ProStart Invitational
The state's premier secondary school competition in culinary arts and restaurant management, where Delaware ProStart student teams compete for scholarships and a spot at the National ProStart Invitational.
📍 Delaware📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
PlayVS / Delaware Department of Education, in partnership with NFHS Network
Delaware Scholastic Esports League
Officially sanctioned high school esports league where Delaware teams compete in titles such as Rocket League, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Overwatch, and Valorant.
📍 Delaware (statewide, online competition)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA Delaware
Delaware SkillsUSA
State association of SkillsUSA, a career and technical student organization offering skills competitions and leadership conferences for students in trades, technical, and health science pathways.
📍 Statewide (Delaware)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State of Delaware
Delaware State Board of Education Student Member
One high-school student serves a full one-year term as a non-voting State Board member and contributes student perspectives on curriculum, graduation requirements, equity and accountability.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Delaware Teen Science Café
Free teen-only science events featuring local STEM experts, hands-on activities, collaborative discussion and topics ranging from astronomy to biology.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Delaware Teen Science Café Leadership Team
Students choose Science Café themes, work with STEM speakers, market events and host programs for other Delaware teens while earning community-service hours.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Theatre Company
Delaware Young Playwrights Festival
Students develop original plays, receive professional critique and revise their work; finalists participate in workshops leading to a professional public performance.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Delegate Scholarship
Maryland high-school seniors can apply through their State Delegate for awards ranging from $200 to $14,086 for 2026–27.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage WWAMI School of Medical Education
Della Keats Health Sciences Program
Four-week residential health-sciences program in which students experience college life, complete health-related coursework and research projects, and participate in multiple medical or healthcare job shadows.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Henry Ford Health
Department of Surgery High School Mentorship Program — Summer Internship
Detroit-area high-school students receive healthcare mentorship and hands-on exposure; selected participants complete a seven-week summer internship with a professional mentor and receive a $1,000 stipend.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Derivative of Thrills Summer Institute
Free selective program using roller-coaster design and related problems to explore mathematics and engineering concepts.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteer program for teens ages 13-17 offering short-term, seasonal, or ongoing roles across garden departments, building leadership, communication, and teamwork skills alongside staff and adult volunteers.
📍 Phoenix, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Design
Pre-College Design program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Reach Higher Montana
Design a Sticker, Win a Scholarship
Montana students create an original sticker design intended to inspire other high-school students. Awards range from $500 to $1,500, with additional funding for the winning students' school or community art programs.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NC State College of Design
Design Connections Residential Experience
Free residential design program for North Carolina students with limited access to design education; participants complete an interdisciplinary studio project.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Design Hive
Paid youth-led design initiative where students collaborate with professional designers, create projects and develop public programming. The 2027 cohort runs January–June.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering
Design Thinkers Camp: Innovate, Design & Optimize
Students tackle engineering-design problems involving human-AI teaming, virtual-reality driving technology, physiological sensors, 3D scanning, and human-centered systems.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship
Diamond Challenge
Global high school entrepreneurship pitch competition with $100k+ in prizes.
📍 Newark, DE⏱ Academic year📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
James Madison University School of Professional & Continuing Education
DIGITAL (Dukes Inspiring Girls Into Technology Across Limits)
One-day technology workshop day for grades 9-12 with five tracks (App Development, Creative, Programming, New Ideas including AI ethics, CS Overview), a keynote talk and a student panel on college.
📍 Harrisonburg, VA📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New Hampshire
Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy
Free immersive academy combining science, engineering, arts and mathematics with study of the Black experience and New Hampshire history. Day and residential options were offered in 2026.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business
Discover Accounting
Free residential business program where students meet accounting professionals, tour workplaces, solve a business challenge and experience campus life. Participation can also help students qualify for additional accounting scholarships.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Discover Biomedical Research Summer Program
A free two-week, in-person program where high schoolers in grades 10-12 work alongside Vanderbilt graduate students in a lab setting, learning pipetting, data collection, and experimental design while exploring neuroscience, genetics, and molecular biology.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Mayo Clinic
Discover Mayo Clinic (Career Exploration for High School Students)
Seven-week career exploration series for high school students in grades 10-12 interested in health-related careers, typically held on Monday nights in October and November, with hands-on in-person or virtual options. Apply via Airtable form.
📍 Rochester, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Discover STEM
Students spend a week exploring current STEM research through laboratory tours, experiments, technology demonstrations, faculty presentations, and career discussions. Attendance is free.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Museum of Discovery
Discovery Camp Counselor
Teen volunteers assist museum educators with children's summer Discovery Camps and gain experience supporting informal STEM education.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program
Rising seniors age 16+ spend eight weeks working roughly 40 hours per week in a C.S. Mott Center research laboratory studying areas such as reproductive biology, immunology, oncology, toxicology, and precision medicine.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UC Berkeley ATDP
Distinguished Scholars
Program recognizing accomplished ATDP students.
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
DNR Internship Program
Paid and volunteer 10-12 week internships (summer and fall cycles) for high school and college students across DNR divisions such as fisheries, forestry, parks, and wildlife, based primarily in Annapolis with statewide fieldwork.
📍 Annapolis, MD (statewide fieldwork)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
EducationQuest Foundation
Do the FAFSA Nebraska Scholarship
Seventy-five Nebraska seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships for Nebraska colleges or universities after completing the 2027–28 FAFSA and a short application.
📍 NE🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Southwest Idaho Area Health Education Center
Doctor for a Day
A health-career exploration event for high school students, especially from rural or underrepresented backgrounds, featuring presentations from medical professionals and hands-on activities like using real medical equipment and practicing CPR.
📍 Southwest Idaho📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MSF USA
Doctors Without Borders Student Outreach
Student outreach, awareness campaigns, and clubs supporting MSF's humanitarian work.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Don Carano Legacy Scholarship
Supports graduating seniors who are dependents of qualifying Caesars Entertainment team members meeting employment requirements.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Grand Teton Music Festival
Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition
A scholarship competition for graduating high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho or Montana pursuing a music degree; applicants submit a pre-screened video and semi-finalists perform for a panel in Jackson.
📍 Jackson, WY📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Google
Doodle for Google
Annual K-12 art contest with college scholarships.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Dorothy Isaac Teen Volunteer Scholarship
Scholarship for graduating seniors who have completed substantial volunteer service at Nationwide Children's.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
DoSomething.org
DoSomething Campaigns
Volunteer campaigns with scholarship sweepstakes for participants.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Doyon Foundation
Doyon Foundation High School Award
A scholarship for high school students who are Doyon, Limited shareholders or their children, covering the actual cost of a college-credit course or program up to $1,000.
📍 Statewide (Doyon Region, Interior Alaska)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Umpqua Community College SBDC
Dream It | Do It Summer Camp
A free three-day entrepreneurship day camp limited to 25 Douglas County high school students in grades 10-12, who work with business professionals to develop and pitch a business plan by the end of camp.
📍 Roseburg, OR (Umpqua Community College)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northeastern State University
DroneXperience Summer Academy
Drone technology, flight, engineering and applied STEM.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
Dual Credit / Dual Enrollment Scholarship
Covers tuition and fees for financially eligible Missouri high-school students taking approved dual-credit or dual-enrollment courses. The fall 2026/spring 2027 application is currently open.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bank of North Dakota
Dual Credit Assistance
Income-eligible North Dakota students can receive assistance covering dual-credit application fees, tuition, books and related course costs.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books
Duane Stein Short Story Contest (Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books)
A short story contest open to Wisconsin middle and high school students, who submit an original short story of up to 2,500 words for a panel of former students of educator Duane Stein.
📍 Wisconsin (email submission)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University
Duke STAR Program (Summer Training in Academic Research)
A high school track of Duke's Summer Training in Academic Research program at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, where students work on an original, hypothesis-driven clinical research project under a Duke faculty mentor with the goal of co-authoring a peer-reviewed manuscript.
📍 Durham, NC📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Marshall University / Duke Clinical Research Institute
Duke-Marshall STAR Program
A cohort of four trainees works with Marshall University core faculty through short courses on research methods and medical writing, professional development, possible clinical shadowing and communication training.
📍 Huntington, Point Pleasant and Logan, WV📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
City of Durham
Durham YouthWorks
Paid career-development program connecting Durham youth with work experiences, professional training and employer projects in several career pathways.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
DVR Pre-Employment Transition Summer Work Programs
Eligible students with disabilities participate in workplace-readiness training and work-based learning; multiple 2026 providers offered four-week paid placements with Delaware employers.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
DVR Youth Summer Work Programs
Eligible students participate in paid 4–6 week work experiences through school districts, community agencies, parks, local businesses, and other employers while developing job-readiness skills. Many programs serve students with IEPs, 504 plans, disabilities, or potential DVR eligibility.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kapiʻolani Community College
Early Admit Program
Dual-credit program letting qualified Hawaii high schoolers take college courses that count toward both high school and college credit at no cost, provided they place into ENG 100 and MATH 82.
📍 Honolulu, Oʻahu (Kapiʻolani CC campus and online)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community College System of New Hampshire
Early College at Your High School
College courses are taught inside participating New Hampshire high schools for both high-school and community-college credit. State funding currently makes up to two dual-credit courses per year tuition-free for eligible students in grades 10–12.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
City of Milwaukee and Employ Milwaukee
Earn & Learn Summer Youth Internship Program (Milwaukee)
Seven-week paid summer internship placing Milwaukee youth ages 14-24 with employers in fields including health care, culinary and city departments, with preparation sessions before placement.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EarthCorps
EarthCorps Youth Service Days
Free volunteer environmental-restoration days in the Pacific Northwest.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EarthEcho International
EarthEcho Water Challenge
Global citizen-science program monitoring local water quality with thousands of student volunteers.
📍 Global⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
NHIAA / Eastern Propane & Oil
Eastern Propane & Oil Student-Athlete Scholarship
Seniors at NHIAA member schools who participate in at least one varsity activity can compete for $1,000 scholarships toward college or career training.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
ECHO E-Team (High School Leadership Program)
A year-long paid internship for Vermont students in grades 9-12 who engage museum visitors with science and engineering activities and exhibit interpretation at ECHO in Burlington, with weekly shifts and Wednesday meetings.
📍 ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Maritime Aquarium
ECHO Teen Volunteer Program
Teens participate in conservation education, touch-tank interpretation, mobile exhibitions, community science and career shadowing through a tiered school-year volunteer program.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota The Raptor Center
Ecosystems of STEM Careers High School Internship
Minneapolis and Saint Paul public-school students complete a four-week paid STEM internship with conservation-focused projects and field trips. The 2026 program paid $18 per hour.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
EDU Film Festival (formerly hosted by IFP Minnesota/FilmNorth)
EDU Film Festival
Minnesota's only school-sponsored, statewide high school film festival, screening 60-120 student-made short films (documentaries, dramas, comedies, animations) at a two-day event with industry roundtables, equipment demos, and meet-and-greets with college film programs.
📍 Main Cinema, Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Park Service
Education & Service: Kids & Teens Learn & Serve Activities
Activities for kids and teens to learn and serve within the National Park Service.
📍 National Parks across the US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Education Outreach Day (Regeneron ISEF)
Education Outreach Day brings local middle and high school students to ISEF to meet the ISEF Finalists, participate in STEM activities, and create their own scientific questions.
📍 Phoenix, AZ (2026)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education
Education Quest (Seattle Public Schools)
Paid summer internship in which high school students support and supervise younger students in Seattle elementary summer school, helping with basic academic skills and working alongside teachers and instructional assistants.
📍 Seattle elementary schools (North, Southeast and Southwest regions), WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Education Student Accounts (ESA+)
State scholarship program helps eligible K–12 students with qualifying disabilities pay for educational services and approved expenses. Note: new applications are closed for 2026-27.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others
Provides tuition assistance to qualifying Delaware youth whose parent died in qualifying military/state service or was declared missing in action or a prisoner of war.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR)
Graduating high-school seniors undertake ten weeks of mentored cancer research in laboratory, clinical, or database-based projects and present their work. The program provides a stipend and includes a longer-term research-development component.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
EducationQuest Foundation
EducationQuest Scavenger Hunt Scholarship
Nebraska students complete an online EducationQuest scavenger hunt after creating a ScholarshipQuest profile. Two students receive $500 contributions to a 529 college-savings plan.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Educator Support Scholarship — Undergraduate Programs
Supports Delaware students preparing for high-need teaching fields such as math, science, special education, bilingual education and world languages.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Educators Rising Oregon
Educators Rising Oregon
A statewide network guiding Oregon high schoolers considering teaching careers, offering a free virtual campus, performance-based micro-credentials, chapter competitions, and access to the Educators Rising National Conference.
📍 Statewide, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) / PennWest University
Educators Rising PA Regional Conference
A one-day conference for high school students exploring careers in education, featuring hands-on learning sessions, leadership development, and conversations with current and aspiring educators, hosted across PennWest's Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses.
📍 Clarion / California / Edinboro, PA (PennWest University campuses)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Edward Arciniega Scholarship
For graduating Churchill County seniors intending to attend a two- or four-year college who have studied a foreign language for at least four years.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Brooklyn College / partner organizations
EELS — Environment, Ecology & Learning for Sustainability
Fourteen-month environmental-science internship with training, field research and up to approximately $4,000 in stipends.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
EGLE Environmental Service Award — High School Division
Michigan high-school students, groups, or classes are recognized for environmental projects that produce tangible benefits such as habitat restoration, pollution reduction, energy conservation, or Great Lakes protection.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The University of Kansas Health System
ELEVATE High School Internship
Juniors and seniors at affiliated high schools make a semester-long commitment and gain exposure to clinical and nonclinical healthcare careers through observational and limited hands-on work.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Mary
Emerging Engineers
Students design and build an engineering project, then compete with other teams while interacting with university engineering faculty and students.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Emerging Leaders of Color (ELOC)
Free eight-month pathway program of monthly Saturday sessions (September to April) for underrepresented high school students, covering entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, finance, HR, supply chain and MIS with faculty, networking, mentorship from Carlson students and college prep. Meals and parking covered.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Emory Healthcare
Emory Healthcare VolunTEEN Program
High school students ages 16-18 volunteer weekly at an Emory Healthcare hospital of their choice for an eight-week summer program, attending speaker sessions and tours alongside hands-on department support.
📍 Emory Healthcare hospitals, Atlanta metro area, GA📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Emory University
Emory Pipeline Collaborative
Free pipeline program for Atlanta-area students interested in health professions.
📍 GA⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Council on the Arts / NYS
Empire State Arts Scholarship
Need-based funding helps New York students participate in approved arts education programs. Grades 9–12 are within the eligible grade range. Note: waitlist-only for summer 2026.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Bothell Collaborative for Socio-Ecological Engagement (CoSEE)
EnCAP High School Scholars Program (UW Bothell CoSEE)
A five-week, field-based, credit-bearing summer program for rising 10th-12th graders exploring green career pathways in Washington State through the Environmental Careers Preparedness Program.
📍 Bothell, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Energizing Young Voters
Energizing Young Voters Scholarship
New Jersey seniors compete for $1,500 individual scholarships through civic-engagement and youth-voting activities; the program also offers a larger group award.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UNC Institute for the Environment / UNC Physics Department
Energy LEAP (Literacy, Engagement and Action Program)
A free week-long summer program at UNC-Chapel Hill's Phillips Hall where high schoolers from Orange, Durham, Chatham, and Alamance counties build hydropower devices, test solar panels, design wind turbines, and tour energy facilities to examine current and future energy use.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maryland Clark School / USMSM
Engineer Your Career: Robotics STEM Summer Camp
Southern Maryland high-school students design, build, and program robots while exploring 3D printing, coding, microprocessors, and human-machine interaction. The camp is free.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Academy of Engineering
EngineerGirl Writing Contest
Annual essay contest with cash prizes for K–12 students.
📍 Online📅 Not yet announced — next contest not yet posted🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Boise State University College of Engineering
Engineering & Science Festival
Students explore robotics, circuitry, chemistry, engineering, 3D printing and other STEM fields through demonstrations, hands-on activities and presentations from university and industry participants.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UNM Engineering Student Success Center
Engineering and Computing Summer Academy
A no-cost UNM program introducing high schoolers to engineering and computer science through hands-on activities, with a non-residential option in June and a residential Transportation Institute in June/July; students meet engineering faculty and industry professionals.
📍 Albuquerque, NM📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Johns Hopkins University
Engineering Innovation–Johns Hopkins Summer Jobs Program
Baltimore City and County students take an Engineering Innovation course and receive an additional Whiting School job placement. Participants are paid $15 per hour for up to 25 hours per week.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota State University, Mankato (Engineering Center of Excellence)
Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC)
Teams of 3-12 students in the Senior Division (grades 9-12) design and build a complex machine from everyday objects to complete a themed, multi-step task, judged on a team journal, presentation, and machine performance at regional contests leading to a state Championship hosted by MNSU Mankato.
📍 Mankato, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UA Little Rock
Engineering Scholars Program
One-week residential experience featuring engineering projects, laboratory sessions, robotics, industry exposure, facility tours, and college-preparation advising.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Entrepreneurs Club
Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge (ECVC)
A high school startup competition where student teams build real companies and pitch on stage at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium for a share of $10,000 in cash awards.
📍 Sacramento, CA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Misericordia University
Entrepreneurship Camp
Business/entrepreneurship camp.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Maine Audubon
Environmental Education Assistant
Teens age 15+ assist Maine Audubon educators with summer camps, help implement lessons and outdoor activities, serve as role models for younger campers, and build environmental-education and leadership skills.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Tech
Environmental Engineering Summer Camp
Fully funded residential camp with field and laboratory work involving water, environmental restoration, drones, wastewater and environmental-engineering design. Montana Tech has stated plans to bring the camp back for another summer.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Raritan Headwaters Association
Environmental Leaders Academy (ELA)
A free, fully scholarship-funded week-long residential program at The Pingry School for rising 10th-12th graders, combining guest speakers, hands-on conservation fieldwork, and evening leadership activities focused on watershed stewardship.
📍 Pottersville, NJ (The Pingry School)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Environmental Stewardship Institute
A paid environmental leadership fellowship for Minnesota high schoolers combining a two-month summer intensive learning from environmental experts and visiting ecologically important Mississippi River sites with a school-year Youth Council for continued leadership and independent capstone projects addressing community environmental concerns.
📍 Twin Cities, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Humanities / MD Two Fifty
Envision Maryland: A Statewide High School Essay Competition
Maryland students submit a maximum-300-word vision of what Maryland should look like 50 years from now. County/grade winners earn $75, with statewide awards of $300, $200, and $100.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Weber State University Center for Technology Outreach
Envisioneering Summer Bridge
A seven-week college experience providing two free engineering and technology college classes, hands-on activities, tutoring, mentoring, and industry field trips for high school students.
📍 Ogden, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
US EPA
EPA Citizen Science Programs
Hands-on environmental citizen science projects for students.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
US EPA
EPA P3 Student Design Competition
Sustainability design competition (mostly college, some K-12 partner tracks).
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
EPIC — Environmental Pathways to Informed Careers
Paid spring internship specifically for Trenton Central High School students, exposing interns to DEP careers while developing technical, professional, and networking skills. Applications open in the fall.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
European Space Agency
ESA Education for Schools
Free space-science education projects, CanSat, Astro Pi for European school students.
📍 Europe⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Essentials of Entrepreneurship
A program exploring key principles of entrepreneurship.
📍 University of Pennsylvania📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Essentials of Finance
A program focusing on fundamental finance concepts.
📍 University of Pennsylvania📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Essentials of Leadership
An online program focusing on foundational leadership skills.
📍 remote📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering
ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Rising seniors complete a four-week engineering research experience involving literature review, research design, experimentation, technical communication, and a research project.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich Studienwoche
One-week research study weeks at ETH Zurich in math, physics, and CS.
📍 Zurich, Switzerland📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UT Tyler ETX Launchpad
ETX High School Idea Challenge
An entrepreneurship pitch competition open to high school students (grades 9-12) in 40 East Texas counties. Round 1 is a 60-90 second video pitch, and selected teams present a Lean Canvas business model on the UT Tyler campus for scholarship prizes ($5,000 first place).
📍 Tyler, TX (East Texas)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Eugene & Nadine Stegelmeyer Scholarship
Washoe County graduating seniors planning studies related to teaching or geriatrics are among the eligible applicants.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Eunoia Review
Eunoia Review
Open submissions literary journal accepting student poetry and prose.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Girls Inc. at YWCA Minneapolis (with UMN College of Science and Engineering)
Eureka! Girls STEM Program
A five-year STEM pipeline program for girls in grades 8-12 combining summer weekday sessions at UMN's College of Science and Engineering with school-year enrichment at YWCA Midtown, including mentorship from STEM professionals, career exploration, and completion stipends.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
EGOI, USACO (US Team Selection)
European Girls' Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI)
A competition of similar prestige to IOI, for high-school female students. The top four female high-school students from the USA are selected to compete.
📍 International📅 N/A (by selection)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EUCYS
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
Annual EU-hosted contest showcasing top research projects from young scientists across dozens of countries.
📍 European Union (rotating)📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
ExCEL in Engineering
Students work in UGA engineering laboratories and design studios on hands-on engineering projects while developing teamwork and leadership skills.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State HESC
Excelsior Scholarship
Eligible NY residents can receive tuition support to attend SUNY or CUNY tuition-free after other aid.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Studio Museum in Harlem
Expanding the Walls
Free eight-month photography program combining art, history, community research, artist workshops and exhibition curation. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend and DSLR camera.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Experiences in Research (EinR)
Students spend six weeks working directly with Berkeley Lab professionals on projects in experimental research, data science, coding, science communication, and other STEM/STEM-adjacent areas.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Pittsburgh, Architectural Studies Program
Experiencing Architecture Program
A free summer studio for local high schoolers exploring careers in architecture, art, design, and urban studies through sketching, drawing, and model making, with office tours, construction site visits, and walking tours of Pittsburgh architecture.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Science Center
Explainers Program
Detroit-area students in grades 10–12 work at the science center facilitating STEM programs, receive mentorship and leadership training, and earn about $13 per hour.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wilkes University
EXPLOR-NEPA
Free multi-year AI, robotics and engineering initiative for Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton students; eligible students can earn a $3,000 first-semester Wilkes scholarship.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Explora X Studio
Explora STEM Scholars
Competitive $2,500 scholarship for New Mexico seniors pursuing a STEM-related career and attending a New Mexico postsecondary institution.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Explorations in Neuroscience Summer Camp
A day camp for high school juniors and seniors with hands-on lab sessions on brain and spinal cord anatomy, clinician talks on neurological disorders, and small-group rotations through OSU neuroscience research labs, ending with a career-pathways day.
📍 Columbus, OH📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences / Project ECHO
Exploring Health Career Pathways in New Mexico ECHO
Free live online series where New Mexico high-school students meet health-professions students, learn career pathways and receive advice on applications, personal statements and paying for college.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
HCA Healthcare New Hampshire
Extended Learning Opportunities Healthcare Internship
Semester-long high-school internship in clinical or nonclinical hospital departments. Students perform department tasks, complete professional development and research and present a healthcare topic, with potential school credit.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
FAITH Scholarship
Current and former foster youth who meet Mississippi residency and eligibility requirements can receive assistance covering up to the full cost of attendance at a Mississippi college.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters
Families in Broadcasting Scholarship
Graduating seniors whose parent or guardian works for an eligible NHAB member station may apply for this education award.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Fargo Public Schools / City of Fargo partners
Fargo Youth Initiative
High-school students work with local government and community leaders on youth priorities, civic projects and public-policy discussions.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Science / The Possible Zone
FastForge Hackathon
High-school teams research a real-world problem, identify innovation opportunities, design a consumer-product concept, and pitch their work to judges. The 2026 event is scheduled for November 6.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Albuquerque & Las Cruces Teen Academy
Free competitive summer academy for New Mexico high-school students featuring forensic science, federal law enforcement, intelligence, leadership and public-safety instruction. Applications open each April.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division
FBI CJIS Teen Academy
A free one-day hands-on program at the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg for West Virginia high school juniors and seniors, with fingerprinting and biometrics lessons, a law enforcement round table, firearm simulators and a mock crime scene.
📍 FBI CJIS Division, Clarksburg, WV📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
FBLA National Leadership Conference Competitions
Focuses on business knowledge, academic competition, and leadership development across multiple career clusters.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 January 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Federal Reserve
Fed Challenge
Free team competition analyzing monetary policy — top teams present at the Federal Reserve.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Blue Watermelon Project
Feeding the Future Culinary Contest
Culinary competition pairing teams of 2-4 students with professional chefs from August through December to design school meals that meet federal nutrition guidelines, judged live with scholarships for top high school teams.
📍 Phoenix, AZ (The Farm at South Mountain)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Field Museum
Field Museum Teen Volunteers
Current high-school students volunteer at least ten days during the summer, helping visitors engage with museum science through interpretive carts and the Crown Family PlayLab.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Field Museum
Field Museum Women in Science Internships
Paid high-school and undergraduate interns work full-time with Field Museum scientists on collections-based and other scientific research projects. Applicants may reside in Illinois or several neighboring states.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Film Prize Junior
Film Prize Junior New Mexico
Student filmmakers produce original films that screen publicly at a statewide festival and compete for awards. The 2026 festival ran March 20–22 in Albuquerque.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FinAid
FinAid
Links to scholarships, grants, loans, and graduate aid.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado State University College of Business
First Generation Business Summit
First-generation students live on campus, meet business leaders and CSU faculty, tour companies, receive mentoring and complete business-related activities and competitions.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FIRST Global
FIRST Global Challenge
Annual olympics-style robotics event with one team per country tackling a global grand-challenge theme (energy, oceans, food).
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 1 week (fall)📅 Team applications open winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
First Guides Teen Volunteer Program
A teen docent program where volunteers ages 14-17 complete summer training to become an informative, welcoming presence on the Science Center's exhibit trail, including live-animal demonstrations.
📍 Holderness, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FIRST in Michigan / Saginaw Valley State University
FIRST in Michigan Robotics State Championship
The Michigan state championship of the FIRST Robotics Competition, hosted annually at SVSU since 2017, where the state's top-ranked high school robotics teams compete before advancing to the FIRST Championship.
📍 University Center, MI (SVSU)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC FIRST
FIRST Robotics Competition - NYC & Hudson Valley Regional
The premier high school robotics engineering competition, where student teams raise funds, design a robot, and compete in a new field game each year, with NYC FIRST providing STEM Centers with CNC routers, 3D printers, and laser cutters for team fabrication.
📍 New York, NY (The Armory Track & Field Center) and statewide regionals📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FIRST Robotics Competition (Idaho FRC)
FIRST Robotics Competition – Idaho Regional
Idaho's FIRST Robotics Competition regional event where high school teams build and program industrial-sized robots to compete in a season-specific game, with qualification matches, playoff matches, and awards over three days.
📍 Nampa, ID (Ford Idaho Center)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FIRST in Upper Midwest
FIRST Robotics Competition Minnesota / MSHSL Championship
Minnesota's state robotics championship, where the top FRC high school teams from the state's eight MSHSL sections compete in qualification matches and playoff alliances for the state's highest robotics honor. The free, public event is held at Concordia University's Gangelhoff Center; Minnesota fields the nation's third-largest FRC contingent.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Western Kentucky University
First-Gen High School Summer Camp
First-generation students entering grades 10–12 live on campus for several days while participating in workshops on admissions, financial aid, academic success, college life, and personal strengths. Housing and meals are provided at no cost.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
New Hampshire Fisher Cats Foundation
Fisher Cats Foundation Scholar-Athlete Scholarship
Ten New Hampshire seniors are selected based on academics, athletics and citizenship for $2,500 college scholarships.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ball State University Teachers College
Flight Path to Teaching Adventure
Rising juniors and seniors spend a free residential week exploring teaching, designing and delivering lessons, and learning about education careers and college pathways.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Flinn Foundation
Flinn Scholarship
Highly competitive merit scholarship covering tuition, fees, housing, meals, study-abroad experiences, and additional enrichment at an Arizona public university.
📍 AZ🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
The Florida Bar
Florida Bar High School Appellate Brief Writing & Moot Court Competition
Two-student teams write an appellate brief and argue a fictitious case before appellate judges, with finalists appearing before the Florida Supreme Court.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Florida Department of Education
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Major merit-based state scholarship program with Florida Academic Scholar and Florida Medallion Scholar tiers based on coursework, GPA, testing and service/work requirements.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Florida Envirothon (Florida Association of Conservation Districts)
Florida Envirothon
A hands-on environmental problem-solving competition for high school teams of 5-7 students, who are tested across five stations - aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue - with winning teams advancing from regional to state and national competition.
📍 Florida (regional and statewide events)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Florida Department of Education
Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship Program
Scholarship supporting eligible Florida students connected to farmworker families who attend qualifying postsecondary programs.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Florida FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Florida FCCLA Scholarships
Florida FCCLA offers several annual scholarships for graduating senior members pursuing Family and Consumer Sciences-related fields, including bachelor's degree, associate/certificate degree, and leadership development scholarships, plus a Johnson & Wales University scholarship for CTSO members.
📍 Florida (application-based)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Museum of Florida History / Florida Department of State
Florida History Day
An annual statewide research competition in which students develop an original history project (documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website) around a national theme, advancing through school, county, and state contests toward National History Day.
📍 Tallahassee, FL (Museum of Florida History)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Florida Senate
Florida Senate Page Program
Students spend a week inside the Florida Senate distributing legislative materials, attending committee activity, drafting legislation and participating in a mock legislative session.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Floyd "Twister" Geery Memorial Scholarship
$500 award for an LCPS senior pursuing history, anthropology or archaeology at a New Mexico college.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
BAE Systems
FOCUS STEM Program (Nashua)
An 11-week after-school program where NH high schoolers learn software, mechanical, and electrical engineering basics from BAE Systems engineers while designing, building, and coding a small-scale competition robot.
📍 Nashua, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wave Hill
Forest Project
Paid summer internship in ecological restoration and woodland management, combined with environmental coursework and college/career development.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Fourth Circuit Civics Contest
Students from North Carolina and other Fourth Circuit states create an original civics-themed graphic poster and written statement for cash prizes.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Poetry Society
Foyle Young Poets of the Year
International poetry award for ages 11-17; free to enter.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Poetry Society (UK)
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
International poetry prize for writers aged 11–17.
📍 Global📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Denver Foundation
Francis H. Mahon Scholarship
Need-based scholarship supporting graduating seniors from six specified Colorado private high schools pursuing a four-year degree.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship
Paid cancer research in Seattle. Prioritizes students underrepresented in biomedical sciences.
📍 WA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Various
Freedom Summer Collegiate
Free college-prep program in the Mississippi Delta taught by graduate students. Travel and housing covered.
📍 Mississippi⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Green Bay
Freshwater High School Summer Scholars (UW-Green Bay)
Paid summer research experience in which high school students are matched with a UW-Green Bay freshwater mentor for a project, field trips and a poster presentation.
📍 Green Bay, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls (Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin)
Freshwater Science Field Experience (Western Wisconsin)
Week-long field program where high school juniors and seniors do freshwater research on western Wisconsin lakes, streams and groundwater alongside faculty and learn about college majors and careers.
📍 Menomonie, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
From the Top
From the Top
Public radio classical-music showcase with full scholarship awards for selected young musicians.
📍 Touring venues⏱ Performance📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
From the Top
From the Top's Scholarship & Radio Program
A national competition for classical music performers for a chance to perform on the radio.
📍 Online / Boston, MA📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSSM-Durham
Frontier
Student publication dedicated to economics, entrepreneurship, business research and student ventures at NCSSM.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Florida State University
FSU Upward Bound Summer Residential Program
Eligible students spend six weeks living on campus while studying math, English, science and language and participating in college preparation, creative writing and career exploration.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kansas / University of Houston Future of Semiconductors 2
FuSe2 Summer Camp
Eligible high-school juniors and seniors from migratory-worker families spend a week exploring semiconductor research with KU and UH researchers. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend plus travel, lodging, and food.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma State University
Future Agricultural Education Teacher Academy
Students explore agricultural education, teaching and leadership careers through university and industry experiences.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Illinois Chicago
Future Business, Tech and AI Leaders Conference for High School Students
A free day program for students entering grades 10–12 features hands-on sessions and speakers covering business technology, artificial intelligence, data, enterprise systems, and related careers. Breakfast and lunch were included for the 2026 event.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Future Deaf Scientist Program
A four-week paid research internship for students at the Indianapolis School for the Deaf, shadowing deaf physicians and scientists in clinical and lab settings.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Institute of Architects (AIA) East Tennessee
Future Faces of Design Scholarship
A scholarship covering full tuition, housing, and meals for the UTK Summer Design Camp, aimed at rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates from historically underrepresented demographics in architecture. No prior design experience is necessary.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National FFA
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
K-12 agricultural leadership organization with competitions, scholarships, and SAEs.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Arizona State University
Future Lawyers Institute
Students explore legal concepts, public speaking, law-school pathways, mental health in the legal profession, and interact with practicing professionals and law students.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Future Leaders Scholarship
Scholarship and mentorship program for graduating seniors committed to ocean conservation who will attend California State University, Monterey Bay.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Michigan Michigan Engineering Zone
Future Ready Scholars
Southeast Michigan students complete a free two-week engineering-design and college-readiness experience followed by monthly Saturday sessions for continued mentorship and STEM career exploration.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New England
Future Teachers of Maine Summer Institute
A four-day summer institute at UNE for rising high school seniors interested in becoming teachers, featuring mock college classes, classroom visits, and mentorship from UNE education students, funded by a Maine DOE workforce grant.
📍 University of New England, Biddeford, ME🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Minot State University
Futurepalooza
Area high-school students meet employers, colleges and career representatives while exploring a wide range of postsecondary and career pathways.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Minnesota Historical Society
Gallery Assistant High School Internship Program
Juniors and seniors work as paid museum interns at the Minnesota History Center, learning entry-level interpretation while presenting historical information and engaging visitors and school groups. The commitment runs approximately February through August.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Michigan State University, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
GALS: Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership & Science
A free two-week overnight camping and backpacking program for female-identifying and gender-nonconforming high school students from groups underrepresented in STEM, combining wilderness expeditions with hands-on ecology and earth science instruction from working scientists.
📍 Hickory Corners, MI (W.K. Kellogg Biological Station)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Gates Cambridge Trust
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Fully funded postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge.
📍 Cambridge, United Kingdom⏱ 1-4 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp
Students explore pharmacy through compounding, medication science, pharmacy mathematics, public-health projects and mentorship from pharmacists and PharmD students.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho State Historical Society / Idaho State Museum
GEM High School Internship
A hands-on internship where high school students research the stories of Idaho, help with exhibit design, and facilitate youth and family programs at the Idaho State Museum, networking with archivists, curators, and designers along the way.
📍 Boise, ID📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science
GenCyber Camp
Detroit Metro students study cybersecurity ethics, online safety, cryptography, cyber threats, cybercrime, cyber law, Python, and Java. No previous cybersecurity knowledge is required and participation is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boise State University Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity
GenCyber Cybersecurity Summer Camp
A free, full-day, one-week cybersecurity camp for Idaho high school students covering applied cryptography, Raspberry Pi setup, network traffic analysis, and penetration testing, historically run with both girls-only and mixed-gender sessions.
📍 Boise, ID (Clearwater Building, City Center Plaza)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Generation Citizen
Generation Citizen Student Leadership Board
Action civics program enabling students to lead community campaigns on local policy issues.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Generation Citizen
Generation Citizen Youth Council
National civic action council for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Genes in Space
Genes in Space
Design a DNA experiment to be performed on the International Space Station. Annual competition with no entry fee.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
University of Southern Mississippi
GenSea Blue Economy Pathways Internship
A paid summer internship placing Gulf Coast Mississippi high schoolers at USM labs and partner sites (Mississippi Aquarium, oyster companies, naval oceanography facilities) for hands-on work in aquaculture, marine geology, computer modeling, and coastal restoration research.
📍 Mississippi Gulf Coast (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson counties)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
GenZ Girl Gang
GenZ Girl Gang Virtual Internship Program (Open to all GS)
A network for students to find virtual internships in tech, non-profits, and policy. Focuses on social impact projects led by youth.
📍 Online⏱ 8-12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia 4-H / UGA Cooperative Extension
Georgia 4-H State Congress
State Congress is Georgia 4-H's premier annual event for high-school-age members, held since 1942, featuring the Project Achievement and Leadership in Action competitions plus scholarship recognition.
📍 Atlanta, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia DECA / DECA Inc.
Georgia DECA
Georgia DECA prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through a Fall Rally, leadership conferences, and competitive events leading to the State Career Development Conference.
📍 Statewide; Fall Rally at Six Flags Over Georgia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia Dual Enrollment
Georgia high-school students take approved college courses and earn both secondary-school and postsecondary credit, with state funding covering standard tuition, mandatory fees and required books up to program limits.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Georgia Envirothon (Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission affiliate)
Georgia Envirothon
Georgia Envirothon challenges high school teams of 4-6 students in an outdoor competition covering wildlife, forestry, aquatic ecology, soils/land use, and a current environmental issue, with the top regional teams advancing to state.
📍 Regional sites statewide; spring one-day competitions📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Georgia FBLA High School Competitive Events
Georgia FBLA members compete in nearly 100 business-related competitive events -- objective tests, technical skills assessments, interviews, and performances -- advancing from chapter to region to state competition.
📍 Statewide; State Leadership Conference in Atlanta📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Georgia FCCLA STAR Events
STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) let Georgia FCCLA members compete in over 30 categories -- including culinary arts and fashion design -- at regional, state, and national levels.
📍 Statewide; State Leadership Conference📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia FFA Association
Georgia FFA
Georgia FFA is the state association of the national FFA organization, serving over 35,000 members through agricultural education classes, supervised agricultural experience projects, and Career/Leadership Development Events (CDEs/LDEs).
📍 Statewide (chapters at ~290 Georgia high schools)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia HERO Scholarship
Scholarship assistance for qualifying Georgia National Guard or Reserve members and eligible children/spouses connected to combat-zone service.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Georgia HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
Georgia HOSA
Georgia HOSA serves over 19,000 members preparing for healthcare careers through leadership development, community volunteering, and a competitive events program covering more than 75 health-science events.
📍 Statewide; Fall Leadership Rallies at Six Flags Over Georgia and the Georgia National Fairgrounds📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia Military College State Service Scholarship Loan
Graduating Georgia seniors can compete for a full two-year Georgia Military College scholarship in exchange for service in the Georgia National Guard.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Poet Laureate's Prize
Georgia high-school students submit an original poem for recognition by the Georgia Poet Laureate and statewide publication/recognition.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
Georgia Ready Summer Institute
Rising seniors explore research, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization while living on the UGA campus and visiting research facilities.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Georgia Space Grant Consortium (Georgia Tech)
Georgia Space Grant Consortium Student Programs
The Georgia Space Grant Consortium, managed by Georgia Tech since 1989, connects K-12 students to internships, hands-on STEM activities, facility tours, and mentoring through its statewide network of affiliate institutions.
📍 Statewide (Georgia Tech and affiliate campuses)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Forensic Coaches Association
Georgia Speech & Debate (Georgia Forensic Coaches Association)
The GFCA, founded in 1982, governs high school speech and debate in Georgia, running First & Second Year and Varsity State Championships open to any member school's students statewide.
📍 Statewide; State Championship tournaments📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech Summer Research at CSE
Paid CS/engineering research at Georgia Tech. Strong recruitment of Georgia students.
📍 GA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Geosciences Bridge Program
A fully funded 6-week summer bridge program for incoming college-bound high school seniors covering ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and GIS/remote sensing, including two for-credit college courses, housing, meals, and a stipend.
📍 Princess Anne, MD📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Towson University, Department of Geography & Environmental Planning
Geospatial Technology Summer Camp
A four-day, three-night residential camp exclusively for Maryland high schoolers offering hands-on training in digital cartography, GPS, satellite remote sensing, aerial photography, drone operation, and open-source mapping, including a NASA field trip.
📍 Towson University, Towson, MD📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Get Ready Student Success Scholarship
Eligible graduating Get Ready students attending Minnesota postsecondary programs can receive $1,000 for eligible two-year/certificate study or $3,000 for four-year study.
📍 MN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
EducationQuest Foundation
Get Social Scholarship
Nebraska students in grades 9–12 can enter for $500 college-savings awards whenever EducationQuest reaches designated social-media follower milestones. Entry windows remain open for 72 hours after each award is announced.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia High School Association
GHSA Esports
GHSA Esports is the officially sanctioned varsity esports program for Georgia high schools, run through PlayVS with a preseason, regular season, and a State Championship at the Bartow County Schools Esports Arena.
📍 Bartow County Schools Esports Arena, Cartersville, GA (state championship)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Oklahoma, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
Gibbs College of Architecture Design Camp
An annual week-long residential camp for 30 high school students from across Oklahoma, introducing them to architecture and interior design through a real studio project (recent years: designing a coffee-shop kiosk) using tools like SketchUp and a heliodon.
📍 Norman, OK (University of Oklahoma)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Gila River Indian Community Tribal Education Department
Gila River Indian Community Student Scholarships
Scholarships for Gila River Indian Community members including the El Paso Natural Gas Scholarship for high school students at private/preparatory schools and the Honeywell Scholarship for STEAM-focused high schoolers.
📍 Sacaton, AZ (Gila River Indian Community)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Museum of Flight with Women in Aviation International Washington State Chapter
Girls in Aviation Day (Museum of Flight)
A one-day aerospace career event for middle and high school learners that connects students with mentors and professionals working in aviation and space careers.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Discovery
Girls in STEM Leadership Institute
Older teens participate in a free STEM leadership program involving hands-on STEM exploration and interaction with women working in STEM fields.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maine / Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Overnight Camp at UMaine
A free, five-day residential coding camp at UMaine Orono for middle and high school girls, non-binary students, and students of color (male allies welcome), covering hands-on coding projects and tech career exploration.
📍 University of Maine, Orono, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Virtual Summer Programs
Free online coding workshops for girls and non-binary students focusing on web development, game design, and AI.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks or 6 weeks📅 Spring/Summer cycles🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Girls' Angle
Girls' Angle Math Club
Math program in Cambridge MA mentoring girls in mathematics.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 5–12
Selective
University of Michigan-Dearborn Department of Mathematics and Statistics
GirlsGetMath@Dearborn
Selective, 100% tuition-free one-week summer program for Metro Detroit students entering grades 10-12 (rising 9th graders considered case by case; all genders welcome) covering topics outside the standard curriculum such as cryptography, graph theory, voting systems and image processing, with daily computer labs and free lunch. 2026 session was June 22-26 with a May 31 deadline.
📍 Dearborn, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Governor's Institutes of Vermont
GIV One-Day Adventure: Education for a Thriving Future Summit
One-day summit on school advocacy, education careers and community change initiatives for Vermont middle and high school students.
📍 Rutland, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Global Cultures and Emerging Technology
Pre-College Global Cultures and Emerging Technology program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Notre Dame
Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Berkeley ATDP
Global Program Brightwell
For students completing grades 8–11. Rigorous summer courses in an area of deep interest.
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Research Foundation Singapore
Global Young Scientists Summit
Multidisciplinary summit where young scientists — including a small cohort of high-school participants — engage with Nobel laureates and Turing / Fields medalists.
📍 Singapore⏱ 5 days (January)📅 August🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Climate Reality Project
Global Youth Climate Network
International youth climate leadership and action network.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NFTE
Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
International youth pitch competition and entrepreneurship curriculum.
📍 International📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The World Food Prize Foundation
Global Youth Institute
An international organization that empowers students to research and propose solutions to the global food security crisis.
📍 Des Moines, IA/Global⏱ Year-long📅 January 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United Nations / WHO
Global Youth Mobilization Fellowship
An online-based global youth leadership accelerator focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months (Learning)📅 May (Annual)🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NASA / University of Toledo
GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME)
A year-long club-based program where students engage in data-driven environmental justice projects and present to scientists.
📍 Online / Various⏱ Year-round📅 October 31🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado State University
GoGetMath@CSU
Five-day mathematics program exploring cryptography, data science, image processing, fractals and geometry through computer labs and hands-on activities.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Minnesota High School Press Association (MHSPA, a division of NSPA)
Gold Medallion Contest / Journalist of the Year
Minnesota's scholastic journalism association hosts an annual Fall Convention (2026: October 8 at the University of Minnesota) featuring the Gold Medallion Contest, which recognizes top student media work in seven categories (broadcast, newspaper/newsmagazine, yearbook, photojournalism, online, social media, and literary arts magazine), alongside a statewide Journalist of the Year award and Best of Show critiques.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Golden Apple Foundation
Golden Apple Scholars Program - New Mexico
A teacher-preparation scholarship for New Mexico high school seniors (and NM college freshmen/sophomores) who want to become teachers, offering up to $15,000 in paid summer professional development, mentoring from award-winning teachers, and job placement, in exchange for a 5-year teaching commitment in a partner NM school.
📍 Statewide, NM📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Golden Gate STEM Fair (formerly SF Bay Area Science Fair)
Golden Gate STEM Fair
A free regional science and engineering fair for grades 6-12 students in San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, offering over 25 special awards from sponsors like NASA and Chevron.
📍 Randall Museum, San Francisco, CA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Golden LEAF Foundation
Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship
Students from qualifying rural North Carolina counties can receive up to $14,000 toward an eligible North Carolina college or university.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Saint Anselm College Center for Ethics in Society
Goodchild High School Ethics Bowl
High school teams from the Center's Ethics Circle partner schools compete in the National High School Ethics Bowl format, with kickoff and capstone events hosted on the Saint Anselm campus.
📍 Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Google
Google Code-in Archive Projects
Archive of the Google Code-in competition tasks for self-guided open source learning.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Google Official
Google Generation Scholarship (Americas)
Google's scholarship aimed at supporting students with disabilities pursuing CS degrees.
📍 Nationwide⏱ One-time payment📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Society for Science
Google Science Fair (Alumni Network + Regional Fairs)
Regional science fairs affiliated with ISEF that welcome international student researchers.
📍 Global (affiliated fairs)📅 Varies by fair🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Google
Google Summer of Code — Contributor
Paid open-source contribution program. Now open to any newcomer to open source 18+, worldwide.
📍 Global📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Nevada System of Higher Education / Nevada State Treasurer
Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
Nevada merit award providing up to $10,000 toward tuition at eligible in-state institutions. Qualified graduates are identified automatically rather than through a separate application.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Play It Again, Arkansas! / Arkansas Department of Education
Governor's Award for Musical Excellence
Schools nominate outstanding senior musicians for statewide recognition of sustained achievement and commitment to music. Up to 100 seniors are recognized.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
Major merit scholarship for Arkansas seniors generally requiring a 32 ACT or 1410 SAT plus a 3.5 cumulative GPA. It provides up to $10,000 annually for four years.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
State of Ohio
Governor's Merit Scholarship
State merit award for qualifying Ohio graduates near the top of their high-school class who enroll at an eligible Ohio institution.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Office of the Governor of North Carolina
Governor's Page Program
Students participate directly in state government while completing activities in history, civics, service and professional development.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Governor's Scholars — Achievement Scholars
Scholarship for qualifying Arkansas seniors, including students graduating with a Diploma of Distinction or an associate degree while in high school. Awards can reach $5,000 per year for four years.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Tennessee Tech University
Governor's School for Emerging Technologies (GSET)
A three-week summer residential program studying biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology through classroom instruction, lab work, team projects, and weekly field trips to high-tech facilities including Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Vanderbilt University.
📍 Cookeville, TN📅 November🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Tennessee Tech University
Governor's School for Technological Innovation and Business Leadership (GSTIBL)
A 28-day, fully state-funded residential program for Tennessee's top rising juniors and seniors covering entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology (including computer forensics and AI ethics), with college-level coursework worth three credit hours.
📍 Cookeville, TN📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Governor's School for the Sciences and Engineering (GSSE)
A four-week residential enrichment program at UT Knoxville where outstanding rising Tennessee high school juniors and seniors take core courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math plus electives like robotics, AI, nuclear engineering, and environmental science, earning five college credit hours.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 December🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Research & Development Council of New Jersey
Governor's STEM Scholars
Year-long statewide STEM cohort connecting high-achieving high-school and college students with NJ research institutions, companies, STEM leaders and research experiences. High-school sophomores through seniors are eligible.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
Governor's Urban Scholarship
Need- and merit-based award for students from designated New Jersey communities who meet GPA, class-rank and financial-need requirements.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Governor's Mansion Association
Governor's Young Artist Competition
Arkansas high-school artists submit drawings, paintings, illustrations, ceramics, or mixed-media work for a statewide juried exhibition at the Governor's Mansion.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Governor's Youth Advisory Council
Massachusetts young people advise the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on civic engagement, education, housing, environment, youth violence, and other statewide issues. Members are ages 16–21.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Governor's Youth Climate Council
Rising sophomores through seniors meet monthly during the school year and develop climate-policy recommendations for the Governor.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Volunteer Delaware
Governor's Youth Volunteer Service Awards
Delaware youth are nominated for statewide recognition based on sustained volunteering, leadership, community impact or environmental stewardship.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Adelphi University
Grace Pilcer Pre-College Scholars
Need-based awards of up to full tuition for Adelphi's for-credit pre-college program, prioritizing students facing financial/access barriers.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Grambling State University
Grambling State High School Cybersecurity Camp
High-school students study cybersecurity fundamentals, Linux, network discovery, cyber defense, ethical hacking concepts, digital safety, and technology career pathways in intensive week-long sessions.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Grand Teton National Park / Grand Teton National Park Foundation
Grand Teton National Park Youth Conservation Program
Ten weeks of paid summer work for local teenagers on trail maintenance, historic site preservation and fire management in Grand Teton National Park, with an online application and a letter of reference.
📍 Moose, WY📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National FFA Organization
Granite State Association of FFA
New Hampshire's state FFA association delivers agricultural education and leadership development to high school students through Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, and industry tours.
📍 Concord, NH (statewide chapters)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Grassroots Ecology
Grassroots Ecology Youth Internships
Paid summer employment for high schoolers working on habitat restoration in San Jose area parks.
📍 San Jose, CA/South Bay⏱ 6-8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Great Lakes Science Center & Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Great Lakes Science Center Robotics Initiative
A partnership giving Cleveland high schoolers curriculum, expert mentors, and shop access to build and program industrial robots for FIRST Robotics competitions, including a humanitarian project called Hands Across Borders.
📍 Cleveland, OH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Detroit Zoological Society
GreenPrize
Middle- and high-school Green Teams in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties design projects that make their school or community more sustainable, with funding awarded to implement the winning project.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Grinnell College
Grinnell College Advanced Scholars Program
A dual-enrollment program letting academically strong high school students near Grinnell take Grinnell College courses tuition-free during the school year, with credits transferable if they later enroll at Grinnell.
📍 Grinnell, IA (local-area students)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boston University LERNet
GROW Research Program
Massachusetts rising seniors living near Boston spend six weeks working full-time in an individual BU research lab and present their work at a symposium. Participants receive up to a $2,000 stipend.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA)
GSSPA Student Journalism Programs
New Jersey's scholastic journalism association, running an annual contest (yearbook, print, broadcast, online categories), a Fall Student Press Day conference, an NJ All-Star Journalism Team recognition, and the Kilgore and Stevens scholarships for student journalists.
📍 Rutgers University and other NJ sites📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UNLV (NSF ITEST project)
GUIC Summer Camp (Engaging Girls in Ubiquitous Intelligence and Computing)
An NSF-funded five-week summer camp training CCSD students entering grades 7-12 in Arduino programming, Python, and VEX V5 robotics design, culminating in team projects addressing smart-city applications like intelligent transportation and energy planning.
📍 Las Vegas, NV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Community Foundation
Guy P. Gannett Journalism Scholarship
Graduates of Maine high schools pursuing journalism or closely related media fields can receive substantial renewable awards based on journalism commitment, academics, and financial need.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of South Carolina
H.W. Dare Maness High School Oratorical Program
A constitutional speech contest that develops high schoolers' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and public-speaking skills, progressing from local posts through semi-final and department-final rounds toward national scholarships.
📍 Multiple sites statewide, with Department Finals in Columbia, SC📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
HAAEA Summer Internship Program
High-school and university students complete hands-on aerospace activities, develop research skills and build professional skills through UH's Hawaiʻi Aspiring Aerospace Engineers Academy.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Youth
Year-round and summer build volunteer opportunities.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Hack Club
Hack Club
Free worldwide network of student-run high school coding clubs and hackathons. Travel grants for in-person events.
📍 Worldwide⏱ Flexible📅 Year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hack Club
Hack Club Clubs
1,500+ in-person clubs. Find one near you, or start your own and we’ll help you get it off the ground.
📍 Various (global)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hack Club
Hack Club Outernet & Events
Network of student-run coding clubs and hackathons.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard
HackHarvard
Harvard's flagship hackathon; high schoolers can apply.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 days📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of New Jersey
HackJA
A student-led, 24-hour hackathon for grades 7-12 where teams of beginner-to-advanced coders tackle computer-science challenges (IoT, cloud, social good) with mentorship from corporate and college professionals; no prior coding experience required.
📍 New Jersey📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MIT
HackMIT
Annual 24-hour student hackathon at MIT; many HS students attend HackMIT High School Hackathon (Blueprint).
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 days📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TJHSST HackTJ / TJ Partnership Fund
HackTJ (Student-Run High School Hackathon)
A 24-hour student-run hackathon where high school students team up (2-4 per team) to build projects, with workshops, mentors and prizes in categories such as Best AI/ML Hack and Best Cyber Technology Hack.
📍 Tysons, VA (Cvent HQ)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah State University Huntsman School of Business
HackUSU
USU's flagship 24-hour innovation challenge and coding competition where teams build solutions with mentor support and workshops, regardless of prior experience. High school students are welcome.
📍 Logan, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ACM at UT Dallas (HackUTD)
HackUTD 2026: Zero Day
A free in-person university hackathon at UT Dallas welcoming any enrolled student, including high schoolers aged 18+ or younger students attending with a guardian. No major or prior experience is required.
📍 Richardson, TX📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
South Dakota Department of Education
Hagen-Harvey Scholarship
A scholarship for enrolled members of American Indian tribes who plan to attend a South Dakota postsecondary institution.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Michigan Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences
Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers
Rising seniors attend a free four-week residential program in nuclear engineering, clean energy, technical communication, leadership, mathematics, and engineering design. Participants also receive a stipend.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Harvard International Review
Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest
A rigorous economics essay competition organized on a global scale.
📍 Online📅 October 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education / JABSOM / Anatomage
Hawaiʻi Anatomage Tournament
Teams use life-sized digital cadaver tables to compete on detailed human anatomy and physiology knowledge through elimination rounds.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi State Board of Education / HIDOE
Hawaiʻi Board of Education Student Representative
One public-high-school student serves as the statewide non-voting student representative to the Board of Education and provides student perspectives on education policy.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Common Scholarship
A single application matches Hawaiʻi students with hundreds of donor-funded scholarships based on residence, school, academics, financial need, career plans and other eligibility factors.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Hawaii State CTSO / DECA Inc.
Hawaiʻi DECA
Career and technical student organization for Hawaii high schoolers pursuing business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship careers, combining classroom instruction with competitive events and business partnerships.
📍 Statewide (school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii State CTSO / FCCLA
Hawaiʻi FCCLA
Family and consumer sciences CTSO offering STAR Events competitions and leadership conferences for Hawaii high schoolers, with pathways to the National Leadership Conference.
📍 Statewide (school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi FFA Association / Hawaii State CTSO
Hawaiʻi FFA Association
Statewide agricultural education organization with 21+ chapters across the islands offering leadership development, hands-on agricultural experience, and competitive career-development events for high school students.
📍 Statewide (21+ chapters across all islands)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities
Hawaiʻi History Day
Year-long project-based history and civics program for grades 4-12, in which students research an annual theme and present at district, state, and national competitions.
📍 Statewide (district and state fairs)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii State CTSO / HOSA
Hawaiʻi HOSA – Future Health Professionals
Student-led CTSO for middle and high schoolers interested in health careers, offering competitive events, leadership training, and an annual State Leadership Conference with health professionals.
📍 Statewide (school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Assistant Program
High-school seniors complete two semesters of coursework followed by a 225-hour clinical externship and prepare for national medical-assistant certification.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Student Volunteer Program
Students volunteer in healthcare settings on a regular schedule and gain exposure to hospital environments and patient-support services.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kapiʻolani Community College
Hawaiʻi Physics Olympics
High-school teams solve hands-on physics and engineering challenges involving design, measurement and problem-solving.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii Scholastic Journalism Association
Hawaiʻi Scholastic Journalism Association – Journalism Day & Awards
Statewide network supporting student journalists through the annual Journalism Day conference, the Hawaiʻi Journalist of the Year award, and the Hawaiʻi High School Journalism Awards competition.
📍 Statewide (recent events at UH Mānoa and McKinley High School)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii State CTSO / SkillsUSA
Hawaiʻi SkillsUSA
CTSO for high schoolers pursuing trade, technical, and skilled service careers, offering 17 statewide contests and pathways to national championships.
📍 Statewide (school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UH Mānoa CTAHR Extension
Hawaiʻi State 4-H Program
Statewide youth development program for ages 5-19 offering clubs and projects in agriculture, environmental science, technology, and leadership, including teen-specific initiatives like the PONO disaster-preparedness training and the Read to Me community service program.
📍 Statewide (Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, East and West Hawaiʻi)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi State Legislature
Hawaiʻi State High School Legislative Intern Program
Public-high-school students work inside the Hawaiʻi House and Senate and gain firsthand exposure to legislative operations and policymaking.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services
Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission
Fifteen young people advise the Governor and Legislature on policies, programs, budgets and priorities affecting Hawaiʻi youth and participate directly in public-policy advocacy.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Academy of Science
Hawaiʻi STEM Poster Contest
Students create original artwork interpreting an annual STEM theme; high-school entries are judged separately and top students receive cash prizes.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
HCI-RISE Virtual Summer Research Experience
A virtual summer program introducing high school students from rural Mountain West communities to cancer research and healthcare careers through interactive workshops, career panels, and small-group activities.
📍 Remote (Utah, ID, MT, NV, WY residents)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation
HDOT Student Internship Program
Students complete paid project-based work with HDOT, receive mentorship and skills workshops, interact with employers and present their work to stakeholders.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Cambridge
HE+ Cambridge
Free supracurricular resources, subject taster videos, and reading lists from Cambridge academics — designed to stretch Year 12/13 students preparing for competitive applications.
📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio State School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Camp
Three-day healthcare camp with anatomy, immunology, neuroscience, intubation, surgical-skills, nutrition and rehabilitation activities.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Health Care Pathway Initiative (HCPI)
A four-week residential summer camp that introduces students to health care and STEM careers such as nursing, pharmacy, research, health informatics and biomedical engineering, with hands-on sessions, field trips, a career day and a College PREP workshop.
📍 Huntington, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
West Chester University College of Health Sciences
Health Career Summer Academy
A summer academy, in collaboration with Main Line Health, for high school students interested in health science careers, especially those from under-served populations, including CPR/AED certification and hands-on learning with healthcare providers across nine health career fields.
📍 West Chester, PA (West Chester University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
Health Careers Academy
Multi-week program across seven New Mexico regions combining science, health-career exploration, critical thinking and service learning.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Southwest Idaho Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Health Careers Camp
A career-exploration camp for middle and high school students featuring presentations from medical, dental, and behavioral health professionals, Q&A sessions, and hands-on healthcare activities.
📍 Southwest Idaho📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation
Health Careers Camp & Physician Shadowing Program
A free program for Northwest Oklahoma high school students offering a health careers camp, physician shadowing experiences, guest speaker events, and scholarship/mentoring support to encourage students toward medical careers.
📍 Enid, OK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New England / Maine AHEC Network
Health Careers Explorations Camp
A free camp for Maine students entering grades 10-12 who are interested in healthcare careers, offering hands-on activities in dental hygiene, medicine, nursing, therapy, pharmacy, and public health.
📍 University of New England, Biddeford, ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health
Health Careers Summer Internship
Graduating high-school seniors spend six weeks working within Hawaiʻi Pacific Health facilities and explore clinical and non-clinical careers including surgery, pharmacy, IT, rehabilitation, imaging and hospital operations.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
WVU Health Sciences
Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA)
A mentoring program that helps West Virginia high school students enter and succeed in STEM+M degree programs; scholars attend summer campus academies and year-round clubs.
📍 Morgantown, WV and sites across West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Mason University
Health Services Mentorship Program (HSMP)
A free, fully virtual program in which high school students design and carry out their own health services and clinical research studies under PhD-student guidance, meeting 2-3 times a month and presenting at the HSMP Colloquium.
📍 Virginia (virtual)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OU Health
Healthcare Career Exploration Summit
A one-day, in-person summit at the OU Health campus where high school students from Oklahoma City-metro school systems attend interactive presentations and hands-on demonstrations led by OU Health professionals to explore healthcare careers.
📍 Oklahoma City, OK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University of Pennsylvania / Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit / Indiana Regional Medical Center
Healthcare Education and Learning Pathways (HELP) Summer Experience
A hands-on two-day experience for area high schoolers exploring healthcare careers such as athletic training, nursing, emergency medicine, physical therapy, and medical imaging, through lab visits and demonstrations by healthcare professionals.
📍 Indiana, PA (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
Healthcare Experience & Research in Oncology (HERO)
Kentucky sophomores, juniors, and seniors participate in virtual oncology research, laboratory-kit activities, career exploration, scientific-skills programming, and continuing school-year enrichment. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
Healthcare Heroes Expedition
A free one-day event for 10th-12th graders exploring multiple health fields at Louisiana Christian University.
📍 Pineville, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
Heartland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Iowa and Nebraska's regional STEM research symposium where high schoolers submit original research papers and the top 15 present orally to judges for scholarships, with winners advancing to nationals.
📍 Regional symposium in Iowa/Nebraska📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
HELP — Higher Education Legislative Plan
Mississippi seniors meeting academic, ACT, income, residency, Pell-eligibility, and curriculum requirements can receive full tuition for up to four years at an approved Mississippi institution.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship / Transylvania University
Henry Clay Center Student Congress at Transylvania University
A free, week-long summer program for rising high school seniors with strong academic and extracurricular records, focused on negotiation, dialogue, and compromise, culminating in a student debate at Frankfort's Old State Capitol.
📍 Transylvania University, Lexington, KY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Henry Vilas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo Teen Volunteer Roles
Volunteer roles at the Madison zoo including gate greeting, train and carousel crew, goat yard attendant, animal ambassador docent and gardening, with a minimum age of 14 for independent roles.
📍 Madison, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Heritage Volunteer Program
Teens can assist at the Heritage Center and state historic sites in interpretation, museum operations, research and public programs.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Herman M. Holloway Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Major merit scholarship for a Delaware high-school senior enrolling at Delaware State University.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
HERO Cancer Research High School Program
Minnesota high-school students spend two weeks online learning directly from cancer researchers, completing experimental activities with supplied lab kits, receiving mentorship, and exploring cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research careers. Successful participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center / UVM Larner College of Medicine
HERO Mentoring Program (Northern Vermont AHEC)
A no-cost online one-to-one mentoring program that pairs high school students with trained UVM medical students for health career exploration, goal setting and human biology modules.
📍 Online (northern Vermont counties)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii High School Athletic Association / PlayVS
HHSAA Esports State Championships
Sanctioned varsity esports competition for Hawaii high schools with spring and fall seasons in League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, culminating in state championship banners.
📍 Statewide (online play via PlayVS)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy
HI STAR — Hawaiʻi Student/Teacher Astronomy Research
Maui students learn astronomy research methods using real astronomical datasets and receive mentorship in scientific investigation.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF)
HIFF ʻŌpio Fest
Annual spring festival showcasing short films by Hawaiʻi's young creatives, including a high school 'Next Gen' showcase alongside screenings, workshops, and industry guest sessions.
📍 Honolulu, Oʻahu📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Global Minnesota
High School Academic WorldQuest Competition
Annual statewide in-person competition where Minnesota high school teams of four test their knowledge of international affairs and global issues; each school can register up to two teams. The winning team earns sponsorship (hotel and airfare) to the national championship in Washington, D.C. Free for teachers and students.
📍 Bloomington, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Omaha CBA Prep Academy
High School Accounting Adventures Overnight Camp
Residential program showing how accountants use technology, solve business problems and support organizational decision-making while introducing students to accounting careers and college life.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Underrepresented and low-income Massachusetts students receive paid life-sciences internships at research institutions and biotechnology companies. Host wages are subsidized at $17 per hour for up to six weeks full-time.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Idaho
High School Art & Design Exhibition
High-school artists submit original artwork for juried selection into the University of Idaho's annual exhibition, with approximately 30 pieces displayed and student awards presented.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Towson University Department of Art + Design, Art History, and Art Education
High School Art Scholarship Portfolio Competition
Each fall, Maryland high schools nominate up to two outstanding seniors to submit a portfolio for review by Towson art faculty, competing for renewable departmental scholarships.
📍 Towson, MD📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Zoological Society of Milwaukee
High School Assistant Teen Volunteer Program (Zoological Society of Milwaukee)
A teen volunteer program where high school students serve as High School Assistants during Zoo summer camps, gaining hands-on experience with science, animals and working with others.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Omaha CBA Prep Academy
High School Banking and Finance Overnight Camp
Residential camp exploring banking, finance, financial planning and related careers through hands-on learning and interaction with finance professionals.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
tecBRIDGE
High School Business Plan Competition
An annual STEAM-based business plan competition open to high school and homeschool students in Northeastern Pennsylvania counties (Berks, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna), requiring a written response and team pitch presentation.
📍 Northeastern Pennsylvania📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Bar Foundation
High School Civics Essay Contest
Juniors and seniors write a 750–1,000-word essay addressing constitutional and civic issues. Recent prizes were $5,000 for first and $2,500 each for second and third.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Jersey State Bar Foundation
High School Courtroom Artist Competition
Students observe mock-trial proceedings and create courtroom sketches judged through county and state competition rounds. The 2026–27 cycle is currently active, with registration due October 28, 2026.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Black Rock & Sage (Idaho State University student journal)
High School Creative Writing Contest
A poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction contest run by ISU's student literary journal for high schoolers in southeastern Idaho, with the winner published and invited to read at the journal's launch party.
📍 Southeastern Idaho (submissions by email to Idaho State University)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
AIA New Hampshire
High School Design Challenge
New Hampshire students respond to an annual architecture/design brief, developing drawings, graphics and a three-dimensional model. Top projects receive recognition and cash awards.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture
High School Design Day
Students rotate through architecture, art, interior architecture, landscape architecture, virtual-reality and portfolio-development activities with U of I faculty and students.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Omaha CBA Prep Academy
High School Digital and Social Media Marketing Overnight Camp
Students explore digital/social marketing strategy, creativity and careers while living on UNO's campus. The 2026–27 youth-program page confirms the camp will return; CBA Prep camps are free except for a waivable $20 registration deposit.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Tulane University, Center for Ethics / Murphy Institute
High School Ethics Bowl (Louisiana Regional)
A collaborative debate-style competition in which New Orleans-area high school teams analyze real-life ethical dilemmas and respond to a panel of judges, with Tulane undergraduates coaching participating schools through weekly club meetings ahead of two to three tournaments held each semester.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Botanical Garden
High School Explainer Program
Competitive environmental-education program where students complete 125 volunteer hours, conduct citizen-science phenology research and teach visitors; successful interns can advance to paid tiers. Spring 2027 applications are open.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Omaha CBA Prep Academy
High School Exploring Economics Camp
Students examine real-world economic decision-making, prices, markets and how economic choices affect businesses, governments and communities. The camp is scheduled to return in the 2026–27 program cycle.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (and others)
High School Fed Challenge
High school teams compete to solve real-world economic problems and demonstrate their understanding of central banking.
📍 Regional Fed Banks⏱ Semester📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
High School Fed Challenge (Cleveland Fed region)
A team competition where high school students research an assigned economics theme and produce an analytical paper/podcast evaluated by Federal Reserve staff; the Cleveland Fed hosts the regional round for Ohio, western PA, eastern KY, and northern WV.
📍 Cleveland, OH📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Council on Economic Education
High School Fed Challenge (Michigan)
A research and writing competition for grades 9-12 in which student teams author an original economics research paper on an annual theme (2025-26: the economics of music), with selected entries published in the Journal of Future Economists.
📍 Michigan (statewide, virtual submission)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Forward Montana
High School Fellowship
Paid civic-engagement fellowship for Montana high-school students involving organizing, voter engagement, community events, leadership development and democracy education. The fall 2026 cohort runs into November and provides a $500 stipend.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Writers' Project
High School Flash Fiction Competition
Students write an original flash-fiction piece of no more than 500 words and advance from school-level judging to statewide finals. State scholarship prizes include $1,500, $1,000 and $500.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Dartmouth Health Career Institute
High School Foundations Summer Internship
Paid seven-week internship placing students in Dartmouth Health departments for 30–40 hours per week while adding mentoring, professional development and exposure to healthcare careers.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
High School Giving Circle
Washoe County students meet weekly for ten weeks, study local needs, interview nonprofits and decide how to distribute $10,000 in real grant funding. Participation is free and earns service hours.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of St. Thomas, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
High School Innovation Day
A one-day, hands-on design-thinking workshop on UST's St. Paul campus where sophomores through seniors (up to 10 students per school) collaborate with entrepreneurially-minded peers to create a prototype for a business concept, and observe St. Thomas students pitch business ideas at a live university competition.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
High School Internship Program
A paid 6-8 week summer internship in which rising juniors and seniors work alongside INL scientists and engineers on real-world STEM projects in fields including nuclear science, cybersecurity, energy, and environmental science.
📍 Idaho Falls, ID (Idaho National Laboratory)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
State of Hawaiʻi
High School Internship Program — Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Six selected students work in the State Capitol on research, writing, public speaking, teamwork, leadership and civic-engagement projects.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Maryland Department of Geographical Sciences
High School Internship Program (HIP)
DMV-area juniors and seniors complete six weeks of remote geographical-sciences research with a faculty mentor in areas such as climate change and geospatial analysis. Students receive a $900 stipend and some may continue during the academic year.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
DC Department of Employment Services
High School Internship Program (HSIP)
District students work part-time during either the fall or spring semester while receiving workplace experience and career-readiness development.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Paul Revere House
High School Internship Summer Program
A free, five-day, non-residential program at Paul Revere's actual North End home where small groups of students work with museum staff, create content about real artifacts, and explore how historians and museum professionals investigate and present the past.
📍 Boston, MA (Paul Revere House, North End)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Columbia Law School
High School Law Institute (HSLI)
A free, yearlong Saturday program in which Columbia Law School students teach NYC high schoolers constitutional law, criminal law, and moot court through discussion-based seminars.
📍 New York, NY📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC Department of Human Resources & OSSE
High School Leadership Institute
A year-round internship placing DC public and public charter high school juniors and seniors in DC government agencies (including DCHR, OSSE, OCTO, DHS, and DCRA) for mentored work experience tied to their coursework and career interests.
📍 Washington, DC (District government agencies)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Colorado Boulder, New Venture Challenge
High School New Venture Challenge (CU Boulder)
A free, multi-round entrepreneurial pitch competition open to any Colorado high schooler (public, private, or homeschooled), guided by an adult venture coach, culminating in an in-person final at CU Boulder.
📍 University of Colorado Boulder (finals)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Mississippi
High School Oratorical Contest
A statewide public-speaking competition on the U.S. Constitution that advances from local American Legion posts to the state level, developing students' constitutional knowledge, leadership, and oratory skills, with Mississippi finalists earning scholarships up to $3,000.
📍 Jackson, MS (state finals) with local post-level rounds statewide📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Media Lab / University of Montana School of Journalism
High School Reporting Workshop
Annual journalism workshop for Montana high-school students featuring intensive reporting and audio-storytelling instruction with professional and university mentors. The 2026 workshop was offered free to participants.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Brookhaven National Laboratory (DOE)
High School Research Program (HSRP) at Brookhaven
Paid summer research program for local students to gain hands-on experience in physics and engineering at a major particle physics lab.
📍 Upton, NY⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Sanford Research / Sanford Health
High School Research Scholars Program (PROMISE Scholars)
A 10-week, total-immersion summer research internship in which students entering their senior year work alongside Sanford Research scientists in biomedical labs, join journal clubs and career-coaching seminars, and present their findings as a poster at the Sanford Research Symposium.
📍 Sioux Falls, SD📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
High School Research Symposium (HSRS)
Iowa and nearby high-school students submit original research papers for selection into oral or poster presentations at the University of Iowa. Winners receive UI scholarships of up to $4,000, and there is no attendance fee.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Field Museum
High School Science and Digital Learning Internship
Fifteen Chicagoland high-school students spend five weeks completing a research project with a museum expert while building digital-media, technology, and professional skills. The 2026 position paid $17.25 per hour.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University
High School Startup Sprint & Business Plan Pitch Competition
A one-day competition at OCU where teams of up to five high schoolers receive a fictional business scenario and develop a product concept, marketing plan, and financial forecast on the spot, then pitch to industry judges for cash prizes.
📍 Oklahoma City, OK📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho National Laboratory
High School STEM Ambassadors
High-school students receive training from INL and then lead STEM activities for elementary students, developing science-communication, leadership and teaching skills.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CU Science Discovery
High School STEM Crew
High-school volunteers assist instructors and younger students in CU Science Discovery summer STEM camps while developing classroom, communication, teamwork and professional skills.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School — Research Office
High School Student Interns Program
A self-arranged, unpaid research internship letting NJ high schoolers age 16+ work directly in a Rutgers NJMS faculty member's lab on real biomedical research, after submitting sponsorship, consent, and state working-papers forms.
📍 Newark, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
DePaul University
High School Summer Actuarial Institute
A free five-day program introduces high-school students to actuarial science, probability, financial modeling, risk management, and related careers. The 2026 session ran August 3–7.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa State University Department of Computer Science
High School Summer AI Bootcamp
A free five-day online program introduces high-school students to artificial intelligence, machine learning, practical applications, and guided hands-on exercises. No prior AI or programming experience is required.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purdue University Northwest, College of Engineering and Sciences
High School Summer Engineering Camp
A free, hands-on mechanical and civil engineering camp for students ages 14-17 covering 3D printing, renewable energy, bridge and road design, virtual reality, and electric vehicles at PNW's Hammond campus.
📍 Hammond, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MDI Biological Laboratory
High School Summer Fellowship
A 7-10 week research fellowship in Bar Harbor where high school students age 16+ work alongside MDI Biological Laboratory scientists on hands-on biomedical research projects, with free room and board for residents.
📍 Bar Harbor, ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Nevada, Reno Biotechnology Program
High School Summer Internship Program — Biotechnology
High-school interns are matched with faculty and research groups and spend the summer shadowing and interacting with professors and university researchers in areas including CRISPR, cancer, genomics, infectious disease and biomedical science.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Central Florida PREM Center
High School Summer Internship Program — CQ-MIEE
Juniors and seniors join one of ten UCF research laboratories studying quantum materials at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Baltimore School of Law
High School Summer Pre-Law Academy
Baltimore City students participate in mock trial, college and career planning, and presentations from legal professionals and admissions representatives during a free five-day academy.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NC State College of Natural Resources (with NC A&T)
High School Summer Research Program
A program where high school students learn the scientific process and conduct field and lab research in forestry and natural resources, culminating in a mini-symposium, with some students advancing to the statewide Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Eastern Michigan University STEM-Ed Institute
High School Summer Science Program
Students work in pairs with EMU faculty and undergraduate researchers for three weeks on an original biology, chemistry, or physics project, then present their results. Participation is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Waikīkī Aquarium / University of Hawaiʻi
High School Teen Educator Program
Teens learn about Hawaiian marine organisms and ecosystems and then communicate science to Aquarium visitors while developing public-speaking and leadership skills.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
High School to Health Care (HS2HC)
A grant-funded program (NIGMS-backed) introducing rural Tennessee high school students and their teachers to careers in medical laboratory sciences and public health information technology through a dual-enrollment course and summer camp.
📍 Ripley, TN📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Alaska Airmen's Association
High Schools to Flight Schools
An Anchorage-area aviation scholarship program for high school juniors and seniors that funds ground school and flight training toward a private pilot license, paired with mentorship.
📍 Anchorage, AK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware CHARM MRSEC
HighRise — Materials Laboratory Experiences for High Schoolers
Students rotate through university soft- and hard-materials laboratories and explore polymers, semiconductors, nanomaterials and materials engineering with researchers.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
CUNY CREST Institute
HIRES — High School Initiative in Remote Sensing
Seven-week research program using GIS, remote sensing, satellite data and environmental monitoring.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
HSF
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Need- and merit-based scholarships for Hispanic American students. Awards from USD 500 to USD 5K annually.
📍 Online application⏱ Annual📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education
HiSTEP (High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program)
A structured summer research-and-enrichment program for rising high school seniors from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, combining biomedical research exposure, career-readiness workshops, and college-application guidance at NIH's Bethesda campus.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Tickle College of Engineering
HITES12 (High School Introduction to Engineering Systems for Twelfth Graders)
A selective, one-week residential program established in 2001 where rising 12th graders rotate through UT Knoxville engineering labs, design challenges, and team competitions to explore engineering and university life.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Harvard-MIT Math Tournament
HMMT
Twice-yearly team math tournament hosted by Harvard and MIT students. Free to attend; travel to Cambridge required.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 1 day📅 Nov / Feb🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kauaʻi Community College
Hoʻolei Scholarship
Graduating Kauaʻi public- and charter-school seniors who enroll directly at Kauaʻi CC can have remaining first-year tuition covered after other financial aid.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Biology
Holland Summer Science Programs
A tiered set of summer science programs (SEP, SSRP, RISE) giving academically high-achieving high schoolers hands-on research experience and faculty mentorship in STEM fields.
📍 Bloomington, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MIT
Homeschool Internship Program for Science and Technology (HIP-SAT)
Homeschooled high-school students spend eight weeks conducting frontier research in MIT laboratories in areas such as chemical biology, chemistry, and engineering. Students are paid $15 per hour for about 20 hours per week.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine State Senate
Honorary Page Program
Students from third grade through high school can serve as Honorary Pages on the Senate floor while it is in session, delivering messages and materials to senators under supervision of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
📍 Augusta, ME (Maine State House)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
HOPE Scholarship
Georgia residents graduating with the required HOPE GPA can receive state-funded tuition assistance at eligible Georgia colleges and universities.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
Eight-week paid summer neuroscience research internship for Baltimore high schoolers.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Horatio Alger Association
Horatio Alger Scholarship
Need-based scholarships for HS seniors who have overcome adversity.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Horizon
Horizon Academic Research Program
Individual research mentorship program producing a college-level paper; open worldwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
HCA Healthcare New Hampshire
Hospital Student Volunteer Program
High-school students can volunteer at HCA New Hampshire hospitals to gain exposure to healthcare environments and support hospital operations.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina General Assembly
House Page Program
High-school students spend a legislative week assisting House operations, observing committees and learning firsthand how state government functions.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
U.S. Capitol Page Alumni Association
House Page Program (alumni network)
Historical House page-style programs and current House internship opportunities.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 semester📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rice Neuroscience Society (Rice University)
Houston Brain Bee
A free neuroscience competition for Houston-area high school students with a prep workshop, a written exam, and an oral round for the top 10 scorers, held at Rice University. Winners can advance toward national and international Brain Bee levels.
📍 Rice University, Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rice University Department of Philosophy
Houston High School Ethics Bowl
A regional National High School Ethics Bowl competition where teams from Houston-area high schools analyze ethical case studies with an emphasis on dialogue and civility. The regional winner is eligible for the national competition.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant
Financially eligible Maryland students can receive $400–$3,000 annually toward study at an eligible Maryland institution.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant
Financially eligible Maryland students entering an eligible Maryland college can receive up to $18,000 annually for as many as four years.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Creighton University, Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity
HS-MACA/CPHHE Summer Research Institute
High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors conduct paid biomedical or community-based public health research under Creighton faculty mentors, culminating in a student presentation of their findings.
📍 Creighton University, Omaha, NE📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
HSCTF Association
HSCTF (High School Capture the Flag)
One of the largest student cybersecurity competitions, featuring crypto and web exploits.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 November 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ASU Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
Hugh Downs School Invitational (Speech & Debate)
Arizona's largest high school speech and debate tournament, drawing more than 1,600 National Speech & Debate Association students from over 125 schools across many states to ASU's Tempe campus each January.
📍 Tempe, AZ (ASU)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Technological University, College of Business
Husky Investment Tournament
A semester-long virtual stock portfolio competition where teams of three to four high school students manage $1,000,000 in simulated funds, building and defending an investment strategy over several weeks.
📍 Houghton, MI (virtual competition)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Fisheries Society
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Paid mentorship for high school students interested in fisheries science.
📍 Multiple states⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Chester University
iCamp Academy
A free, week-long residential media program for rising juniors and seniors from Philadelphia and neighboring communities, who choose a track in audio production, game development, video production, website development, or digital storytelling.
📍 West Chester, PA (West Chester University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Idaho
Idaho American Legion Oratorical Contest
A constitutional-oratory competition where Idaho high schoolers under 20 deliver prepared and impromptu speeches on the U.S. Constitution, advancing from local posts to the state contest and on to nationals.
📍 Local American Legion posts statewide; Idaho state final📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Transportation Department Division of Aeronautics
Idaho Aviation Art Contest
Students create aviation-themed artwork for statewide judging, with winners receiving prizes and aviation-related recognition.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission / Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Idaho Envirothon
A hands-on natural-resources problem-solving competition for teams of Idaho high school students, testing knowledge across Soils & Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, and a rotating current issue topic, with the winning team advancing to the North American Envirothon.
📍 Challis, ID (Living Waters Ranch)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Idaho Governor's Cup Academic Scholarship
Idaho graduating seniors are evaluated on academics, community service, leadership, essays and recommendations for a renewable merit scholarship.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Idaho Governor's Cup CTE Scholarship
Graduating Idaho seniors entering an approved career-technical program compete for renewable funding based on academics, service and career plans.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho Law Foundation / Idaho State Bar
Idaho High School Mock Trial
Idaho high school teams try a hypothetical legal case from opening statement through closing argument in real courtrooms before real judges and attorneys, building critical-thinking, research, and presentation skills.
📍 Regional courthouses statewide; state competition March 9-11, 2027📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Department of Education
Idaho Holiday Card Contest
Idaho students submit original artwork for consideration as the Department of Education's official holiday card design. Grades 7–12 compete in the older-student division.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation
Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation Scholarship
Idaho students of Latino/Hispanic heritage pursuing postsecondary education can apply based on academics, financial need, leadership and community involvement.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Idaho LAUNCH
Graduating Idaho seniors can receive state funding for an eligible in-demand career or workforce-training program after high school.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Idaho Opportunity Scholarship
Need-based scholarship for Idaho graduates attending eligible Idaho institutions. Awards can reach $3,500 annually and may be renewable for four years.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho Power
Idaho Power Technical Scholarship
Students from Idaho Power's service area entering an Idaho technical-school skilled-trades program compete for vocational education funding.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Idaho STEM Action Center
Idaho Science & Engineering Fairs (IDSEF)
Idaho students conduct original STEM research and compete through the Northern, Western or Eastern Idaho regional science and engineering fairs, with top high-school projects advancing toward Regeneron ISEF.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boise State Writing Project, Boise State University (regional affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)
Idaho Writing Region - Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Idaho's regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, through which Idaho students submit writing across genres for regional recognition with a path to national medals.
📍 Idaho (online submission via Boise State Writing Project)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Business for Education
Idaho Youth Apprenticeship Program
Idaho youth combine paid employment with mentorship, skills training, industry credentials and, in some pathways, postsecondary education while working with participating employers.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NC State University / North Carolina Farm Bureau
IFAL — Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders
Rising seniors explore agricultural careers, emerging technology, citizenship and leadership through a residential institute.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Intermountain Health
IHealth Summer Program
Interactive experiences that let high school students explore health care careers through hands-on learning and observation. Students are invited through their school counselor or CTE coordinator.
📍 Utah (Intermountain Health facilities)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Illinois High School Association / Illinois Journalism Education Association
IHSA Journalism Tournament
Statewide onsite journalism competition where students complete writing, editing, or design assignments under deadline pressure at seven sectional sites, with top finishers advancing to state finals.
📍 Illinois (seven sectional sites)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indian Institute of Science
IISc Summer Fellowship
Research fellowship at India's premier science institute in Bengaluru.
📍 Bengaluru, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
IIT Bombay
IIT Bombay Summer Research Fellowship
Competitive summer research placement at IIT Bombay across engineering fields.
📍 Mumbai, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana Latino Institute
ILI Promise Scholarship
Active ILI College Prep students may compete for partner-university scholarships covering in-state tuition, subject to admissions, academic, and program requirements.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Illinois Extension, Illinois 4-H
Illinois 4-H Road Trip: College & Career Readiness Conference
One-day statewide conference for youth in grades 8-12 offering interactive workshops on college and career readiness, professional networking, and postsecondary pathway exploration, open to 4-H members and non-members alike.
📍 Illinois (venue varies)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Illinois CPA Society
Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships
Illinois high-school seniors planning to study accounting at an Illinois college or university can compete for freshman scholarships of up to $2,000. Applicants must meet the program's academic and enrollment requirements.
📍 IL🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Illinois Envirothon (Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts)
Illinois Envirothon
Annual environmental science competition where five-student high school teams are tested on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current natural-resource issue, with top teams advancing to the national Envirothon.
📍 4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota (MathCEP)
IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
A weeklong day camp (June 22-26, 2026) on the Twin Cities campus where high schoolers who have completed single-variable calculus work in teams on open-ended, real-world mathematical modeling problems and present their solutions.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Imi Hoʻōla Pathway / UH Manoa SHARE
Free research program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
📍 HI⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Immerse Education
Immerse Education Essay Competition
Free international essay contest; winners receive 100% scholarships to Immerse summer residencies at Cambridge, Oxford, and elsewhere.
📍 Global📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Uncharted Learning
INCubatoredu Student Pitch Competition
Year-long high school entrepreneurship course with pitch night.
📍 Multiple schools⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ball State University
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
A selective, tuition-free two-year public residential high school on the Ball State campus for high-ability juniors and seniors, offering college-level courses, AP classes, and Ball State dual-credit options.
📍 Muncie, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana Department of Education
Indiana Career Scholarship Account
Eligible Indiana students in grades 10–12 can receive up to $5,000 annually for approved apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, credential programs, and related career preparation.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana DECA
Indiana DECA - High School
Indiana's DECA association for high school students in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, serving 4,500+ members across 60+ chapters with roleplay and case-study competitive events.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Indiana Envirothon
A five-student-team environmental science competition covering soils, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and a current issue, combining classroom study with field-based testing.
📍 Statewide, Indiana (regional and state contests)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana FBLA-PBL
Indiana FBLA - High School Division
The high school division of Future Business Leaders of America in Indiana, preparing students for business careers through competitive events, leadership conferences, and workshops.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana FFA Association
Indiana FFA - Secondary Programs
Indiana's agricultural education youth organization, with over 25,000 student members in grades 5-12 across more than 240 chapters, offering leadership development and career and technical education tied to school ag programs.
📍 Statewide, Indiana (Leadership Training Center in Trafalgar, IN)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Indiana (Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area)
Indiana Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A conservation-through-art contest where students draw a native duck, goose, or swan in its habitat; Indiana's Best of Show winner in the grades 10-12 category advances to the national competition.
📍 Submissions to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, Linton, IN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Latino Institute
Indiana Latino Institute Academic Scholarship
Graduating high-school seniors planning to attend an Indiana college can apply for an annual scholarship emphasizing academic achievement, financial need, and community service.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (ILYAC)
A legislatively created council of up to 22 Indiana youth ages 16-22 who advise the Indiana General Assembly on youth issues like education, employment, foster care, and health, serving two-year terms and issuing annual policy reports.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Indiana State Museum Volunteer Program
Volunteers, including teens, run public-program activity stations and support galleries at the central Indianapolis museum and 11 historic sites statewide, with hours documented for scholarship and service-hour needs.
📍 Indianapolis, IN, plus historic sites statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo Teen Program
Teens ages 13–17 can volunteer as naturalists, camp assistants, presentation assistants, and in other roles while developing conservation, communication, and leadership skills. Applications for new 2027 participants reopen October 1, 2026.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Design
Indigenous Design Camp
A week-long architecture camp for Indigenous junior high and high school students that uses the 'At Home in the Homelands' curriculum to teach Indigenous spatial design principles, has students build scale models, and tours the College of Design's fabrication shops and School of Architecture.
📍 University of Minnesota College of Design, Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Indigo Ridge
Student-run Morganton art and literature journal providing an outlet for student creative writing and artwork, with two issues annually.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
Individual Placements
Conservation opportunities for a variety of fields.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Inequality in America: America's Social and Economic Inequities
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Coast Waldorf School
Inkblot Writing Contest
A free fiction and poetry contest open to all Maine students in grades 4-12, judged within three grade divisions including 9-12, with cash prizes for winners and runners-up in each category.
📍 Freeport, ME (statewide submissions)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Jacobson Institute, University of Iowa
Innovator Competition
A pitch competition open to U.S. high school students in grades 9-12 with a business, product, or invention idea, no business coursework required, culminating in a Zoom pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs for seed capital.
📍 Remote (University of Iowa, Iowa City)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Cambridge / Innovators for Purpose
Innovators for Purpose Studio Internship
Cambridge teens use coding, web/app design, augmented reality, animation, design, and storytelling to build real projects addressing community and social challenges.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NMSU Arrowhead Center
Innoventure High School Challenge
Teams create prototypes, define markets/pricing/distribution and pitch business concepts through three competition rounds. The 2026–27 cycle is open now and participation is free.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MaineHealth / Maine Medical Center / Tufts University School of Medicine
Inside Medicine Summer Program
A free virtual statewide program where Maine high school students explore medical careers, hear from MaineHealth clinicians, learn healthcare terminology, and solve medical mystery cases guided by Tufts University medical students.
📍 Virtual (statewide), ME📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
George Washington University
INSPIRE Program
Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students explore relations between tribal governments and the federal government in a three-credit pre-college experience.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Inspirit AI
Inspirit AI Scholars (Aid)
AI research projects mentored by Stanford/MIT grads. Need-based aid covers full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-25 hours📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
InstaMed
Free statewide virtual healthcare program using two-hour clinical scenarios and guided discussions to expose students to medical careers and develop clinical reasoning and critical-thinking skills.
📍 Statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Valley City State University
INSTEM Academy
Native American students participate in residential STEM learning, college exposure and culturally responsive science and engineering activities.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Institute for Youth in Policy
Institute for Youth in Policy (Economics Dept)
A youth-led organization providing resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish research in economics.
📍 Online⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNC Wilmington
Interdisciplinary Health Professions Summer Summit (iHPSS)
Free health-care career program using interactive labs, case-based activities, teamwork and professional certification experiences.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Creative Writing Programs (High School)
High school creative writing summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Dance Programs (High School)
High school dance summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Film & New Media Programs (High School)
High school film & new media summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Interdisciplinary Arts Programs (High School)
High school interdisciplinary arts summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Music Programs (High School)
High school music summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: One-Week Intensives
One-week intensive arts programs for high school students in various disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Theatre Programs (High School)
High school theatre summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Three-Week Art Camps
Three-week arts programs for students in grades 6-12. Offers opportunities in various arts disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Visual Arts Programs (High School)
High school visual arts summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IOAA
International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad
International olympiad in astronomy and astrophysics with national selection rounds.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IBO
International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
International team competition for the four highest-scoring biology students from each participating country.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 2-day exam + travel📅 National selection: fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
American Chemical Society (ACS)
International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
The four top-performing students from the USNCO Study Camp represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad, competing with students from around the world.
📍 International📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IChO
International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
Annual competition for pre-university chemistry students; national teams are selected through country-level olympiads.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 2-day exam + travel📅 National selection: fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
IESO
International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO)
Team and individual tasks covering geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy. National selection required.
📍 Various📅 National selection spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IEO
International Economics Olympiad
International economics olympiad for high school students with national selection rounds.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IEFTA
International Emerging Film Talent Association
International youth film mentorship and festival access programs.
📍 International📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
iGeo
International Geography Olympiad
International geography olympiad with written, multimedia, and fieldwork tests.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NACLO/UKLO/OzCLO
International Linguistics Olympiad — National Rounds
National linguistics olympiads (NACLO, UKLO, OzCLO, etc.) that select for the IOL — many are open worldwide via school registration.
📍 Global (national organizers)📅 January–February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IOL
International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL)
Puzzle-based olympiad in theoretical, mathematical, and computational linguistics — no prior knowledge of the languages required.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ Multi-day contest📅 National selection: winter/spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IMMC
International Mathematical Modeling Challenge
International team-based math modeling competition for high schoolers.
📍 International📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
IMO Foundation
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
The oldest and most prestigious pre-university math olympiad; students qualify through their national math olympiad and represent their country at the IMO.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 2-day exam + travel📅 National selection: fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
IOI
International Olympiad in Informatics
Premier international algorithmic programming competition; qualify via national CS olympiad.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
IPO
International Philosophy Olympiad
International philosophical essay competition; students write in a language other than their native tongue.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
International Philosophy Olympiad
International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) - US Qualifiers
An annual philosophy essay competition for pre-university students globally.
📍 Online📅 January 31🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
IPhO
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
Annual international physics competition for secondary students; entry is through the national physics olympiad in your country.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 2-day exam + travel📅 National selection: fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
International Songwriting Competition
International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
A world-renowned songwriting competition that has launched the careers of many famous artists.
📍 Online📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IYPT
International Young Physicists' Tournament
International team competition where students research and defend solutions to open-ended physics problems.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 January (national selection)🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
IYPT US / USAYPT
International Young Physicists' Tournament (Online Regional)
Global physics competition for teams to solve 7 open-ended problems and present their results in online 'Physics Fights'.
📍 Online/Global⏱ Intermittent (matches)📅 February (Registration)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IYRC
International Youth Research Conference & Mentorship
Student-run research group providing mentorship and resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish original research.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 May (for summer/fall)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IZhO
International Zhautykov Olympiad
International math, physics, and CS olympiad hosted in Kazakhstan; individual events.
📍 Almaty, Kazakhstan📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Irvine Nature Center
Internship Program
Internships for high school and college-age students in environmental education, animal care, naturalist work, or early-childhood nature programming at a nonprofit nature center in Owings Mills.
📍 Owings Mills, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Maryland Clark School / USMSM
Invent the Future: Applied Artificial Intelligence Summer Camp
Students build and deploy AI solutions while learning coding, CAD, 3D printing, electronics, and engineering-design skills. The month-long 2026 program was free.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNH InterOperability Laboratory
IOL HighTech Bound Internship
Four-to-six-week paid technology internship for students entering senior year. Interns work with mentors on real hardware/software and networking projects and can earn 0.5 high-school credit.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Iowa Conservation Education Coalition
Iowa Envirothon
A team-based environmental problem-solving competition for grades 9-12 covering aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, soils, and current environmental issues, with the state winner advancing to the international NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Regional online exams statewide; state finals at Jester Park Nature Center, IA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa State Bar Association
Iowa High School Mock Trial Program
An academic competition open to students in grades 9-12 that simulates a criminal trial, pairing roughly 90 high schools and 130 teams each year with practicing attorneys and judges.
📍 Regional sites statewide; state finals in Iowa📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa Academy of Science
Iowa Junior Academy of Science Symposium
A statewide competition in Iowa where students present original STEM research to judges from industry and academia.
📍 Iowa City, IA⏱ 1 day📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA)
Iowa students whose schools cannot offer particular advanced courses can receive free access to nearly 30 online advanced and AP courses. Fall 2026 enrollment closed August 17, with additional enrollment cycles offered for later semesters.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF)
Iowa ProStart
A two-year culinary and restaurant-management curriculum for high school students that combines classroom instruction with mentored workplace hours, culminating in the ProStart Invitational culinary, management, and cake-decorating competitions.
📍 Participating high schools statewide, Iowa📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Irene H. Bailey Cardiology Academy
High-school students study cardiovascular medicine, heart disease, health education, epidemiology, and community health advocacy.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Cambridge
Isaac Physics
Free platform of physics and math problem sets with online mentoring, mastery levels, and printable revision sheets used by GCSE, A-level, and international students worldwide.
📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Illinois State Bar Association
ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational
Annual mock trial competition, held since 1982, where Illinois high school teams argue a simulated case before real courts with practicing attorneys as judges, with the winning team advancing to the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📍 Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
ISEF Awards
Regeneron ISEF finalists compete for over $7 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships.
📍 Phoenix, AZ (2026)📅 Varies (part of ISEF competition)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
ISEF Categories and Subcategories
Definitions and details of the categories of competition for Regeneron ISEF.
📍 Remote🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
ISEF Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions for students, parents, and teachers about the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
ISEF International Rules and Guidelines
Official rules and guidelines for competition at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
ISEF Project Database
Searchable database of abstracts from Regeneron ISEF projects from 2014 to 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Dual Credit / Indiana College Core
A free dual-credit program through 450+ partner Indiana high schools letting students earn college credit taught by credentialed high school teachers, either toward career certificates or the 30-credit-hour Indiana College Core.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Arizona
JA Be Entrepreneurial
Modular entrepreneurship program for grades 9-12 covering Lean Canvas business planning, design-thinking problem solving, and entrepreneurial mindset, deliverable in classroom, remote-live, or after-school formats, with a path to the JA Social Innovation Challenge.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Arkansas
JA Be Entrepreneurial (Think Like an Entrepreneur)
A three-module high school program using Design Thinking to help students generate a business idea and build a one-page business plan, delivered in classrooms, after-school clubs, or virtually.
📍 Delivered in partner schools statewide, Arkansas📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of New York
JA Business Plan Competition (BPC)
An intensive entrepreneurship education experience where high school teams develop a viable business plan for a product or service over six 45-minute sessions, competing through online and live rounds for cash prizes.
📍 New York State (partner schools)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi
JA Company Program
Experiential entrepreneurship program in which high schoolers identify a community need and build, capitalize, and manage a real student-run business venture.
📍 Statewide (school-based)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Greater Boston
JA Company Program
A semester- or year-long entrepreneurship program in which high school students conceive, launch, and manage their own business venture, learning business planning, financial management, marketing, and sales under the mentorship of business volunteers.
📍 Boston, MA (delivered in-school or after-school statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Maine
JA Company Program
A hands-on entrepreneurship program in which Maine high school students conceptualize, fund, and manage their own student-led business venture with mentorship from community volunteers, with a path to the JA Company of the Year national competition.
📍 Statewide, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Maine
JA Titan
A simulation-based program where Maine high school students compete as CEOs running a virtual phone company, making production, marketing, and R&D decisions over five mentored weeks before a statewide competition.
📍 Statewide, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Engineering Foundation
Jack Verhines Memorial Scholarship
$1,500 one-time engineering scholarship for a graduating high-school student administered through NMEF.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The Jackson Laboratory
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Paid genetics research at JAX. Highly competitive, all expenses + stipend.
📍 ME⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Nevada Department of Wildlife
James Lathrop and Wayne Capurro Memorial Internship
Graduating Nevada seniors interested in wildlife management can become paid seasonal NDOW employees and receive hands-on training while earning money toward college.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The Jackson Laboratory
JAX Summer Student Program (Bar Harbor)
A 10-week residential research fellowship at The Jackson Laboratory's Bar Harbor, Maine campus, where high school seniors and undergraduates join ongoing genetics and genomics research under a scientific mentor and present their findings at summer's end.
📍 Bar Harbor, ME📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab)
Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program (HSSHP)
Paid summer internship at Jefferson Lab in which high school students work with mentors on scientific or technical projects. Requires a student application, two recommender forms, a parent acknowledgement and a transcript.
📍 Newport News, VA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Johns Hopkins
JHU Internship in Brain Sciences
Paid neuroscience research for Baltimore-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MD⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Jimmy Rane Foundation
Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship
Graduating seniors are evaluated on academics, financial need, leadership, and community involvement for renewable college scholarship support. Alabama is an eligible state.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
James Madison University STEM Center
JMU Anatomy Expo and Anato-Bee
A no-cost Saturday for high school students with JMU anatomy students and professors, exploring models and specimens, with an optional Anato-Bee competition that is a run-off for the Regional Anato-Bee.
📍 Harrisonburg, VA (James Madison University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
James Madison University STEM Center / Department of Biology
JMU Brain Bee
A low-pressure neuroscience competition for students ages 13-19 with questions from the free book Brain Facts plus hands-on activities in JMU neuroscience labs; the winner advances to the national Brain Bee.
📍 Harrisonburg, VA (James Madison University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Job Shadow Program
High-school students complete a structured day shadowing professionals in aquarium operations, education, exhibits or animal husbandry.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
Massachusetts public-school students can qualify through MCAS performance for a tuition credit covering up to eight semesters at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Yale Peabody Museum
John and Dorothy Allen Summer Internship
Students in Yale's EVOLUTIONS pipeline can obtain paid summer positions working in Peabody collections and Yale science laboratories on authentic projects.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Free essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Open worldwide, ages up to 18.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition
International essay competition across philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law.
📍 Global📅 Late June🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
John Stockman Memorial Scholarship
Available to graduating high-school or homeschool seniors in several Northern Nevada counties, plus South Lake Tahoe High School.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCSSM
Jon Miller Student Writing Competition
NCSSM students submit original poetry, fiction and nonfiction for competitive judging and cash awards.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
JEI (Harvard)
Journal of Emerging Investigators
Free peer-reviewed publication venue for middle/high school STEM research. Real PhD reviewers.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
JHSS
Journal of High School Science
STEM and humanities journal for high school students.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Journal of the Penn Manuscript Collective
Undergraduate humanities journal welcoming exceptional HS work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DoD / National Science Teaching Assoc
JSHS
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Regional and national competitions in original STEM research, with cash awards and DoD lab tours.
📍 Regional sites nationwide⏱ 2 days📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska State Bar Foundation
Judge Lyle Strom High School Mock Trial Program
More than 1,000 Nebraska students and teachers participate annually in this mock trial program, preparing prosecution/plaintiff and defense cases from an original fictional case packet, competing regionally before advancing to the State Finals and potentially the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📍 Statewide Nebraska; State Finals in Lincoln, NE📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition
A statewide mock trial competition in which Louisiana high school teams argue both sides of a case before real judges and local bar members at regional competitions, with regional winners advancing to a state championship and then the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Judicial Youth Corps
Students spend six weeks learning about the Massachusetts judiciary while working with judges, lawyers, clerks, and probation officers and participating in mock trials and court-related activities.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Unified Court System
Judiciary Civics Essay Contest
Statewide high-school essay competition addressing constitutional government, courts, law and civic participation. The 2026–27 submission window runs September–November.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
JA Worldwide
Junior Achievement Company of the Year
International youth business venture competition run in 100+ countries.
📍 International (national organizations)📅 Varies by country🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
JA USA
Junior Achievement Company Program
After-school program where high schoolers create and operate a real business venture.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Science Center of Iowa
Junior Camp Counselor
Teens ages 14–18 assist with children's science activities while developing communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. A two-week weekday commitment is required; summer 2027 applications open in February 2027.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
Junior Docents
Teens spend the summer as museum educators, working in exhibit halls with scientists, curators and visitors while developing science communication and optional art/technology/writing projects.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Jr. Iditarod, Inc.
Junior Iditarod Sled Dog Race
A qualifying sled dog race for teen mushers ages 14-17, run the weekend before the Iditarod, from Knik Lake to Yentna Station Roadhouse and back with a mandatory rest stop.
📍 Knik Lake / Wasilla, AK📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Junior Naturalist Program
A self-paced, tiered outdoor-education and volunteer program at South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas for youth ages 7-18, combining naturalist-led programs, recreational activities, and conservation volunteer work.
📍 State parks statewide, SD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium / University of Indianapolis
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) — Indiana Region
A Department of Defense-sponsored regional research symposium where Indiana high schoolers present original STEM research and compete for undergraduate tuition scholarships, hosted at the University of Indianapolis.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Frisbie Memorial Hospital (HCA Healthcare)
Junior Volunteer Program
Hospital volunteer program for students 14 and older, offering roles such as patient visits, therapy-dog visits, delivering books and magazines, and clerical support in non-clinical areas.
📍 Rochester, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD)
Junior Volunteer Program (Summer) at CHKD
A summer junior volunteer program for high school students who turn 15 by June 1, with two-week morning or afternoon shifts, mostly office-based assignments and some patient-contact roles.
📍 Norfolk, VA📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Mariners' Museum and Park
Junior Volunteer Team at The Mariners' Museum and Park
Students ages 14-17 volunteer as gallery station hosts or lobby greeters, interacting with visitors after required orientation and training.
📍 Newport News, VA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Junior Volunteers / Summer Volunteer Program
A hospital volunteer program at Maine Medical Center's Portland campus open to students age 14 and up, with a dedicated summer-only track for high school and college students to gain healthcare-setting experience.
📍 Portland, ME📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Living Museum
Junior Volunteers at the Virginia Living Museum
Volunteers ages 11-17 interpret exhibits and wildlife for guests, with roles such as Touch Pool, Astronomy and Green Teens opening at age 15, and complete orientation and wear a museum uniform.
📍 Newport News, VA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California Coastal Commission
K–12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest
Students create original visual artwork or poetry inspired by California's coast and ocean, with selected pieces displayed publicly in a traveling exhibit.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Community Foundation
K. William Wiseman Engineering Scholarship
Graduating seniors from Maine high schools planning to pursue engineering at an accredited college or university can apply for renewable financial support.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Nebraska High School
K.O. Broady Scholarship
Need- and merit-informed scholarship providing full or partial payment of UNHS tuition and administrative fees for current or prospective University of Nebraska High School students. The Fall 2026 application is currently open.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kaggle
Kaggle Competitions
Global data-science competition platform with beginner "Getting Started" tracks, community notebooks, and cash-prize challenges accessible from anywhere.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kanawha County Public Library
Kanawha County Public Library VolunTEEN Program
Summer teen volunteers at Kanawha County Public Library branches help with special events, prepare displays and shelve materials, and can also help at the West Virginia Book Festival.
📍 Kanawha County Public Library branches, Charleston, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Math Kangaroo International
Kangaroo Math Competition
Global multiple-choice math competition run in 90+ countries.
📍 Global (participating countries)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wichita State University College of Engineering / BEST Robotics
Kansas BEST Robotics Competition
Middle- and high-school teams receive materials and seven weeks to design, build, program, and test a remote-controlled robot before competing at WSU. Participation is fee-free.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Kansas City Zoo VolunTEEN Program
A year-round teen volunteer program in which students in grades 8-12 lead animal presentations, work alongside animal care specialists, and develop communication, technology, and leadership skills; high school seniors may also participate during summer only.
📍 Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, Kansas City, MO📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD)
Kansas Envirothon
North America's largest high school environmental education competition, where 5-student teams test their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology, and rangeland management, plus an annually-changing current-issue topic.
📍 Kansas (regional sites; state contest in Salina, KS)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kansas Board of Regents
Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship
Academically competitive, financially eligible Kansas students from qualifying groups may receive up to $1,850 annually while attending an eligible Kansas institution.
📍 KS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Kansas History Day (National History Day affiliate)
Kansas History Day
A year-long research program where students in grades 6-12 investigate a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website, advancing from district to state to national competition.
📍 Kansas (district sites, state contest in Topeka)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kansas Corporation Commission / K-State Engineering Extension
Kansas KidWind Challenge
Teams design and test wind turbines, complete a renewable-energy knowledge component, and present their design process. Regional winners advance to the Kansas state event and potentially the World KidWind Challenge.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kansas Board of Regents
Kansas State Scholarship
Kansas seniors completing the Kansas Scholars Curriculum may be designated State Scholars using GPA and ACT performance. Financially eligible recipients can receive up to $1,000 annually at Kansas institutions.
📍 KS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Minnesota Morris (Kapemni Collaboration)
Kapemni Astrophysics Summer Camp
A fully NSF-funded, six-day residential astrophysics camp on the UMN Morris campus where high schoolers observe stars and deep-sky objects through telescopes, study relativity, gravitational waves, and the Big Bang, and learn Native American astronomy and mathematics from Indigenous astrophysicists. Participants earn one UMN Morris college credit for Phys 1007.
📍 Morris, MN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Science Museum of Minnesota Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center
KAYSC High School Program
Students in grades 9–12 become paid museum employees while developing STEM expertise, leadership, professional skills, and community-focused projects in biology/public health, media/technology, environmental science, or engineering/design.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission / Fort Smith International Film Festival / Arkansas Cinema Society
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Statewide High School Video Contest
Students in grades 9-12 create a 30-second-or-shorter video commercial promoting environmental responsibility, litter prevention, or recycling in Arkansas, submitted free through FilmFreeway.
📍 Statewide, Arkansas (submissions via FilmFreeway)📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Kelley Women's Leadership Institute
High-school students explore business and leadership with Kelley faculty through case-based activities, teamwork, and exposure to business majors and careers. Fall 2026 virtual sessions are available to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wertheim UF Scripps Institute
Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship
Students spend eight weeks full-time conducting individual biomedical research in a UF Scripps laboratory while learning experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Kent Free Library
Kent Free Library Teen Volunteer Program
Students assist patrons and library staff through structured summer volunteer shifts while developing customer-service and professional skills.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Kentucky DECA (DECA Inc.)
Kentucky DECA
Kentucky DECA prepares high school members for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through competitive events, a State Career Development Conference, and five regional divisions across the state.
📍 Frankfort, KY (state office); regional and state conferences statewide📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
Kentucky high-school students accumulate college scholarship money based on their GPA each year, with additional awards possible for ACT/SAT and qualifying advanced-course examinations.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet / KY Conservation Districts
Kentucky Envirothon
Teams of five high school students (grades 9-12) test their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and a current environmental issue at hands-on field stations, with regional winners advancing to the state contest and the international North American Envirothon.
📍 Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center, Hardinsburg, KY (regional rounds held statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Kentucky FBLA
Kentucky FBLA prepares high school students for business leadership careers through 201 active chapters, regional and state leadership conferences, and competitive business events.
📍 Frankfort, KY (state office); regional conferences in March, state conference in April📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Kentucky FCCLA
Kentucky FCCLA is the state's Family and Consumer Sciences career and technical student organization, offering 50+ competitive STAR Events and Skill Demonstrations across pathways in human services, hospitality, education, and visual arts.
📍 Frankfort, KY (state office); chapters statewide📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky FFA Association
Kentucky FFA High School Career & Leadership Development Events
Kentucky FFA members compete in more than 40 Career and Leadership Development Events covering fields like agronomy, veterinary science, welding, and parliamentary procedure, aligned with agricultural education coursework and governed by the Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators.
📍 Regional sites statewide; State Convention at Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky High School Mock Trial Association (KHSMTA)
Kentucky High School Mock Trial Association
A nonprofit that runs Kentucky's statewide high school mock trial competition, where student teams argue both sides of a fictional legal case, competing through three regional tournaments that feed into a 'Sweet 16' state championship.
📍 Regional sites and state championship, Kentucky📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park Teen (Minor) Volunteer Program
Kentucky Horse Park's Minor Volunteer Program lets 16- and 17-year-olds (with a parent attending orientation) serve in roles like park ambassador, museum assistant, or stable helper after completing a background check and orientation.
📍 Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Kentucky Science Center
Kentucky Science Center Volunteer Program
Kentucky Science Center's teen volunteer program lets high schoolers staff exhibit halls, run science demonstrations, and assist with camps and special events, building presentation and leadership skills that carry toward paid positions at 18.
📍 Louisville, KY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Secretary of State
Kentucky Secretary of State Essay Contest
Kentucky high-school students submit an original essay of up to 1,000 words addressing an annual civics theme. Winners receive prizes and recognition at a public ceremony.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kenyon Review
Kenyon Review Young Writers (Online Program & Publication)
The official high school literary magazine of the Kenyon Review, accepting poetry and prose globally. Virtual workshops also available.
📍 Online/Kenyon College⏱ Annual publication📅 May (Summer Review)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kiwanis
Key Club International
Largest international high school service organization with leadership conferences.
📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Pennsylvania
Keystone Boys State
A week-long civic-leadership program simulating Pennsylvania state government for young men who have completed their junior year of high school, selected for leadership, character, scholarship, and community service, with fees covered by American Legion posts.
📍 Mechanicsburg, PA (Messiah University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Pennsylvania
Keystone Girls State
A seven-day, non-partisan government and civics leadership program for young women who have completed their junior year of high school, who establish their own mock city, county, and state government and run for office.
📍 Shippensburg, PA (Shippensburg University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Keystone STEM Competition
One-day statewide real-world STEM/design challenge.
📍 PA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Khan Academy / Medline Plus
Khan Academy Health & Medicine Pathway
Learn the science behind medicine and the human body through interactive coursework developed by top universities. Ideal for medical-track HS students.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible (1-year access)📅 Self-paced🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Khanservatory / Khan Academy Affiliate
Khan Academy Student Ambassador Program
High school students from the US can serve as 'International Ambassadors' to help with online math tutoring and outreach.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky High School Athletic Association
KHSAA Esports (powered by PlayVS)
Kentucky's only officially sanctioned varsity high school esports league, played through PlayVS across titles like Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Street Fighter 6, with coach-led teams competing in fall and spring seasons that end in state championships.
📍 Online play statewide; season championships announced through KHSAA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kimbell Art Museum
Kimbell Teen Council
Grade 9-12 members work with museum professionals to plan and run Kimbell teen programs such as Teen Hangouts, volunteer at education programs and events, and consult on museum projects. Members learn about the collection through behind-the-scenes experiences.
📍 Fort Worth, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation High School Journalism
Various Knight-funded high school journalism programs and fellowships.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Dickinson College
Knowledge for Freedom Seminar
Free two-week residential humanities/civic seminar with college-admissions support, particularly supporting first-gen/lower-income rising seniors.
📍 PA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Knowledge@Wharton Comment & Win
Monthly free contests where students comment on Knowledge@Wharton articles for cash prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Monthly🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton/Penn
Knowledge@Wharton High School
Free online business journal and articles plus essay competitions for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton/UPenn
Knowledge@Wharton High School Comment & Win
Monthly essay/comment contest on business topics.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Monthly🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kode With Klossy
Kode With Klossy Applications
Kode With Klossy scholars are curious, community-minded, creative individuals who want to explore the possibilities of technology. We welcome all applicants who identify as young women and gender expansive, ages 13-18 — regardless of CS experience.
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kode With Klossy
Kode With Klossy Camp
Free two-week coding camps for girls and gender-expansive teens ages 13-18.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 2 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Kode With Klossy
Kode With Klossy Summer Programs
Coding programs for young women and gender expansive youth, ages 13-18. No coding experience required. Programs are free.
📍 remote🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kaiser Permanente
KP LAUNCH High School Program
Seven-week full-time employment experience inside Kaiser Permanente hospitals, medical centers and business offices, plus weekly professional-development workshops, mentorship and networking.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kansas Department of Mathematics
KU Mathematics and Statistics Competition — High School Division
High-school students take a 50-minute mathematics examination covering material through roughly 11th-grade mathematics. First through third places receive recognition and cash prizes.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kansas
KU Project SEARCH
Paid biomedical research at KU Med Center for Kansas students.
📍 KS⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
KUNR Public Radio / University of Nevada, Reno Reynolds School of Journalism / Washoe County School District
KUNR Youth Media Internship
Washoe County high-school students train as reporters and produce interviews, audio diaries, commentaries and news stories that are published or broadcast by KUNR.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
LA Zoo Teen Council for Conservation
A nine-month leadership program for about 30 LA high schoolers representing each City Council district, focused on conservation and environmental justice, culminating in a youth-led Conservation Symposium.
📍 Los Angeles Zoo, Los Angeles, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Princeton University
Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
A free, full-time 5-6 week summer research placement for local New Jersey high schoolers inside an active Princeton lab, closely supervised by faculty and research staff across biophysics, engineering, psychology, and the natural sciences.
📍 Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Carolina Department of Administration
Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program
Four-week paid summer mentorship placing North Carolina high-school girls in state-government agencies for career exploration and professional development.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Park Service, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Lake Roosevelt NRA Youth Conservation Corps
Paid summer Youth Conservation Corps jobs for students ages 15 to under 19 at Spring Canyon, Fort Spokane and Kettle Falls, with up to nine enrollees recruited per season; no prior experience required.
📍 Lake Roosevelt NRA (Coulee Dam, Fort Spokane, Kettle Falls), WA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Tourism Department / Breaking Bad Habits
Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors
Juniors and seniors lead community environmental projects throughout the school year, receive leadership/project-management training and earn a $3,000 stipend upon successful completion. The 2026–27 cohort is active.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UW-Madison Language Institute
Languages of the World Day (UW-Madison)
A one-day event at Union South where Wisconsin high school students and teachers sample languages and cultures through breakout sessions on language, music, dance, film and the scientific study of language led by about 60 UW-Madison faculty, staff and students.
📍 Madison, WI📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LANL Foundation
LANL Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship
High-school students in Northern New Mexico can receive up to $3,000 toward associate degrees, certificates or professional trade credentials.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
LANL Foundation
LANL Foundation Four-Year Scholarship Program
Northern New Mexico seniors can receive awards ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 over four years for college inside or outside New Mexico.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Los Alamos National Laboratory
LANL UTS High School Pipeline
Paid internships at LANL for Northern New Mexico students.
📍 NM⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice
Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship
New Hampshire seniors use visual art, writing, music, dance or other creative work to address human-rights issues. The 2026 program distributed $15,000 among eight students.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
City of Laramie
Laramie Youth Council
A youth advisory council of up to 15 members ages 14-19 who liaise between youth and city government and carry out community projects such as recycling and food insecurity initiatives.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Latinas in STEM
Latinas in STEM 101 Workshops
Events that bring Latinas into STEM through hands-on technology workshops and panels.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 1 day📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
LAW — Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters Scholarship
Eligible dependent children or spouses of Mississippi law-enforcement officers or firefighters killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty can receive tuition, required fees, and average campus housing for up to eight semesters at a state-supported institution.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New York State Unified Court System
Law Day High School Art Contest
Students create original visual art responding to the annual Law Day theme, with statewide recognition and cash prizes.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mecklenburg County Bar Association (DEI Committee) & Central Piedmont Community College
Law Launchpad: A Journey to Justice
A four-day law-career exploration camp for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, featuring 90-minute sessions with diverse legal professionals covering public speaking, group projects, and conflict resolution.
📍 Huntersville, NC (CPCC Merancas Campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Maryland Youth & the Law (MYLaw) / Maryland State Bar Association / Maryland State Dept. of Education
Law Links Internship
A 7-week paid summer internship placing Baltimore City public high school juniors and seniors in law firms and law-related agencies full-time, paired with a weekly Law & Leadership Institute seminar at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
New York State Bar Association
Law, Youth and Citizenship Program (We the People NY)
NYSBA's civic education initiative, established in 1974, which administers New York's We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution competition alongside the state's high school Mock Trial program.
📍 New York (statewide)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana Tech University Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Lead & Launch: The Innovation Institute
Rising juniors and seniors spend a free week developing an entrepreneurial mindset, creating a business idea in teams, visiting organizations, meeting entrepreneurs, and pitching on the final day.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Leadership Development
Pre-College Leadership Development program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NC State University College of Education
Leadership Institute for Future Teachers (LIFT)
A six-day, invitational, cost-free program for rising high school seniors (especially students of color and bilingual students) interested in teaching, featuring field-based school activities, interaction with education leaders, and mentorship from NC State College of Education students.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
MIT Department of Biology / Health Resources in Action
LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Boston, Cambridge, and Everett public-school students enter a two-year pathway beginning with a paid five-week laboratory course and continuing with a six-week research internship the following summer.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Learn & Earn
Year-round academic/career program for eligible NYC juniors and seniors culminating in a paid six-week summer internship.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Learn To Be Foundation
Learn To Be Tutor
A 1-on-1 online tutoring program for low-income K-12 students. High schoolers can apply to tutor and earn volunteer hours.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Community Foundation
Lee Patterson Scholarship Fund for Classical Voice Training
Young musicians can receive financial assistance for classical voice training in opera, operetta, and art-song repertoire. Preference is given to students from Hancock and Washington counties.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers University Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
LEEDAR Summer Research Program
High-school juniors and seniors spend roughly six to eight weeks working on an actual research project alongside researchers in a Rutgers chemistry laboratory.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LeetCode
LeetCode Weekly Contest
Free weekly competitive programming contests.
📍 Online⏱ 90 min📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Cleveland State University
Legacy ++ Program
A free, NSF-supported, week-long residential program at Cleveland State for Black young women in Ohio high schools preparing to take the AP Computer Science Principles exam, pairing them with mentors who are Black women in computer science.
📍 Cleveland, OH (Cleveland State University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lehigh University
Lehigh University High School Math Contest
An annual math competition for high schoolers held on Lehigh's campus, with archived problems and results dating back to 1981; the 45th annual contest in 2026 drew 116 student participants.
📍 Bethlehem, PA (Lehigh University)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee
LESC Legislative Internship
A paid internship placing a New Mexico high school senior with legislative staff to research education policy, attend interim committee meetings around the state, and interact directly with lawmakers.
📍 Santa Fe, NM (travel to interim committee meetings statewide)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Let's Get Ready
Let's Get Ready College Access
Free SAT prep and college advising from near-peer mentors.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Texas Center for the Book, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Letters About Literature (Texas)
A free reading-and-writing contest in which Texas students write a letter to an author explaining how the author's work changed their view of themselves or the world. The grade 9-12 category awards cash prizes of $100-$300 and a travel stipend to the Texas Library Association conference.
📍 Texas (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC)
LevelUpWV Dual Enrollment
A state-funded dual enrollment program that lets high school juniors and seniors take college courses in career pathways including Health Care, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Education.
📍 West Virginia📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Atrium Health
Levine Children's Hospital Summer Teen Volunteer Program
Teen volunteers serve in a children's-hospital environment while participating in structured educational and service activities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Lexa and Marla DaVee Family Scholarship
Supports Nevada students pursuing healthcare or related sciences at colleges, community colleges or trade schools, with preference for applicants facing financial or access barriers.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Lexington High School (student-run, Hack Club)
LexHack
A free, in-person hackathon at Lexington Community Center where high school students form teams to build software projects around a yearly theme over two Saturdays and a remote build week.
📍 Lexington, MA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota
LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program (High School)
Eight-week summer cardiovascular research program for high school juniors and seniors (16+, U.S. citizens): scholars join a laboratory with a faculty mentor for intensive basic or clinical research, plus weekly faculty/industry seminars and field trips. Scholars are paid an hourly wage. 2027 high school session runs May 31 to July 23.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma City Community College
Lights, Camera, Action! Digital Cinema Production
Digital filmmaking and cinema-production academy.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 10, 12
Selective
Caltech
LIGO SURF
Gravitational-wave research at Caltech. Need-based travel and housing aid.
📍 CA⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lilly Endowment / Independent Colleges of Indiana / Indiana Community Foundations
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program
Indiana graduating seniors compete through local community foundations for full tuition and required fees at eligible Indiana colleges, plus a book stipend. County selection criteria and deadlines vary.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Southeastern Louisiana University
Lion's Code CyberCamp
A free coding and cybersecurity camp for grades 8-12 requiring no prior experience, using NICERC curriculum with virtual capture-the-flag scenarios and lessons on encryption and cyber careers.
📍 Hammond, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Misericordia University
Literature & Mass Media Camp
Literature and mass media camp.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City Bureau
Local News for Teens Internships (CityBureau Documenters)
Paid civic journalism documenters program in select cities.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair (LACSEF)
The largest science fair specifically for LA County students, where roughly 1,000 middle and high schoolers present research projects for medals, scholarships, and advancement to state and international fairs.
📍 Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League
Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL)
A nonprofit policy debate league that brings competitive debate, tournaments, a debate school, and a summer camp to underserved Los Angeles-area high schools to close the opportunity gap.
📍 Los Angeles, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana Department of Education / Louisiana State University
Louisiana Aspiring Educator Summer Academy
Students enrolled in Louisiana pre-educator pathways participate in a free five-day leadership and professional-learning academy focused on teaching, communication, networking, and effective educational practice.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tulane University
Louisiana Center for College Access Summer Residential Program
Rising Louisiana juniors and seniors who are first-generation students or lack college-readiness resources spend two residential weeks learning about admissions, financial aid, college life, and the application process while visiting multiple colleges. Scholarships cover most or all attendance costs.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The National WWII Museum (Louisiana affiliate of National History Day)
Louisiana History Day
A project-based history research competition for grades 6-12 (Senior Division is 9-12) where students create a paper, exhibit, website, performance, or documentary and advance through Regional, State, and National contests.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA (state contest at West Baton Rouge Museum)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech Lead & Launch College/Entrepreneurship Experience
Rising juniors and seniors work directly with Louisiana Tech business faculty, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to develop and pitch an original venture while experiencing university-level entrepreneurship.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Louisville Zoo
Louisville Zoo Teen Program
Students ages 13–18 volunteer in zoo-related roles and explore careers involving animal care, education, conservation, horticulture, and visitor engagement. Applications for the next teen cycle are expected to return in January 2027.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Madison Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
LSC Kramer Fund Summer Internship (UW-Madison Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Paid 8-week lab internship doing supervised routine lab tasks in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology for a Dane County high school junior or graduating senior interested in a science career.
📍 Madison, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine
LSU Health New Orleans Summer Research Internship Program — High School
High-school students complete an eight-week, full-time biomedical research internship with LSU Health mentors, attend scientific seminars, and present their findings at a poster symposium. The 2026 high-school stipend was $2,645.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana State University
LSU HSSR (High School Summer Research)
Paid research at LSU for Louisiana students.
📍 LA⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Research Scholar (Aid)
Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Lurie Children's Hospital Summer Intensive Volunteer Program
Summer-only volunteer program for teens age 16 and up featuring patient-focused service projects, a healthcare career panel, and interactive trainings culminating in a completion certificate.
📍 Chicago, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MultiCare Health System
M.A.S.H. Camp - Puget Sound (MultiCare)
A free one-week summer health care career camp for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in Pierce, south King, Kitsap and north Thurston counties, with hands-on skill stations and exposure to nursing, therapy, pharmacy and other fields.
📍 Tacoma area, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
MultiCare Health System
M.A.S.H. Camp - Spokane (MultiCare)
A free four-day summer health care career camp in the Spokane region for high school students, run by MultiCare with hands-on clinical skill stations.
📍 Spokane, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MultiCare Health System
M.A.S.H. Camp - Yakima (MultiCare)
A free four-day summer health care career camp for Yakima County high school students, hosted by MultiCare at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.
📍 Yakima, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
M.I.N.D.S. Program (Medical Internship Navigating and Discovering Science)
A paid, multi-week summer medical-pathway internship (now expanded into a multi-year mentorship) for NJ high school juniors/seniors from underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds, including SAT prep, CPR/Narcan certification, physician shadowing, and community-health projects.
📍 Nutley, NJ📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America Wisconsin Section / UW-Whitewater
MAA Wisconsin Section High School Math Contest
Wisconsin Section math contest for high school students, a 75-minute exam hosted by UW-Whitewater with registration through a form for participating schools.
📍 Whitewater, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Madison College Center for Entrepreneurship
Madison College Pitch
A business pitch competition for area high school students who submit a 2.5 to 3 minute video covering the problem, solution, target market and financials, with finalists presenting live to judges at the Madison College Truax campus.
📍 Madison, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Madison Public Library
Madison Public Library Volunteer Program (Teens)
Volunteers 17 and under can apply through the library's volunteer form for tasks such as pulling holds, packing maker kits, seed library work and program setup, with teen roles such as the Pinney Library PlayLab associate.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Madison Poet Laureate Program
Madison Youth Poet Laureate
A one-year honor for a Madison poet ages 13 to 19 that includes three public readings with the Madison Poet Laureate and the chance to apply for the National Youth Poet Laureate role.
📍 Madison, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CyberWyoming Alliance
MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge
An entry-level, beginner-friendly cybersecurity puzzle challenge open to high school, college and nontraditional students, played virtually from school computer rooms.
📍 Wyoming (online)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Department of Education
Maine DOE Student Cabinet
Students from across Maine advise the Department of Education about educational opportunities, improvements, and policy, with the state aiming for representation from every county.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USM STEM Outreach / National Science Bowl
Maine High School Science Bowl
The Maine regional of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl, where four-student high school teams face off in fast-paced question-and-answer rounds covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, energy, and math.
📍 USM Portland Campus, Portland, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance
Maine Literary Awards — Youth Awards
Maine middle- and high-school writers compete in a statewide literary competition. Youth submissions are free and are considered alongside Maine's broader annual literary awards.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maine / Margaret Chase Smith Library
Maine National History Day
A year-long research and project-based competition for grades 6-12 in which students create a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website on a historical topic tied to an annual theme, advancing from classroom to state to national competition.
📍 Orono, ME (University of Maine)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Arts Commission / Maine Humanities Council
Maine Poetry Out Loud
A National Endowment for the Arts recitation program in which Maine high schoolers memorize and perform poetry, advancing from the classroom level through regional competition to the statewide finals.
📍 Statewide, ME📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Press Association
Maine Press Association Scholarship
A need-based scholarship for Maine high school seniors and college students pursuing journalism, awarded based on internship or student-news experience, a cover letter, resume, and writing samples.
📍 Statewide, ME📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Maine Science Olympiad
Maine Science Olympiad
Maine's Division C state tournament of the nationwide Science Olympiad, where high school teams of up to 15 students compete across 23 events spanning biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, math, and engineering.
📍 Statewide (site varies), ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Venture Fund
Maine Startup Challenge — High School Tier
Maine high-school students turn an idea into a one-page business plan and compete before entrepreneurs and investors. The high-school tier awards $1,500 for first place and $500 for runner-up.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Association of Math Leagues (MAML)
Maine State Math Meet
MAML runs five regular-season math league meets across six regional leagues plus an annual statewide championship, testing high school teams on arithmetic-through-precalculus problems without calculators, and selects Maine's ARML team.
📍 Augusta Civic Center (state meet), ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Jackson Laboratory & Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance
Maine State Science Fair
Maine's statewide science fair, open to students in grades 9-12 from any public, private, parochial, or home school, where participants present independent research projects to expert judges for cash prizes and college scholarships.
📍 Statewide (rotating host high school), ME📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Waterville Creates (Maine Film Center)
Maine Student Film + Video Festival
A free, no-entry-fee film festival open to Maine residents 19 and under in grades K-12, judging student-made Narrative, Documentary, and Creative (animation/experimental) films of up to 10 minutes.
📍 Waterville, ME📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Secretary of State
Maine Voting and Democracy Essay Contest
Maine students in grades 9–12 submit essays of up to 1,500 words about voting and democracy. Winners receive recognition from the Secretary of State and have their work publicized.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MaineHealth / The Opportunity Alliance
Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN)
A statewide youth leadership network for ages 14-18 focused on community advocacy around substance use, mental health, and bullying prevention, including local Youth Policy Boards and an annual Youth Leadership Conference.
📍 South Portland, ME (statewide network)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Youth for Climate Justice (MYCJ)
Maine Youth for Climate Justice High School Cohort
Free, peer-led statewide cohort connecting Maine high school climate and environmental activists, offering mini-grants and outreach support for student-led school and community sustainability projects; no prior organizing experience required.
📍 Statewide, Maine📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MaineHealth Workforce Development
MaineHealth Career Compass
Maine students in grades 9–12 attend free statewide virtual panels introducing healthcare careers through interactive sessions with people working across the health system.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MLH
Major League Hacking (MLH) Digital Events
MLH partners with dozens of online student-led hackathons throughout the year accessible to any student with an internet connection.
📍 Online⏱ 24-48 hours📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MLH
Major League Hacking High School Hackathons
Calendar of student hackathons; many high school-friendly.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MLH
Major League Hacking Local Hack Day
Free worldwide student hackathons run by MLH. Beginner-friendly tracks.
📍 Worldwide⏱ 1-2 days📅 Year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lincoln Park Zoo
Malott Family Research Apprenticeship Program
Chicago students spend seven paid weeks working alongside zoo scientists on an original conservation-research project and finish by communicating their findings. Applicants must be Chicago residents and generally enter grades 11 or 12.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lincoln Park Zoo
Malott Family Zoo Intern Program
Chicago teens serve as paid zoo interpreters while learning about animals, conservation, science communication, and zoo careers. The seven-week 2026 session ran June 22 through August 7.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Management & Technology Summer Institute
On-campus program at the intersection of management and technology.
📍 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship
High-achieving first-year Hawaiʻi residents are automatically considered for renewable merit aid based on their admission application and academic record.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Manufacturing Workshop
Three-day workshop where students learn machining and manufacturing concepts, use computer design and 3D-printing techniques and explore skilled technical careers at LLNL.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama
Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp
High-school students learn cybersecurity through standard or advanced camps covering cybersecurity concepts and web/infrastructure topics.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology / Coral Resilience Lab
Marine Molecular Mentorship Program
Hawaiʻi high-school girls live at Moku o Loʻe while learning molecular-biology techniques, coral science, evolution and marine field-research methods with women scientists.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
DC Department of Employment Services
Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute Summer Intensive
District youth participate in intensive leadership and self-development training built around hands-on experiences and civic/professional growth.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Mark & Carol Steingard Family Scholarship
First-generation graduating seniors planning to attend TMCC or UNR for business or education may apply.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mark Cuban Foundation and Gearbox Labs
Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp (Milwaukee, Gearbox Labs)
Free three-Saturday AI bootcamp for underserved grade 9-12 students with 20+ hours on current AI tools, applied AI ethics and building an AI application for career exploration, with meals and technology provided.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maine / Mark Cuban Foundation
Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp at UMaine
A free 20-hour AI bootcamp for Maine high schoolers in grades 9-12, held over three Saturdays at UMaine, covering generative AI, ethics, and real-world applications across healthcare, business, and the arts, ending in a mentored capstone project.
📍 University of Maine, Orono, ME📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LSU AgCenter 4-H
Marsh Dawgs Camp
An immersive four-day, three-night coastal environmental experience for high school 4-H members from St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, connecting students with southeast Louisiana's marsh ecosystems.
📍 St. Bernard / Plaquemines Parish, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Marshall University College of Science
Marshall High School Science Day
A campus day for high school students with hands-on science demonstrations, liquid nitrogen ice cream, a portable planetarium and a look at the College's Scanning Electron Microscope.
📍 Huntington, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marshall Society (Cambridge)
Marshall Society Essay Competition
Global economics essay prize run by the Cambridge Marshall Society.
📍 Remote (Global)📅 August🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Marshall University
Marshall University NeuroCamp
A week-long summer camp with hands-on activities and presentations by faculty and graduate students on lab safety, neuroanatomy, addiction, stroke and behavioral models.
📍 Huntington, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kentucky Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission
Martin Luther King Jr. Essay, Artwork and Poetry Contest
Kentucky students can submit an essay, poem, or visual artwork inspired by the annual theme surrounding Dr. King's legacy, diversity, unity, equality, and justice.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New Jersey Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Essay Contest
New Jersey seniors submit essays centered on Dr. King's legacy, service, justice and civic leadership. The 2026 program offered ten $5,000 scholarships.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Mary Bisoni Scholarship
Supports graduating Eureka High School seniors planning to attend a vocational or technical school.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Mary J. Yamamoto Memorial Scholarship
Graduating young women from Nevada or Michigan pursuing an accredited degree or certificate program may apply.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation
Mary Olive Eddy Jones Art Scholarship
A $1,000 scholarship for a West Virginia high school senior majoring in an art-related field (or a college sophomore or junior at a West Virginia institution majoring in art), paid to the student's college.
📍 West Virginia📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Duke Health / Durham YouthWorks
MaryAnn Black Summer Internship
Durham youth explore dozens of health professions through hands-on activities, mentoring and workplace exposure within Duke Health.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland AAPI Legislative Caucus (Maryland General Assembly)
Maryland AAPI Legislative Caucus Summer Internship Program
A structured civic education program engaging high school and college students through the legislative process, including policy research, bill drafting, mock committee hearings, floor debates, and a final mock legislative session at the Maryland State House.
📍 Annapolis, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Maryland Economics Challenge
A one-day statewide academic competition where high school teams are tested on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the global economy, with two divisions based on experience level, and the state champion advancing to the National Economics Challenge.
📍 Maryland (statewide)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Envirothon (Soil Conservation Districts)
Maryland Envirothon
Teams of five students in grades 9-12 study Maryland's natural resources across aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife over the school year, competing first at the county level then at the statewide Maryland Envirothon.
📍 Maryland (county and statewide events)📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland FFA / National FFA Organization
Maryland FFA Association
The state agricultural youth leadership organization serving nearly 3,000 members across 50 chapters, offering Career Development Events, regional conferences, a state convention, and agricultural scholarships.
📍 Maryland (statewide, chartered 1929)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Arts Program
Maryland High School Juried Art Exhibition
A statewide juried exhibition open to students in all Maryland high schools, showcasing artwork in all mediums with cash awards split between the student and their school's arts program.
📍 College Park, MD📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Youth & the Law, Inc. (MYLaw) / Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland High School Mock Trial Competition
A statewide competition in which students act as attorneys and witnesses in civil or criminal cases, scored by judges and attorneys, progressing from eight judicial circuits through regional rounds to a State Championship held at Maryland's Supreme Court in Annapolis.
📍 Annapolis, MD (statewide circuits)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Humanities
Maryland History Day
Maryland's affiliate of National History Day, inviting middle and high school students to create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites on an annual historical theme, progressing through school, district, state, and national competitions.
📍 Maryland (statewide); state contest at UMBC📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Maryland Personal Finance Challenge
A free two-stage competition where Maryland high school teams demonstrate personal finance knowledge through online testing, then compete at the Federal Reserve's Baltimore branch with a case-study presentation and Quiz Bowl round.
📍 Federal Reserve Bank of Baltimore, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Science Olympiad
Maryland Science Olympiad
The Maryland chapter of the national Science Olympiad competition, where high school teams (Division C) compete in 23 STEM events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, advancing from regional to state tournaments.
📍 Maryland (regional sites; 2027 state tournament at UMBC)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland-DC Scholastic Press Association (MDCSPA)
Maryland-DC Scholastic Press Association
A nonprofit partnered with the Philip Merrill College of Journalism that offers free membership to high school journalism students and teachers, hosting J-Day, a Fall Workshop, and the Maryland Journalist of the Year contest.
📍 Maryland and DC region📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UAMS Regional Campuses
MASH — Medical Applications of Science for Health
Free healthcare camps include suturing, CPR, heart dissection, healthcare-site visits, workshops, team activities and professional shadowing.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Massachusetts Envirothon (affiliated with NCF-Envirothon)
Massachusetts Envirothon
A team-based environmental education competition where Massachusetts high school teams rotate through ecostations covering soils, forests, water, and wildlife, plus a Current Issue presentation, with the winning team advancing to the national NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide competition)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts FFA Association
Massachusetts FFA
The Massachusetts chapter of the National FFA Organization, an intracurricular agricultural education association with more than 2,000 members across 17 chapters statewide, offering Career and Leadership Development Events (CDEs/LDEs) alongside coursework and supervised agricultural experience projects.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, 17 chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boylston Chess Club / Massachusetts High School Chess League
Massachusetts High School Chess League (MHSCL)
A completely student-run, free chess league for Massachusetts high schoolers, hosting both virtual and in-person team tournaments at the Boylston Chess Club with the main event crowning a season-long league champion.
📍 Boston, MA (Boylston Chess Club)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Scholastic Press Association (MASPA)
Massachusetts High School Journalist of the Year
An annual statewide award honoring the top individual high school journalist in Massachusetts, with the winner advancing to the National High School Journalist of the Year competition.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Historical Society (National History Day state affiliate)
Massachusetts History Day
A year-long historical research program in which students in grades 6-12 investigate a topic using primary and secondary sources and present their findings as a documentary, website, performance, paper, exhibit, or podcast at regional and state contests.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, sponsored by the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts HOSA, hosted by Worcester State University
Massachusetts HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
The Massachusetts chapter of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a statewide health-science student organization that runs a State Leadership Conference with competitive events in medical terminology, clinical skills, and public health for CTE health-science students.
📍 Worcester, MA (State Leadership Conference)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Oratorical Contest
A statewide public-speaking competition, progressing from local posts to the state final, that challenges high schoolers to demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. Constitution through prepared and extemporaneous speeches on constitutional themes.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, post to state level)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair, Inc.
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair
A statewide science and engineering fair open to grades 9-12 that requires a research plan, project notebook, lab report, visual display, and oral presentation, with top projects advancing to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, regional fairs and state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Science Olympiad (Massachusetts state chapter)
Massachusetts State Science Olympiad
A statewide Science Olympiad competition where Division C (high school) teams compete in 23 STEM events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, advancing from regionals to the state tournament.
📍 Various Massachusetts campuses (Wentworth, WPI, Framingham State)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MassRobotics
MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program
A fellowship providing diverse Massachusetts high school girls with technical skills in robotics through CAD design, electronics, and coding instruction, mentorship from industry professionals, and a paid summer internship at a robotics or technology company.
📍 Boston, MA (MassRobotics facility)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Tickle College of Engineering
Materials Camp
A free, week-long day program for high schoolers exploring materials science and engineering principles through applied math and science activities.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LSU Cain Center / Department of Mathematics
Math Circle Academy
A weekly in-person problem-solving and competition-preparation program for grades 6-12 that prepares students for the AMC, Kangaroo Math, and Purple Comet Math Meet.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
LSU Cain Center / Department of Mathematics
Math Circle Competition Team (MCCT)
A collaborative, informal math program for grades 8-12 that meets periodically to explore enjoyable math topics and prepares students for the AMC 10/12, AIME, and tournaments like Harvard-MIT Math Tournament.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Case Western Reserve University
Math Corps Super Saturdays — High School Teaching Assistants
Grades 10–12 participate as teaching assistants and mentors while helping younger students develop mathematics skills during a Saturday academic program.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MAA / USA Math Team
Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOP)
Invitation-only intensive math camp preparing top USAMO/USAJMO scorers for IMO.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Citadel, Department of Mathematics and Data Analytics
Math Research Experience for Lowcountry High School Students
A free, non-residential week-long camp where Lowcountry-area high school students and teachers work with Citadel faculty on open mathematical research problems drawn from MAA publications and The Fibonacci Quarterly.
📍 Charleston, SC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Matriculate
Matriculate Advising Fellows
Free virtual one-on-one college admissions advising for high-achieving low-income high-school students.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Alaska Business Week
MatSu Business Week
Students spend a week in a hands-on business boot camp running a simulated company, making decisions under time pressure, and interacting with Alaska business professionals.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust Citizen Science
Free citizen-science volunteer projects in oil-spill remediation and sustainability.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium / Maunakea Observatories
Maunakea Scholars
Program pairing Hawaiʻi public high school students with professional astronomy mentors to write research proposals and compete for observing time on Maunakea's world-class telescopes.
📍 10 partner high schools across Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic High School Unpaid Internship for Credit
Six-to-twelve month unpaid internship for high school juniors and seniors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to learn about health care career opportunities while earning school credit. Application through Airtable form after reviewing guidelines.
📍 Rochester, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families
Mayor for a Day Essay Contest
New Orleans youth ages 11–18 submit essays explaining what they would do as mayor. Three winners are selected to be sworn in and shadow the mayor while learning about city government.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC Department of Employment Services
Mayor's Opportunity Scholarship
Eligible graduating MBSYEP participants entering college, occupational training, ROTC or the military compete for education funding based on participation, need, an essay and recommendations.
📍 DC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
City of Cambridge
Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program
Cambridge teens age 14+ receive six-week paid placements across nonprofit and public-sector organizations in STEM, media, arts, youth work, landscaping, libraries, and other fields.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Jackson
Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program
Jackson youth ages 16–24 complete six to eight weeks of paid work-based learning in city agencies and private businesses while receiving mentoring, résumé support, financial education, and workforce-readiness training.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
City of New Orleans Office of Workforce Development
Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program — Traditional Track
New Orleans youth receive six weeks of paid employment with businesses, nonprofits, or public agencies while gaining workplace and career-development experience. The 2026 traditional track paid $15 per hour.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge
Mayor's Youth Advisory Council
East Baton Rouge Parish students in grades 9–12 advise local leaders on youth issues, participate in civic initiatives, interact with government officials, and develop advocacy and public-leadership skills.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Charlotte
Mayor's Youth Employment Program
Charlotte students receive paid placements with private, nonprofit and public-sector employers while developing workplace skills.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI
MBZUAI AI Summer School
Machine learning and AI summer school at the UAE's dedicated AI university.
📍 Abu Dhabi, UAE⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver / The Denver Foundation
MCA Denver Failure Award Scholarship
Colorado seniors submit an original project demonstrating creative experimentation and meaningful risk-taking, then finalists publicly present their projects.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
McGill University
McGill Mini-Med School
Lecture series introducing high school and community members to medical science and clinical topics.
📍 Montreal, Canada⏱ 8 weeks📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
MDAH Youth Volunteers
Youth age 16+ can participate in service-learning volunteer placements within MDAH institutions, including the Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Eudora Welty House & Garden, and state archives.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Maryland Blockchain Association (MDBA) & Blockchain Legal Institute
MDBA Youth Blockchain Hackathon
A fully virtual hackathon for grades 10-12 with an AI & Machine Learning track (building decentralized data meshes and AI verification protocols) alongside blockchain and legal-tech tracks, judged with bounty prizes up to $25,000.
📍 Virtual (Maryland-based organization)📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Tufts University
Medford and Somerville High School Pre-College Scholarship Program
Partner high schools can nominate eligible local students for scholarships covering Tufts pre-college coursework during fall, spring, or summer.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Cambridge Office of Workforce Development
Media Arts Internship
Cambridge teens can participate in a paid school-year STEAM internship centered on media and creative production.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
GRTV (Grand Rapids Community Media Center)
Media Makers Summer Camp
Week-long, hands-on sessions where Grand Rapids-area high schoolers choose a track in TV production, filmmaking, or podcasting, training on professional equipment alongside local journalists and filmmakers to produce a final project, with a weekly stipend.
📍 Grand Rapids, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Medical Academy
Selective medical and health-sciences academy in which students work with professional students and clinical experts.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
VCU School of Medicine
Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP)
Six-week summer internship placing Greater Richmond high school students with a research mentor in a VCU lab.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
MELNHE High School Research Opportunity
A free, year-round hands-on lab research opportunity for high schoolers to join the Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project, processing soil and leaf-litter samples and earning optional college credit.
📍 Syracuse, NY (SUNY ESF)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Health Science Center / Hyde Family Foundation
Memphis Challenge Program
An eight-week summer internship for graduating high school seniors through college juniors to work in clinical and research laboratories at UTHSC, sponsored by the Hyde Family Foundation and capped at 20 participants.
📍 Memphis, TN📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
Mercy Hospital St. Louis TLC (Teens Learning in the Community)
A summer volunteer program for students ages 16-18 interested in a career in medicine, exposing 40 accepted participants to clinical and non-clinical hospital departments including nutrition, patient transport, and administration on a twice-weekly schedule.
📍 Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Louis, MO📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MERIT Baltimore / CollegeBound Foundation
MERIT Health Leadership Academy
A multi-year, out-of-school academic and career mentorship program for underrepresented Baltimore high schoolers pursuing healthcare careers, combining Saturday college-prep classes, progressive summer internships (bioengineering/math, then clinical shadowing, then research), and longitudinal mentorship.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
MESG — Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant
High-achieving Mississippi students can receive state merit aid for attendance at approved Mississippi public or nonprofit colleges. Eligibility includes residency and strong academic/test performance.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Montana Tech
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Summer Program
Fully funded residential program for rising juniors and seniors featuring hands-on metallurgy/materials experiments, industrial field trips and exposure to materials-science careers. Housing, meals and program materials were covered in 2026.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Children's National Hospital / George Washington University
METEOR v3
Seven-week neuroscience and clinical/translational research internship combining Children's National lectures with immersive laboratory mentorship and a final research presentation.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Methodist Health System (Nebraska Methodist Hospital)
Methodist Volunteen Program
Incoming and current Omaha-metro high school students volunteer at Methodist Hospital or Methodist Women's Hospital, committing to a minimum of one year of service; the program is popular enough to maintain waiting lists.
📍 Methodist Hospital & Methodist Women's Hospital, Omaha, NE📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota High School Press Association (a division of NSPA)
MHSPA Journalism Convention
A statewide convention for high school journalists and advisers featuring workshops on ethical reporting and journalism skills, alongside All State Awards, the Gold Medallion Contest, Best of Show Awards, and Journalist of the Year recognition across print, broadcast, online, photojournalism, and yearbook categories.
📍 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Youth & Community Programs
MIAD Design Internship
A free year-long program for motivated high school students interested in design careers, including a 50-hour paid internship with a professional design partner, free tuition to MIAD Summer Pre-College and mentorship.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County Department Volunteer Opportunities
Students can complete community-service or experiential-learning placements with county departments and gain exposure to public-service careers.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade Youth Commission
Students represent youth perspectives, identify community issues and advise the mayor and County Commission on matters affecting young people.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MDDC Press Foundation
Michael S. Powell High School Journalist of the Year
An annual $1,500 cash award honoring an outstanding senior member of a high school newspaper staff in Maryland, Delaware, or DC, presented at the MDDC Editorial Awards ceremony.
📍 Maryland (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Michigan Department of State
Michigan "I Voted" Sticker Contest — High School Division
Michigan students in grades 9–12 submit original, nonpartisan "I Voted" sticker designs; finalists advance to public voting and winning designs are distributed during elections.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MI Student Aid
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
Eligible Michigan graduates can receive up to $5,500 annually for as many as five years at qualifying Michigan public or private institutions, for a maximum of $27,500.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
MCWT
Michigan Council of Women in Technology Scholarship
Michigan high-school seniors pursuing technology-related college study can compete for awards generally ranging from $2,000–$5,000, with mentoring and internship support also available.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
Michigan Envirothon
A team-based environmental education competition, running since 1994, where Michigan high school teams test their knowledge of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils, and wildlife through field stations and a community outreach video project, with the winning team advancing to the international NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Statewide, MI (2026 finals held at Northern Michigan University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
A2Ethics, with University of Michigan Department of Philosophy Outreach Program
Michigan High School Ethics Bowl
A judged tournament in which student teams study, analyze, and publicly discuss challenging ethical case studies, coached in the fall by University of Michigan philosophy graduate students ahead of a February championship.
📍 Southeast Michigan (hosted at partner high schools)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Michigan Center for Civic Education
Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament
Teams of 6-12 students argue both sides of a real case as attorneys and witnesses in actual courtrooms before real judges and lawyers, advancing through regional competitions to the State Finals in Lansing.
📍 Regional courtrooms statewide; State Finals in Lansing, MI📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Historical Society of Michigan
Michigan History Day
A yearlong, project-based research program in which students investigate a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as a paper, exhibit, documentary, website, or performance, competing from school contests through district and state finals.
📍 Statewide, Michigan (State Finals typically at Wayne State or Central Michigan University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of the Governor of Michigan
Michigan State of the State Art Contest
Michigan K–12 students create original artwork around the governor's annual State of the State theme, with winning work featured in the official program.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of the Governor of Michigan
Michigan State of the State Writing Contest
Students submit an original short story, essay, poem, or other written response to an annual Michigan-focused prompt, with winning work featured in State of the State materials.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Michigan Student Sustainability Summit
A one-day statewide summit where middle and high school students present youth-led sustainability projects in a poster session, attend interactive breakout sessions on environmental careers, and receive Michigan Green Schools recognition.
📍 East Lansing, MI (Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund / MDARD
Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship
Michigan graduating seniors with qualifying livestock-exhibition experience can apply for statewide awards of up to $1,000 or MYLSF awards of up to $5,000.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Microsoft
Microsoft Discovery Program (Redmond)
Four-week paid onsite program at Microsoft in Redmond for graduating high school seniors with an interest in technology, who live and attend school within 50 miles of Redmond and have completed pre-calculus.
📍 Redmond, WA📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mid-America Transportation Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Mid-America Transportation Center STEM Academy
Free multi-day residential STEM academy featuring university labs, engineering activities, career exploration and interaction with faculty and industry professionals.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
Mike Yarrow Peace Fellowship
Year-long Seattle-based training in active nonviolence for high school and college-age youth ages 14-23, including an online intensive and a self-designed nonviolent social change project.
📍 Seattle, WA (online intensive training)📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County Youth Commission
Milwaukee County high school students ages 14-18 serve as paid youth commissioners, taking part in community service, civic engagement and policy and budget decisions, with monthly meetings.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Public Library
Milwaukee Public Library Teen Advisory Board
A group of City of Milwaukee teens ages 13-18 who meet monthly at the Mitchell Street Branch to plan and lead library programs, volunteer at library events and run signature teen events such as Teen Art Gallery Night and Teen Poetry Fest.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 August🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep Teen Council
A free teen leadership program in which teens receive theater arts and administrative training and lead programs for other high school students, with no prior theater experience needed.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MUSC Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (MIND)
MIND Summer Experience Program
A summer program giving high school and college students hands-on experience in neuroscience research, faculty mentorship, and clinical shadowing at MUSC, intended to prepare the next generation of neuroscientists and healthcare professionals.
📍 Charleston, SC (Medical University of South Carolina)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship
Minnesota graduates demonstrating outstanding achievement or potential in areas such as creative writing, fine arts, foreign language, mathematics, science, or social science can receive institutional scholarship support at eligible Minnesota colleges.
📍 MN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence
Minnesota Data Derby
An annual data analytics competition open to Minnesota high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, featuring a one-day 'Datagon' debate-format contest and a multi-week 'Datathon' where teams analyze a real dataset (e.g., education costs) and present solutions at Hennepin Technical College.
📍 Eden Prairie, MN📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE) / Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Minnesota Economics Challenge
A statewide quiz-bowl style competition where teams of high school students take online tests on economic fundamentals, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics, with top teams advancing to the state tournament and potentially the National Economics Challenge.
📍 Online qualifying rounds; in-person state tournament, Minnesota📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Department of Philosophy
Minnesota High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl where student teams analyze real-world ethical case studies and compete in respectful, judged discussion rounds emphasizing clarity of reasoning and consideration of alternative viewpoints.
📍 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)
Minnesota High School Mock Trial
Teams of 8-14 students argue both sides of a fictional legal case as attorneys and witnesses in a real courtroom setting, progressing through regional rounds to the state championship, with the winner advancing to the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📍 Courtrooms statewide, Minnesota📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Council on Economic Education
Minnesota Personal Finance Challenge
Teams complete online tests in income, spending, saving, investing, credit, and risk management. Top schools advance to an in-person case-study and quiz-bowl state championship, with the winner advancing to nationals; there is no registration fee.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Academy of Science
Minnesota Science Bowl
A fast-paced team quiz-bowl competition covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and math. The 2027 High School Science Bowl will be held January 23 at Hamline University; winning teams receive full funding to represent Minnesota at the National Science Bowl.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Science Olympiad (state affiliate of Science Olympiad, Inc.)
Minnesota Science Olympiad
Minnesota's Division C (high school) Science Olympiad tournament, with 750+ students across 76 teams from 46 schools competing in events spanning earth science through physics; Mounds View High School won the 2026 state championship.
📍 Minnesota (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Alliance With Youth / Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Youth Council
Students are selected through an application and interview process to advise the Legislature and Governor on youth issues. Members can hold hearings on bills, recommend policies, and propose youth legislation during two-year terms.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota CFANS (World Food Prize Foundation network)
Minnesota Youth Institute (MNYI)
Part of the World Food Prize Youth Institute network, MNYI has Minnesota high schoolers write a research paper on a global food security challenge connecting agriculture, nutrition, economics, and policy, then present it in small roundtable discussions with experts at a spring event hosted by the University of Minnesota. Top participants can advance to the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines and earn a $1,000 CFANS scholarship.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Mississippi Economics Challenge
A free team-based online economics quiz-bowl competition for Mississippi high schoolers in two divisions (advanced and introductory), with regional qualifying rounds and a state championship carrying college scholarship prizes.
📍 Statewide, Mississippi (State Championship in Jackson, MS)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts / Mississippi Soil & Water Conservation Commission
Mississippi Envirothon
A hands-on natural resource competition for teams of grades 9-12 students, testing knowledge in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues at area and state-level competitions, with scholarship awards for top teams.
📍 Various sites across Mississippi📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Education
Mississippi FFA Association
A leadership and career development organization focused on agricultural education for students in Mississippi.
📍 Mississippi State, MS⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) / National History Day
Mississippi History Day
Mississippi's National History Day affiliate, a cross-curricular research competition in which students create a Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, or Documentary based on an annual theme, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Statewide, Mississippi📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Access to Justice Commission
Mississippi Law Camps (Themis, Miss-Lou, Gargiulo, Golden Triangle, Rankin-Madison)
A series of free half-day summer law camps held at courthouses across Mississippi (Natchez, Gulfport, Tupelo, Starkville, and the Jackson area) giving high schoolers courtroom exposure through mock trials, negotiations, and conversations with judges and attorneys.
📍 Multiple Mississippi courthouses (Natchez, Gulfport, Tupelo, Starkville, Jackson area)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi Museum of Art Teen Council
Grades 9–12 work with museum staff throughout the academic year, advise how the museum engages young audiences, meet artists and cultural professionals, and design museum events for other teens.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Teen Volunteer Program
Teens age 13+ can assist with museum education, camps, exhibits, aquariums, conservation biology, trails, and other natural-science activities. During the school year, teen service opportunities are normally offered at least monthly.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Mississippi Personal Finance Challenge
A statewide quiz-bowl competition testing high school students' personal financial literacy knowledge, with top teams advancing to a televised state championship broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
📍 Jackson, MS (Mississippi Public Broadcasting)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Center for the Book
Mississippi Poetry Project
A free statewide poetry-writing initiative for students in grades K-12 built around an annual prompt, with school-selected winners published in a contest anthology and honored at a public reading.
📍 Statewide, Mississippi📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missoula Art Museum
Missoula Art Museum Teen Art Project & Teen Open Studio
Free teen art programming where middle and high schoolers get hands-on instruction from professional artists in drawing, painting, ceramics, and more, plus a Summer Teen Art Project focused on community and leadership.
📍 Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship Program
A fellowship immersing St. Louis-region high schoolers in plant science and conservation, working alongside Garden scientists and horticulturists on botanical research and ecological restoration projects, for students planning to pursue higher education in a related field.
📍 Missouri Botanical Garden / Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis region, MO📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Missouri DECA / Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
Missouri DECA
Missouri DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through school-based chapters, competitive events, and advisor-mentored projects. The organization has 180 high school chapters with 7,708 members statewide.
📍 Local DECA chapters statewide, organized by district📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lindenwood University Economic Education Center / Council for Economic Education
Missouri Economics Challenge
Teams of Missouri students complete an online competition covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics, with state champions advancing to national semifinals. Participation is free.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri Department of Natural Resources / Missouri Envirothon
Missouri Envirothon
A natural-resource problem-solving competition for 5-student high school teams, testing knowledge of aquatic ecology, soils/land use, forestry, and wildlife at outdoor field stations plus an oral presentation on a current environmental issue.
📍 Five regional sites statewide; state competition in central Missouri📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri FBLA
Missouri FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Missouri FBLA prepares high school students to become community-minded business leaders through career exploration, competitive events, and leadership conferences. It serves over 12,000 members across 450+ chapters, making it the second-largest state FBLA chapter in the nation.
📍 Local FBLA chapters statewide; State Leadership Conference location varies📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri FFA / Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
Missouri FFA Association
Missouri FFA helps students in agricultural education develop leadership talents and explore agriculture career pathways through chapter activities, competitions, and state officer programs. The association has over 26,800 members across hundreds of chapters, ranking eighth nationally in membership.
📍 Local FFA chapters statewide (agricultural education classes)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri State University
Missouri Fine Arts Academy
Two-week residential academy offering intensive work in visual art, music, creative writing and other arts disciplines. Tuition for the 2026 academy was fully covered by state/private funding.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri HOSA / Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
Missouri HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
Missouri HOSA is a career and technical student organization for students interested in health science and biomedical careers, offering competitive events, leadership conferences, and service projects through school chapters statewide.
📍 Local HOSA chapters statewide (health science programs)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MIT Lincoln Lab
MIT BeaverWorks BWSI Hackathon
Free open hackathons run by MIT BeaverWorks alongside BWSI summer program.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
MIT
MIT THINK Scholars
Funded research mentorship; finalists travel to MIT for an all-expenses-paid weekend.
📍 Online📅 Not yet announced — 2026-27 cycle not yet posted🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mitchell Institute
Mitchell Scholarship
Graduating students from Maine public high schools compete for $10,000 college scholarships plus leadership programming, professional networks, and personalized support.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 12
Selective
MIT
MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science) Summer
Free six-week residential STEM program at MIT for under-represented rising HS seniors.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Marquette University Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership (MKE CRE)
MKE CRE Summer High School Immersion Program (Marquette)
A week-long in-person program introducing rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds to commercial real estate, including development, construction, management and sales, with site visits and sessions with professionals.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Major League Hacking
MLH Fellowship
A 12-week fellowship for aspiring software engineers to contribute to Open Source projects.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Major League Hacking
MLH Member Hackathons
A season of student-run hackathons across the world where students build software/hardware.
📍 Global⏱ 24-48 hours📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
MMoCA Teen Forum
A paid teen group of Madison-area high school students who learn how an art exhibition is developed, plan educational programming and explore arts careers, meeting at the museum 6-8 hours per month.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Actuarial Foundation
Modeling the Future Challenge
Free actuarial science / data analysis competition for HS students with cash scholarships.
📍 Online⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
MOHAI History Lab
Two-week summer intensive for high school students interested in local history and storytelling who conduct their own research and publish a work of historical interpretation on the Rainy Day History website.
📍 MOHAI, Seattle, Washington📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana University School of Medicine
Molecular Medicine in Action (MMIA)
Indiana sophomores, juniors, and seniors spend two days performing hands-on molecular-medicine activities involving topics such as cancer, diabetes, cytogenetics, gene expression, and molecular biology.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Grand Valley State University Department of Chemistry
Molecular Minds
Students perform experiments involving chromatography, intermolecular forces, synthesis, enzymes, molecular separations, and drug discovery using advanced research instrumentation, then present results in a poster session. The program is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA Teen Programs
Free teen programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mon Health Medical Center (Vandalia Health)
Mon Health Medical Center Junior Volunteer Program
A junior volunteer program in Morgantown where students apply online, interview, and serve in areas such as the gift shop, reception desk, endoscopy and family birthing center.
📍 Mon Health Medical Center, Morgantown, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Edvest and Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt
Money Smart Wisconsin Scholarship Contest
An essay contest for Wisconsin high school seniors planning to attend a Wisconsin college, who estimate higher education costs, identify funding sources and plan their finances for a chance at an Edvest 529 scholarship contribution.
📍 Wisconsin (online or emailed application)📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Moneyball Academy
A program applying data analytics to sports management.
📍 University of Pennsylvania📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University
Montana Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Paid research apprenticeships at MSU for Montana Native American students.
📍 MT⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Montana Historical Society / Montana 250 Commission / Montana OPI
Montana Challenge
Online 20-question challenge covering Montana history, geography and government. Students scoring at least 80% earn a certificate and enter a drawing for one of hundreds of $25 prizes; the remaining 2026 prize round occurs in December.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Digital Academy
Montana Digital Academy High School Courses
Montana's state-sponsored online school offers over 200 original-credit courses, including AP classes, taught by Montana-licensed teachers to high schoolers who remain enrolled at their local public school.
📍 Online, statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana FFA / National FFA Organization
Montana FFA Association
Montana's chapter of the National FFA Organization serves 6,684 members across 109 chapters, offering agricultural education, leadership development, and Career & Leadership Development Events culminating in the State Convention.
📍 Statewide chapters; State Convention in Bozeman, MT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Arts Council / National Endowment for the Arts
Montana Poetry Out Loud
A National Endowment for the Arts recitation competition where Montana students in grades 9-12 memorize and perform poems, advancing from classroom to regional and state finals in Helena.
📍 Grandstreet Theatre, Helena, MT (State Finals)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana University System
Montana STEM/Healthcare Scholarship
Scholarship for Montana seniors entering qualifying STEM or healthcare majors. Awards can continue for four years at $1,000, $1,500, $1,500 and $2,000 respectively if renewal requirements are met.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Montana Office of Public Instruction
Montana Student Art Gallery
Statewide juried student-art program. Selected pieces are displayed at OPI for approximately one year and students receive formal recognition; the 2026–27 theme is "Montana Through Your Eyes." There is no participation fee.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ScienceMONTGOMERY
Montgomery County Science Fair
An in-person three-day regional science and engineering fair (ISEF-affiliated) open to public, private, and homeschool students in grades 6-12 in Montgomery County, judged across biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, math, and physics categories.
📍 Silver Spring, MD📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama
MOORE Scholars
Rural Alabama high-school seniors explore health professions through coursework, seminars, clinical shadowing, field trips, and other preparation for medical careers.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Morganton Scientific
Official STEM research journal through which Morganton Residential and Online students publish research papers and serve as editors.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Morgridge Institute (Madison)
Morgridge Institute Summer Research
Paid biomedical research in Madison.
📍 WI⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program
Rural Mississippi students spend a free residential week exploring medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, biomedical research, population health, and other health professions while also receiving ACT and professional-development preparation.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Maine Press Association
MPA Journalism Scholarship
A scholarship of up to $2,000 for Maine high school seniors headed to college who show a demonstrated commitment to journalism through internships, employment, or student news work, plus financial need.
📍 Statewide, ME📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Michigan Public Health Institute
MPHI-PHIRE: Public Health Initiative for Resourceful Education
Six-week virtual summer program for incoming high school sophomores, juniors and seniors introducing public health careers and education, held weekly over Microsoft Teams. Free to students, who receive a $500 stipend, a certificate and a letter of recommendation on completion; requires a 2.75 GPA, service or leadership record and two recommendations. The 2026 cohort applied by May 29.
📍 Michigan (virtual)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism / Minnesota Public Radio
MPR NEWS Radio Camp
High-school students learn interviewing, radio writing, field reporting, audio recording, and editing at MPR headquarters and produce original stories for Minnesota Public Radio platforms. Students receive a stipend after completing their work.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
MREACH
Michigan high-school students participate from October through April in mostly virtual business projects, career exploration, SAT preparation, college-admissions programming, and interaction with U-M students. Participation is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
MS Rural Physicians Pipeline (high school strand)
Free med-school pathway program for rural Mississippi students.
📍 MS⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Memorial Sloan Kettering
MSK HOPP Summer Student Program
Paid cancer research at MSK for students from groups underrepresented in medicine.
📍 NY⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Montana State University School of Music
MSU Band Day
Montana high-school band members rehearse and perform with MSU's Spirit of the West marching band during a Bobcat football game. The 2026 event has no participation cost.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, Mississippi State University
MSU Language Expo
A one-day event bringing together more than 200 high school students and teachers for language and culture exploration through interactive activities, student poster sessions, and a table fair of academic and cultural programs.
📍 Starkville, MS📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan State University
MSU Veterinary Medicine Enrichment Summer Program
An intensive three-week program exposing students to the diverse careers in veterinary medicine through clinical rotations and labs.
📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 3 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi State University at MCITy
MSU@MCITy High School Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
A free six-week entrepreneurship bootcamp for Vicksburg-area high school students, run in partnership with Vicksburg Warren School District and Leadership Vicksburg, covering problem identification, customer validation, revenue models, and pitching, culminating in a mock pitch competition.
📍 Vicksburg, MS📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
MTAG — Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant
Mississippi residents meeting GPA, ACT, enrollment, and Pell-related requirements can receive up to $500 per year during the first two college years and $1,000 per year during the final two.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism / University of St. Thomas
Multimedia Storytelling Institute
Twin Cities high-school students spend three weeks reporting, interviewing, writing, filming, and editing professional-quality multimedia journalism with working journalists. Tuition was fully covered in 2026 and students received a stipend after completing their published work.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana University System
MUS Honor Scholarship
Renewable tuition-waiver scholarship for Montana high-school seniors attending an eligible Montana University System campus. The average four-year value is approximately $20,000.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Museum Apprentice Program
A year-long teen leadership and skill-building program of workshops, projects, and museum volunteering, running September through May for a cohort of 30 participants.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Museum Leaders in Training (M.LiT) at VMFA
A free, 12-week career development and leadership training program in which teens go behind the scenes at VMFA, explore museum careers, advise on projects and events, and design an exhibition, earning 50+ community service hours.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 September🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Museum of Discovery and Science
Museum of Discovery and Science Youth Volunteer Program
Teen volunteers help support museum operations and STEM learning experiences while developing communication and community-service experience.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yellowstone Art Museum
Museum Teen Council
Free teen council for ages 13–18 where members create art, collaborate on museum activities, meet arts professionals, volunteer and help shape teen programming. The fall 2026 cohort begins in October.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Music
Pre-College Music program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission / State of Arkansas
My Natural State Story Essay Contest
Arkansas students write up to 500 words about a real outdoor experience in the state. Sixteen students receive prizes, including outdoor gear and experiences.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine
MYHealth
Southeast Michigan high-school students participate in a nine-month virtual health-research program, learn research fundamentals, select youth-health questions, collect data through surveys or activities, and present their findings.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mystic Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium Blue Crew Teen Volunteer Program
A summer volunteer program for teens ages 15-18 to work as camp assistants, gardening assistants, or docents at Mystic Aquarium, gaining public-facing experience in environmental education and conservation.
📍 Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
N.C. State Fair Essay Competition
North Carolina K–12 students submit original essays for State Fair judging, with a dedicated grades 9–12 division.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WSU Spokane Native American Health Sciences
Na-ha-shnee STEAM Summer Institute
Three-day summer day camp at WSU Spokane where high school students explore health science careers through hands-on sessions with healthcare providers and faculty, including first aid and CPR, traditional medicine and Native elder teachings.
📍 WSU Spokane, Spokane, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Institute of Linguistics
NACLO at the University of Minnesota
A local contest site for the North American Computational Linguistics Open, where high school students solve linguistic puzzle problems requiring no prior linguistics background, with top scorers advancing to an invitational second round.
📍 Jones Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UNT Department of Linguistics (North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition)
NACLO at the University of North Texas
A Texas host site for NACLO, a contest in which students solve linguistics puzzles. No prior linguistics knowledge is needed, and UNT offers on-campus practice sessions before the Open Round.
📍 Denton, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Washington Department of Linguistics
NACLO at the University of Washington
The Seattle-area site for the North American Computational Linguistics Open, where middle and high school students solve linguistics puzzles with no prior knowledge of linguistics or languages required.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Western Washington University Department of Linguistics
NACLO at Western Washington University
Local host site in Bellingham for the North American Computational Linguistics Open, a puzzle contest for middle and high school students that requires no prior linguistics knowledge.
📍 Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Utah Department of Linguistics
NACLO Open Round (University of Utah Site)
Free three-hour North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition in which high school students solve linguistics puzzles drawn from many languages, with no prior linguistics knowledge required. Top scorers advance to an invitational round that selects the U.S. team for the International Linguistics Olympiad.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT (University of Utah campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition
NACLO Open Round (Vermont high school site at U-32)
Linguistics olympiad in which students solve puzzle problems drawn from many languages using only logic and reasoning; Vermont's only listed site is U-32 Middle and High School.
📍 East Montpelier, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cameron University
NanoExplorers
Hands-on nanotechnology, chemistry, physics and STEM research academy.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
NASA
NASA App Development Challenge
Open team coding challenge from NASA. Teams build a visualization of mission data. No fee; finalists visit Johnson Space Center.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 December🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
NASA
NASA Citizen Science
Dozens of free NASA citizen-science projects. Your contributions co-author published papers.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Goddard High School Internship (OSTEM)
A paid summer internship for DC/Maryland area high school students focusing on physical sciences and earth observation.
📍 Greenbelt, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NASA
NASA High School Internship Program (OSTEM)
Students participate in NASA's mission-driven projects through unique internship experiences at NASA centers across the country.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 10 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NASA
NASA Internships (HS / OSTEM)
Search portal for NASA STEM internships and challenges, including high school programs.
📍 United States⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NASA
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships - Goddard Space Flight Center
Paid, project-based internships (10 weeks in summer) at NASA field centers, including Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, open to students 16+ enrolled at least part-time, working directly with NASA mentors on real projects.
📍 Greenbelt, MD (Goddard Space Flight Center)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium (Brown University)
NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium: Lunar Challenges
A NASA-funded consortium led by Brown University that runs student-facing programs including the Build the Moon and Plant the Moon classroom challenges for middle and high schoolers, alongside teacher partnerships bringing NASA-focused research into Rhode Island classrooms.
📍 Providence, RI (Brown University; challenges run through RI schools statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NASA
NASA Space Apps Challenge (Student Track)
A data science competition where students use real NASA data to solve problems.
📍 Global⏱ 48 hours📅 April 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NASA / Future Engineers
NASA TechRise Student Challenge
Teams design space-bound experiments. Winners receive USD 1500 and their payload flies on a high-altitude balloon.
📍 Online⏱ School year📅 November🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
NASA Wallops Flight Facility High School Internship
Six-week NASA internship session at Wallops for high school students 16 or older, applied for through intern.nasa.gov.
📍 Wallops Island, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Nashville Film Festival
NashFilm Education Screening Program
A free in-school program bringing independent film screenings to Metro Nashville Public School high schoolers, each followed by an interactive Q&A with the film's director or producer, supported by study guides for historical and cultural context.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Aquarium / Baltimore YouthWorks
National Aquarium YouthWorks
Baltimore City teens and young adults compete for paid summer placements at the National Aquarium, gaining workplace skills and experience in an aquarium and conservation organization. The 2027 interest form opens in January 2027.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Council for Economic Education
National Economics Challenge
Team economics competition with state and national rounds. Open to all US high schoolers; many states offer scholarships.
📍 State + national⏱ Multi-round📅 March-April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Council for Economic Education
National Economics Challenge - Tennessee
A statewide economics competition in which teams of three to four high school students take a 30-question rapid-fire exam testing micro/macroeconomics and the world economy, competing in the David Ricardo (first-time) or Adam Smith (AP/IB/honors) division. State winners advance to national semi-finals.
📍 Statewide (online exam)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCF-Envirothon / Canon U.S.A.
National Envirothon (NFC-Envirothon)
A national environmental science competition where students study forestry, wildlife, and aquatic ecology on-site.
📍 Various Locations (Rotate Annually)⏱ 3 days📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NFMC
National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) Competitions
A prestigious scholarship competition for vocalists, instrumentalists, and composers.
📍 Online📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NFFTY
National Film Festival for Talented Youth
Largest youth film festival in the world for filmmakers 24 and under.
📍 Seattle, WA⏱ 4 days📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Geographic
National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Annual video competition for ages 13-18 on environmental solutions with cash prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
National High School Game Academy
Pre-College National High School Game Academy program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NHSJS
National High School Journal of Science
Free peer-reviewed online journal publishing high school students' STEM research.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National High School Mock Trial Organization
National High School Mock Trial Championship
A national mock trial case competition where students act as attorneys and witnesses in a simulated courtroom.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Louisiana
National High School Oratorical Contest -- Department of Louisiana
A Constitution-focused public-speaking competition for Louisiana high schoolers who deliver a prepared oration plus an unrehearsed response to an assigned topic, with department winners advancing toward the national contest, which awards up to $25,000 in scholarships.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day
National History Day
Year-long historical research project competition culminating at the national contest.
📍 College Park, MD⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Arizona Historical Society / National History Day
National History Day Arizona
Statewide academic history competition where students in grades 6-12 (with grades 4-5 at state level) research a historical topic and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, website, or documentary, advancing from regional contests to state and national finals.
📍 South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ (state contest)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Humanities / LaGrange College
National History Day Georgia
National History Day Georgia encourages middle and high school students to research a topic tied to the year's theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from regional contests to the state contest at LaGrange College.
📍 Ten regional sites statewide; state contest at LaGrange College📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC History Center (National History Day DC Affiliate)
National History Day in DC
The DC affiliate contest of the national History Day program, where students research a historical topic tied to the annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website.
📍 Washington, DC (Howard University, Myrtilla Miner Building)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State Historical Society (National History Day Idaho affiliate)
National History Day in Idaho
A year-long research program where students in grades 9-12 (Senior Division) create a historical paper, documentary, performance, exhibit, or website tied to an annual theme, competing through regional contests to the state contest and on to nationals.
📍 Regional sites statewide and virtual; state contest at The College of Idaho, Caldwell📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Humanities
National History Day in Indiana
Indiana's affiliate of the national research competition, where students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website through local, state, and national contest levels.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of Iowa
National History Day in Iowa
A year-long research and presentation program where students create documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or websites on a historical topic, advancing from district contests to the state contest in Ames and on to nationals.
📍 Statewide with state contest in Ames, IA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Historical Society
National History Day in Kentucky (NHDKY)
An annual project-based history competition where students in grades 4-12 research a topic tied to the national theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from regional contests to the state contest and nationals.
📍 Regional sites statewide; State Contest at the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Historical Society
National History Day in Minnesota
A co-curricular historical research program for students in grades 6-12 who choose a topic tied to an annual theme and present original research as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, competing at school, regional, state, and national levels.
📍 Regional and state contests across Minnesota📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of Missouri
National History Day in Missouri
Missouri's affiliate of National History Day invites middle and high school students to research and present history projects as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from local contests to the state contest at the University of Missouri.
📍 Regional contests statewide; state contest at University of Missouri, Columbia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Montana State University / Montana Historical Society
National History Day in Montana
An academic program where students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, competing through Western/Eastern regional contests and a state contest.
📍 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (state contest); regional contests statewide📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Center for Civic Engagement
National History Day in Nevada
Nevada's affiliate of the National History Day competition, where students research an annual theme and present findings as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, website, or podcast, advancing through regional and state contests toward nationals.
📍 Nevada (regional contests statewide; state contest in Las Vegas/virtual)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day / Plymouth State University
National History Day in New Hampshire
NH's affiliate of National History Day, where students research and present original historical analysis as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website.
📍 Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of North Dakota
National History Day in North Dakota
A project-based history research competition in which students produce a documentary, paper, exhibit, performance, or website on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest at the ND Heritage Center.
📍 Bismarck, ND (State Contest at the ND Heritage Center & State Museum)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Division of State History
National History Day in Utah
Students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as an exhibit, documentary, performance, paper or website at local tournaments and a state contest. Top projects advance to the national contest in Washington, D.C.
📍 Utah (regional tournaments and state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Classical League
National Latin Exam
Annual exam recognizing Latin students K-12; widely used by classics teachers.
📍 United States⏱ 1 hour📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Center for Ocean Leadership (UCAR)
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
Premier US high school ocean sciences quiz bowl.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Conservation Corps
National Park Service Expeditions
Nine-day volunteer expeditions specifically for Montana teens ages 14–18 in Glacier or Yellowstone National Park. Participants complete hands-on conservation work, earn up to 64 service hours and receive a $100 service award.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
APHA
National Public Health Week Student Challenge
Annual student challenge for high schoolers to advocate for public health issues.
📍 Online⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
US Department of Energy
National Science Bowl
Premier US middle and high school science quiz competition.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
UNLV Multicultural Program for STEM and Health Sciences
National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) at UNLV
A free, federally funded two-week residential summer camp that immerses high-achieving Nevada high schoolers in transportation engineering, urban infrastructure planning, and pedestrian safety through field trips, guest lectures, and projects with partners like the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.
📍 Las Vegas, NV (on-campus housing at UNLV)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Foundation Competition
National arts competition for ages 15-18 across 10 disciplines; finalists receive cash and YoungArts Week.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Photography
Photography track of the YoungArts national competition.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Week
Week-long master classes and performances in Miami for YoungArts winners across 10 disciplines.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ 1 week📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NFTE
National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Pitch competition for student entrepreneurs from NFTE programs.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Hall
National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA)
An intensive ensemble experience for the finest young musicians in the United States, culminating in a tour with world-class conductors.
📍 New York, NY / Touring⏱ 3-4 weeks📅 January 26🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Youth Science Academy
National Youth Science Camp
A residential STEAM program in the Monongahela National Forest with two daily lectures by STEM experts, small-group directed studies, an outdoor adventure program, an arts program and a trip to Washington, DC.
📍 Monongahela National Forest, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
National Youth Science Foundation / Wyoming Department of Education
National Youth Science Camp (Wyoming delegates)
A three-week residential STEAM program in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest with lectures from STEAM professionals, directed studies, seminars and outdoor adventures. Wyoming sends two delegates chosen through an online application promoted by the Wyoming Department of Education.
📍 Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Arizona
Native American Science & Engineering Program (NASEP)
Year-long STEM pathway for eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students combining a residential summer experience, STEM workshops, college preparation, networking, computer building, tutoring, and research activities.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Native OKStars Summer Research Program
Native American juniors and seniors conduct research with Native faculty/medical mentors, often involving tribal health, while learning about medicine and STEM careers.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Turtle Mountain Community College
Native Youth Community Project
Native high-school students receive college and career preparation, dual-enrollment support, cultural enrichment, community projects and exposure to local employers.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lincoln Park Zoo
Nature Buds
Chicago high-school students age 16 or older support nature-play and early-childhood programming while developing education and guest-engagement skills. Participants are paid through After School Matters.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
ND EPSCoR / North Dakota State University & University of North Dakota
NATURE High School Summer Research Experience
A STEM outreach and research program for Indigenous North Dakota students that pairs middle school, high school, and tribal college students with university researchers at NDSU and UND through tribal college summer camps, Sunday Academy sessions, and university summer camps.
📍 Fargo & Grand Forks, ND (NDSU and UND campuses, plus ND tribal colleges)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Carolina Central University BRITE
NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech
Residential biotechnology research experience exposing North Carolina students to pharmaceutical science, clinical research and laboratory biotechnology.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
State of North Carolina / CFNC
NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private College Students
Need-based state aid supports eligible North Carolina residents attending qualifying private colleges in the state.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
North Carolina Council on Economic Education
NC Personal Finance Challenge
High-school teams begin with a statewide online personal-finance examination; top teams advance to an in-person state championship and potentially nationals.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Center for Atmospheric Research
NCAR Atmospheric Research Internship
Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.
📍 CO⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Carolina High School Athletic Association Foundation
NCHSAA Foundation Scholarships
Multiple scholarships support graduating student-athletes from NCHSAA member schools, with separate awards and eligibility requirements.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
North Carolina Museum of Art
NCMA Teen Workshops
Workshops for ages 13-18 led by professional artists, writers, and filmmakers, plus a Teen Arts Council that advises teen exhibitions and plans museum takeovers.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska Center for Materials & Nanoscience, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
NCMN STEM High School Internship
Lincoln-area high-school students conduct real research in UNL physics, engineering or chemistry laboratories for about eight weeks. Interns work roughly 20 hours/week, earn $15/hour and complete a final research poster; no prior research experience is required.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
NCSSM and UNCSA UNC Tuition Grant
Qualifying NCSSM and UNCSA high-school graduates who immediately enroll full-time in the UNC System can receive a renewable tuition grant.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCW Libraries and Write On The River
NCW Libraries Teen Short Fiction Competition
An annual spring short fiction contest for 9th-12th grade students in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Grant and Ferry counties, with cash prizes; entries are original, unpublished work of up to 2,000 words.
📍 North Central Washington📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Council on the Arts
ND Poetry Out Loud State Competition
A statewide poetry recitation competition in which classroom and school champions advance to perform memorized poems before judges at the state finals in Bismarck.
📍 Bismarck, ND (ND Heritage Center & State Museum)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota High School Activities Association
NDHSAA Student Congress
Students compete in a mock-legislative format by introducing, debating and acting on proposed legislation using parliamentary procedure.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Challey School of Music
NDSU Woodwind Day
Woodwind musicians join ensemble rehearsals, clinics, masterclasses and performances with NDSU music faculty.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska 4-H (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)
Nebraska 4-H National Congress Delegate Program
4-H members ages 15-19 submit a county-level Achievement Application and, if selected, compete at the state level to become one of Nebraska's delegates receiving a partial scholarship to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.
📍 Nebraska (state selection process); National Congress held in Atlanta, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (NRDs)
Nebraska Envirothon
Five-member high school teams test their knowledge of soil, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and range management plus a current environmental issue, advancing from regional field days to the state competition and potentially the international NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Regional field days statewide; 2027 State Competition in Burwell, NE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska Medicine
Nebraska Medicine Volunteer Services
Volunteers age 16 and up support patients, families, and staff across hospital departments, requiring a six-month minimum commitment of 2-4 hours weekly after completing orientation, a health screening, and a background check.
📍 Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National History Day, Nebraska affiliate (hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University, sponsored by Humanities Nebraska)
Nebraska National History Day
Middle and high school students conduct original historical research and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, advancing from seven regional district contests to the Nebraska state contest at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
📍 Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE (with district contests statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Nebraska Writers Collective
Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate
Nebraska poets ages 13–19 compete through a poetry portfolio, résumé and civic-engagement essay. The laureate receives mentorship, public-reading opportunities, chapbook publication, regional/national competition eligibility and $1,000–$2,000 toward a community project.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nemours Children's Health
Nemours Children's Health Summer VolunTeen Program
Competitive summer hospital volunteer program placing high schoolers in age-appropriate clinical and support department roles, with many positions allowing direct patient and family interaction.
📍 Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New England Newspaper & Press Association
NENPA Journalism Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $2,000 for New England high school seniors, including Vermont residents, who plan to study journalism, plus the MacGregor Fiske Award for an exceptional student journalist.
📍 New England (Vermont residents eligible)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New England Scholastic Press Association (Boston University College of Communication)
NESPA Spring Conference
An annual scholastic journalism conference at Boston University where high school student journalists and advisers from across New England attend panels, workshops, and awards ceremonies covering newspapers, yearbooks, broadcast, and photojournalism.
📍 Boston, MA (Boston University College of Communication)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NFTE
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Summer
Free summer entrepreneurship programs for underserved students.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wright State University (Dept. of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology)
Neuroscience Interactive Lab for High School Students
A 90-minute hands-on lab session where groups of 15-30 high school juniors and seniors conduct experiments, collect data, and learn about neuromuscular physiology, offered Fridays during the spring semester.
📍 Dayton, OH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Nevada SkillsUSA
Nevada Association of SkillsUSA
Nevada's chapter of SkillsUSA, representing more than 2,000 career and technical education students across the state's high schools in hands-on skilled-trades training spanning more than 100 occupational areas, from 3D animation to welding.
📍 Statewide Nevada📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada FFA Association / Nevada Agricultural Education
Nevada FFA
The Nevada state chapter of the National FFA Organization, serving over 3,000 high school students across roughly 30 chapters through agricultural-education coursework, leadership development, and Career and Leadership Development Events such as Environmental and Natural Resources, Agricultural Mechanics, and Veterinary Science.
📍 Statewide Nevada📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar of Nevada
Nevada High School Mock Trial Competition
Nevada teams compete at northern or southern regional rounds before a state championship, with the winning team advancing to the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The 2027 regional and state dates are already posted.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Arts Council
Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals
A statewide recitation competition in which high school students memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems, advancing from school to district to the Nevada State Finals and potentially the National Finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Reno, NV (state finals at University of Nevada, Reno; district contests statewide)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada System of Higher Education
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Last-dollar scholarship covering up to three years of base registration and specified mandatory fees at participating Nevada community colleges.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Barbara Schick Center for Economic Education / Nevada Council on Economic Education (UNLV)
Nevada Stock Market Game
A statewide simulation in which teams of Nevada students invest a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio over a 10-week session, learning economics, investing, and personal finance.
📍 Nevada (classroom-based, statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New England Aquarium
New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship
Teens age 14+ complete one training week followed by six paid work weeks as Aquarium Guides or Visitor Services Assistants while studying marine science, climate science, advocacy, and public communication.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New England High School Journalism Collaborative (NEHSJC) / New England Newspaper & Press Association
New England High School Journalism Collaborative Summer Workshop
A one-week, all-expense-paid summer workshop at Simmons University in Boston where high school students learn reporting, writing, editing and multimedia production and produce their own newspaper under deadline pressure with professional journalists.
📍 Simmons University, Boston, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New England High School Journalism Collaborative (NEHSJC)
New England High School Journalism Collaborative Summer Workshop
A fully-funded, residential week-long workshop (June 20-27, 2026) at Simmons University in Boston where New England high schoolers learn to report, write, edit, and produce multimedia journalism, publishing a newspaper under deadline pressure.
📍 Boston, MA (Simmons University)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Institute of American Indian Arts
New Freshman Summer Bridge
Incoming IAIA students can earn college credit, live on campus and receive academic/cultural support before their first semester. Tuition, housing, meals, tutoring and program activities are covered aside from a refundable housing deposit.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Scholarship Program
One application matches New Hampshire students with hundreds of scholarship funds for college, university and certificate programs.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
NH Association of Conservation Districts
New Hampshire Envirothon
A statewide academic competition where five-student high school teams are tested on soils, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue.
📍 Varies (NHTI-Concord's Community College in recent years)📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda
New Hampshire FBLA
State chapter of Future Business Leaders of America preparing high school students for business careers through competitive events, professional development workshops, and a State Leadership Conference.
📍 Statewide, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Bar Association Law-Related Education Program
New Hampshire High School Mock Trial
A statewide competition where high school teams argue a simulated legal case, competing live at district and state-final rounds to learn about the law and legal system.
📍 Statewide, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Manchester Artists Association
New Hampshire High School Senior Art Scholarship
Annual scholarship supporting a New Hampshire high-school senior planning postsecondary study or a career in the visual arts.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Hampshire Film Bureau / New Hampshire Media Teachers
New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival
Statewide student film festival for original films under six minutes, including narrative, documentary, animation and other genres. Winning filmmakers receive prizes and the first-place school's media program receives a $500 equipment gift card.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NH State Council on the Arts / National Endowment for the Arts
New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud
A free poetry recitation competition for high schoolers that builds public speaking skills and literary knowledge, progressing from classroom to school, regional, and state championships.
📍 NH State House, Concord, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Governor's Office of Volunteerism
New Jersey 9/11 Day of Service
State-supported service event connecting volunteers with large community-service projects; the 2026 event includes meal-packing for food-insecure communities.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of New Jersey
New Jersey American Legion Oratorical Contest
A Constitution-focused public speaking competition for students in grades 9-12, who deliver a prepared 8-10 minute oration on a constitutional theme plus a drawn 3-5 minute impromptu speech, advancing through post, county, district, and department rounds toward national finals.
📍 Local American Legion posts statewide, New Jersey📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey FBLA, hosted at Kean University
New Jersey FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
The state chapter network of FBLA for NJ middle school, high school, and collegiate students, offering business-leadership competitive events, conferences, community service, and scholarships; the first NJ chapter was chartered in 1947.
📍 Union, NJ (state office at Kean University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey FCCLA
New Jersey FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
The state CTSO for NJ Family and Consumer Sciences students, with over 4,000 members participating in 80+ competitive events, a State Leadership Conference, community service, and leadership-skill development centered on family and career readiness.
📍 New Jersey (statewide, State Leadership Conference held regionally)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
New Jersey FFA Association
The state chapter of the national FFA organization, serving over 3,000 NJ students through agricultural-education leadership development, career/personal-growth competitive events, and state conferences, as part of the state's Agricultural Education program.
📍 New Jersey (statewide, chapters by school)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
William Paterson University (NJ affiliate of National History Day)
New Jersey History Day
The Garden State affiliate of National History Day, inviting students in grades 6-12 to conduct original historical research and present it as a performance, exhibit, documentary, website, or paper, with regional and state contests leading to the National Contest at the University of Maryland.
📍 Regional sites (Rutgers-Camden, Monmouth University, St. Elizabeth University) and state contest at William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NJ School Boards Association / Garden State Film Festival
New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short
Students write, direct, and shoot a documentary of five minutes or less about their hometown. Entry is free; finalists screen at the Garden State Film Festival and the winning school receives $500 for film/video equipment.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Count Basie Center for the Arts
New Jersey Poetry Out Loud
A statewide poetry recitation competition in which high school students memorize and perform poems through school, regional, and state rounds, with the state champion advancing to the national finals in Washington, D.C. for a chance at college scholarship funds.
📍 Regional sites statewide; State Finals at Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, NJ📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National High School Ethics Bowl (NJ Regional, hosted by Princeton University)
New Jersey Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier of the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of high school students engage in civil, collaborative discussion of real-world ethical cases before a panel of judges, hosted at Princeton University.
📍 Princeton University, Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NASA / Rutgers University
New Jersey Space Grant Consortium (NJSGC)
A NASA-funded statewide consortium headquartered at Rutgers that funds K-12 'bridge' STEM programs connecting NJ high schoolers with university researchers — historically including support for Liberty Science Center's Partners in Science and Rutgers engineering outreach for girls — plus fellowships for aerospace-related research.
📍 New Brunswick, NJ (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New Jersey State Museum
New Jersey State Museum Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 14+ assist museum educators with programs, family activities, carts, events and other educational experiences while earning service experience.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey State Science Day Challenge
New Jersey students investigate a community problem and design solutions using science and engineering practices.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)
Merit scholarship for eligible NJ graduates in approximately the top 15% of their class, covering qualifying tuition at New Jersey community colleges.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NM Public Education Department / NM Higher Education Department
New Mexico Dual Credit Program
Every New Mexico high-school student can potentially take approved college courses for both high-school and college credit. Public colleges waive tuition, and schools cover instructional materials.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Arts / New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
New Mexico Ekphrastic Poetry Contest
An annual statewide ekphrastic poetry contest in which New Mexicans write poetry inspired by artworks on display at state cultural institutions, with a dedicated Youth (ages 10-18) category.
📍 Statewide New Mexico (online submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Envirothon, Inc.
New Mexico Envirothon
North America's largest high school environmental science competition brings together 5-student teams for a two-day indoor/outdoor state competition testing knowledge of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, and wildlife; the winning team represents New Mexico at Nationals.
📍 Taos, NM (statewide competition)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NM STEM Innovation Network
New Mexico Governor's STEM Challenge
Statewide team competition asking students to develop STEM-based solutions to real problems and present them to industry judges. Winning teams receive $500 per student; the next challenge is February 6, 2027.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Model UN
New Mexico Model UN (NMMUN)
A statewide student organization running Model United Nations conferences, including LoboMUN, where New Mexico high schoolers debate global issues through simulated UN committees.
📍 Albuquerque, NM📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Higher Education Department
New Mexico Scholars Scholarship
State scholarship covering tuition, books and fees for qualifying NM graduates who meet academic and income requirements and attend an eligible New Mexico institution.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Mexico Scholastic Press Association / NMAA
New Mexico Scholastic Publications State Competition
State championship for New Mexico student newspapers, yearbooks and journalism programs, with individual publication categories and a Journalist of the Year award. The association is free to join.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Supercomputing Challenge Outreach
New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge
A unique research program in New Mexico that places high school students in state-of-the-art laboratories through the Supercomputing Challenge.
📍 Los Alamos, NM⏱ Year-round📅 January 31🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families
New Orleans Mayor's Youth Advisory Council
New Orleans students participate in local policy discussions, youth advocacy, civic leadership, and city-government engagement through a selective council and interview process. Applications open August 1.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Press Law Center
New Voices Student Press Freedom
Youth advocacy network defending student press freedoms.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Bioforce
New York Bioforce
Workforce pathway combining roughly 100 hours of biotechnology training with approximately 120 hours of mentored research.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New York Association of FFA (NY Agricultural Education, with Cornell CALS)
New York FFA Association
A school-based agricultural education organization open to all New York middle and high school students, building leadership through public speaking, team challenges, and career exposure to agriculture, veterinary medicine, engineering, and entrepreneurship.
📍 Statewide (200+ chapters across 53 of NY's 62 counties)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York HOSA
New York HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
The state chapter of the national health-sciences CTSO, open to middle school, high school, and college students pursuing healthcare pathways, with regional and statewide conferences and competitive events testing healthcare skills.
📍 Statewide (local school chapters)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cornell University (lead institution, NASA Space Grant)
New York Space Grant Consortium
A NASA-funded statewide consortium of colleges, universities, and industry partners that funds K-12 STEM engagement, student project teams, and competitions to prepare New York students for careers with NASA and the aerospace/high-tech workforce.
📍 Ithaca, NY (Cornell University) and statewide partner campuses📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NYS FCCLA
New York State FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
The state association of the only national CTSO centered on family and consumer sciences, developing high schoolers' leadership and life skills through competitive events, state/national conferences, and community-service projects.
📍 Statewide (14 districts)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Bar Association / New York Bar Foundation
New York State High School Mock Trial Program
A statewide tournament-style competition in which high school teams argue a civil or criminal case before volunteer attorney judges, building courtroom procedure and advocacy skills.
📍 New York (statewide, eight regional tournaments)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cooperstown Graduate Program, SUNY Oneonta
New York State History Day
New York's affiliate of National History Day, in which students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as an exhibit, website, documentary, paper, or performance, advancing from regional to state and national contests.
📍 New York (statewide)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Teachers & Writers Collaborative (with the New York State Council on the Arts)
New York State of Poetry
A free statewide program engaging high school students with poetry through a curated anthology of classic and contemporary poems, including New York State Poet Laureates, with students writing original responses published in an annual statewide anthology.
📍 New York (statewide)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYS SkillsUSA
New York State SkillsUSA
The state CTSO for high school and college students in technical, skilled, and service career fields, offering contest-standard competitions, leadership development, and industry networking through local chapter advisors.
📍 Statewide (divided into six organizational areas)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times Learning Network
New York Times Personal Narrative Contest
Annual personal narrative writing contest for teens 13-19.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
Indiana seniors planning to become teachers can receive up to $10,000 annually for four years in exchange for teaching in Indiana for five years after graduation.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
State of North Carolina / CFNC
Next NC Scholarship
Eligible North Carolina students attending public colleges can receive at least $5,000 annually at UNC institutions or $3,000 at community colleges.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
St. Catherine University
Next-Gen AI & Data Science Summer Camp
Free five-day on-campus summer camp for high school students (grades 9-12) exploring AI and data science through topics such as AI and the arts, facial recognition, the environment and ethics, plus data visualization, with an off-campus visit to a tech center and mentorship from professors, college students and women in tech. Breakfast and lunch provided; first come, first served. Minnesota Academy of Science lists it as aimed at high school women.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS), Morgan State University
NextGen AI Innovation Challenge
A two-day build event where middle school, high school, and college students design AI-powered tools to make K-12 classrooms more inclusive and engaging, with winning teams earning up to $2,500.
📍 Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
NextGen Tech Talks
Live online webinar series tailored specifically for high school students. Join renowned experts as they share their professional journeys, unveiling the transformative potential of technology in healthcare.
📍 Multiple📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Federation of the Blind of Nevada
NFB of Nevada Student Essay Contest
Blind and low-vision Nevada students submit an original essay, with high-school prizes ranging from $100 to $250 in the 2026 cycle.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Capital Region
NFTE Capital Region Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
An annual pitch competition for high schoolers across Maryland, DC, and Virginia where students present original business ideas to judges for a chance to compete at the national finals for seed capital and scholarships.
📍 Capital region (Maryland, DC, Virginia)📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNH Cooperative Extension / New Hampshire 4-H
NH 4-H Teen Leadership Pathway
Statewide 4-H leadership track for teens including the overnight Teen Leadership Retreat, Youth Leadership Teams, and NH 4-H Ambassadors, building critical thinking and communication skills.
📍 Durham, NH (statewide events)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters
NHAB Student Broadcaster Scholarship
New Hampshire residents pursuing postsecondary education can compete for broadcast/media scholarships, including awards of $2,500 and a larger Al Sprague Memorial award.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association
NHADA/NIAAA Scholar-Athlete Award
New Hampshire seniors with strong academics, athletics, leadership and community service compete through divisional and statewide selection for scholarship awards.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
NHLBI Summer Internship Program
A 6-8 week intramural research internship for high school seniors (18+ by mid-June) at NIH's Bethesda campus, working in basic or clinical research labs under an NHLBI principal investigator's mentorship.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NIACC Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
NIACC Youth Entrepreneurial Academy
A free hands-on entrepreneurship program for North Iowa high school students that combines weekly in-person sessions with online instruction, culminating in a Pitch Night competition for seed money.
📍 North Iowa (Mason City area)📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Nico Goon Compassionate Scholar Award
Supports graduating Northern Nevada seniors planning to attend a four-year university.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
NIH
NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Eight-week paid summer biomedical research internship at NIH labs.
📍 Bethesda, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH)
NINDS High School Summer Internship Program
Fully funded 8-10 week summer internship in Bethesda, MD where high school juniors/seniors work side-by-side with NINDS investigators studying the nervous system, neurodegenerative disease, and stroke.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid / Nissan North America
Nissan Scholarship
Graduating Mississippi seniors planning to attend a public in-state college and potentially contribute to the automotive industry compete for full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance. Selection considers academics, leadership, essay quality, and financial need.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NJ LEEP (Seton Hall Law partner)
NJ LEEP Summer Law Institute
A five-week, tuition-free summer institute at Seton Hall Law exposing underserved youth to careers in law through criminal law and trial-process coursework, skills workshops, courthouse field trips, and a mock trial competition at a federal courthouse in Newark.
📍 Seton Hall Law School, Newark, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
NJBEST Scholarship
Eligible beneficiaries of qualifying NJBEST 529 accounts may receive a one-time scholarship of up to $6,000 when attending an eligible New Jersey postsecondary institution.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC)
NJCCIC High School Internship Program
A state-run cybersecurity internship with a Basics track (one intensive week) and an Advanced track (weekly sessions July-October) for NJ high schoolers interested in cybersecurity careers, run by the state's cyber threat intelligence agency.
📍 New Jersey (state program)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF)
NJSBF High School Mock Trial Competition
Student teams argue an original case as attorneys, witnesses, and jurors in county courtrooms, advancing through regional rounds and a state final held at the New Jersey Law Center. Free and open to NJ public, private, charter, and home school students; the state champion represents New Jersey at the National Mock Trial Championship.
📍 New Jersey (statewide; county courthouses, regional sites, and the New Jersey Law Center)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Library of Medicine (NIH)
NLM Data Science & Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
An 8-12 week paid summer internship (fully remote or at NIH Bethesda) pairing high school seniors with an NLM research mentor on computational research projects applying data science and informatics methods to biology and health.
📍 Bethesda, MD (remote option available)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation / NMSU
NM AMP Student Research Conference — High School Participation
NM MESA and TRIO Upward Bound high-school students attend alongside undergraduate researchers for STEM presentations, networking, workshops and panels. Their conference fees are covered by NM AMP.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico State University STEM Outreach Center
NM Network Aviation Camp High School Internship Experience
Rising grades 9–12 participate in a week-long aviation/STEM program; 2026 participants received a $250 stipend plus documentation of 40 internship hours.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Activities Association Foundation
NMAA Foundation Scholarship Program
Large statewide scholarship program for graduating seniors participating in NMAA activities. The foundation planned approximately $82,500 in awards for the 2025–26 school year.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation
NMEAF FAFSA Scholarship
New Mexico seniors who complete the FAFSA can enter monthly drawings for $1,000 scholarships from November 2026 through July 2027.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
NMNH Summer High School Internship
Students work on museum projects in natural science, exhibitions, collections, communications and other departments while participating in field trips and career-development activities.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NOAA
NOAA Hollings Scholarship
Undergraduate scholarship + paid summer internship at NOAA (apply 2nd year of college; pipeline awareness for HS).
📍 Multiple sites⏱ Multi-year📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania (Dept. of Computer and Information Science)
North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO) - Penn Site
A contest for US and Canadian high schoolers who solve linguistics and computational-linguistics puzzles requiring no prior knowledge; Penn hosts an official Open and Invitational Round testing site in Philadelphia.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Southern Maine, Department of Linguistics
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO)
A puzzle-based linguistics competition open to middle and high schoolers with no prior linguistics, language, or computing background required; USM's Portland campus hosts Maine's site for the Open and Invitational rounds.
📍 Portland, ME (USM)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NACLO, hosted by University of Maryland Language Science Center
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO)
A free linguistics puzzle competition for grades 6-12 (primarily 9-12) requiring no prior linguistics background, with an Open Round for all students and an Invitational Round for top scorers who advance toward the International Linguistics Olympiad.
📍 College Park, MD📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NACLO (hosted at university sites including in Massachusetts)
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO)
A free puzzle-based linguistics competition open to middle and high schoolers requiring no prior linguistics background, where top scorers advance from local test sites to an invitational round and then international competition.
📍 Multiple North American test sites, including Massachusetts📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Middle Tennessee State University
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO) - MTSU Site
A free linguistics puzzle competition requiring no prior linguistics or foreign-language knowledge, held in an Open Round and an Invitational Round at the MTSU campus site; top Invitational performers can qualify for the International Linguistics Olympiad team.
📍 Murfreesboro, TN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Community Foundation
North Carolina Community Foundation Scholarships
Central application provides access to numerous donor-funded scholarships with county-, school-, career- and background-specific eligibility throughout North Carolina.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UNC Parr Center for Ethics
North Carolina High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of up to 7 students discuss real-life ethical dilemmas collaboratively, aiming for respectful dialogue rather than adversarial debate.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC (UNC-Chapel Hill campus)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
North Carolina History Day
The North Carolina affiliate of National History Day, inspiring historical inquiry in middle and high school classrooms through student-created exhibits, documentaries, and performances that compete at regional, state, and national levels.
📍 North Carolina (regional contests statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Mock Trial Program (hosted by Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law)
North Carolina Mock Trial Program
A statewide high school mock trial competition in which teams argue a simulated civil or criminal case before judges and attorney scorers, progressing from regional sites across North Carolina to State Finals hosted at Campbell Law School. The 2025-2026 season includes regional competitions on February 7, 2026 and State Finals on March 13-14, 2026 in Raleigh.
📍 Regional sites statewide (Fayetteville, Gastonia, Goldsboro, Greenville, Hendersonville, Hickory, High Point, Hillsborough, Lincolnton, Raleigh, Wilmington), NC; State Finals in Raleigh📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Carolina System
North Carolina Teaching Fellows
Future teachers can receive forgivable financial assistance at participating North Carolina institutions in exchange for teaching in qualifying fields or schools.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NC State University / World Food Prize
North Carolina Youth Institute
Students research a global food-security problem, write a policy-style paper and present solutions to experts; top participants can advance to the Global Youth Institute.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion North Dakota
North Dakota Boys State and Girls State
A leadership program for high school students in North Dakota to learn about government and civic engagement.
📍 Bismarck, ND⏱ 1 week📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Dakota Community Foundation
North Dakota Community Foundation Scholarships
One foundation portal connects North Dakota students with a large collection of local, county, school and donor-specific scholarships.
📍 ND🎓 Grade 12
Selective
EduTech / North Dakota state partners
North Dakota Cyber Madness High School Tournament
Teams of up to five students solve cybersecurity challenges in virtual qualifying rounds before finalists compete face-to-face.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DECA Inc. / North Dakota DECA
North Dakota DECA
North Dakota's CTSO chapter preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, operating in 39 high schools and career/technology centers with 50+ competitive event categories.
📍 Statewide, North Dakota (state conference in Bismarck)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars / Scholarship America
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars
Graduating North Dakota students apply through a statewide scholarship system for awards typically ranging from hundreds to several thousand dollars.
📍 ND🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America / North Dakota FBLA
North Dakota FBLA
The North Dakota chapter of the largest student business organization in the world, serving grades 9-12 members through competitive events like accounting, agribusiness, website design, and computer applications, plus state and national leadership conferences.
📍 Statewide, North Dakota📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FCCLA / North Dakota FCCLA
North Dakota FCCLA
North Dakota's Family and Consumer Sciences CTSO, active since 1945, offering competitive events, community service projects, and leadership conferences to help members become college- and career-ready.
📍 Bismarck, ND (state office) and statewide chapters📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National FFA Organization / North Dakota FFA
North Dakota FFA Association
North Dakota's agricultural education CTSO with 8,000 members across 95 chapters, offering Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, and community service through its Living to Serve initiative.
📍 Statewide, North Dakota📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
HOSA Inc. / North Dakota HOSA
North Dakota HOSA - Future Health Professionals
North Dakota's health-sciences CTSO for grades 7-12, grown from 395 members in 2021 to over 1,000 by 2026, offering 50+ competitive events across healthcare fields plus Fall, State, and International Leadership Conferences.
📍 Statewide, North Dakota (based in Mayville, ND)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of Mathematics
North Dakota Mathematics Talent Search
High-school students solve challenging mathematics problems over three rounds in an annual statewide problem-solving competition.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
North Dakota Scholarship
Choice Ready graduates can earn up to $6,000 for qualifying North Dakota colleges, universities, career programs or apprenticeships.
📍 ND🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
North Dakota Student Legislative Summit
High-school delegates from across the state participate in a two-day legislative simulation and discuss education technology and artificial-intelligence policy.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
North Star Promise Scholarship
Eligible Minnesota residents with family AGI below $80,000 can have remaining tuition and required fees covered at Minnesota public colleges, universities, and Tribal Colleges after other gift aid is applied.
📍 MN🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
North Texas Teen Book Festival
North Texas Teen Book Festival
A free one-day festival of teen literature at the Irving Convention Center with about 75 authors, more than 40 small breakout panels, author signings and book sales.
📍 Irving, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Crookston (World Food Prize Foundation network)
Northern Great Plains Youth Institute
Annual one-day institute at UMN Crookston where high school students write a paper on a food security issue and present it to local leaders and experts. Participants can earn Borlaug Scholar recognition, eligibility for Borlaug-Ruan international internships and a $1,000 scholarship to UMN Crookston.
📍 Crookston, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northern Nevada Forensic League (NSDA-affiliated)
Northern Nevada Forensic League
A competitive speech and debate league spanning five northern Nevada school districts (Washoe, Lyon, Carson City, Douglas, and Elko counties), operating under the National Speech & Debate Association and hosting regular tournaments in Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and other debate/speech formats.
📍 Northern Nevada (Washoe, Lyon, Carson City, Douglas, Elko counties)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northland Hackathon (Minnesota nonprofit)
Northland Hackathon
Billed as the Midwest's largest free student hackathon, this one-day remote event has Minnesota high school and college students build web and app projects in teams over seven hours with mentorship from engineers at companies like Google, Amazon, and Square. No coding prerequisites are required.
📍 Minnesota (remote/statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwestern University Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers (NURPH)
Rising juniors and seniors from the Chicago/Evanston area spend seven weeks carrying out original materials-science research with Northwestern researchers. The program is paid and does not require previous research experience.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Norton Healthcare
Norton Children's Summer Teen Volunteer Program
A hospital volunteer program for teens ages 14-17 at Norton Children's Hospital and Norton Women's & Children's Hospital; no special skills are required and full training is provided.
📍 Louisville, KY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Norton Children's Hospital Foundation
Norton Children's Teen Ambassadors and Teen Board
A youth philanthropy pathway at Norton Children's: Teen Ambassadors (grade 9 and up) meet twice a semester to learn about the hospital's mission, while Teen Board (juniors and seniors) takes on monthly leadership roles planning fundraising events and patient programming.
📍 Louisville, KY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Norwich University School of Architecture + Art
Norwich High School Architecture Design Competition (Story Space)
Free design competition for high school students to design an outdoor performance structure for storytelling gatherings of five and fifty people.
📍 Online (Northfield, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Free residential seminars for outstanding rising seniors.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NPR
NPR Student Podcast Challenge
Free annual podcasting contest. Submit a 3-8 minute podcast. Winning student is featured on NPR.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 Grades 5–12
Selective
U.S. State Department
NSLI-Y (Critical Languages)
Fully-funded US government scholarship for high schoolers to study languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Korean abroad.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks or academic year📅 Early November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Idaho National Laboratory
Nuclear Science Camp
Students investigate nuclear science and energy through hands-on activities connected to Idaho National Laboratory's research mission.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Research Placements
Fully-funded UK STEM research placements for Year 12 students, prioritized for those from low-income backgrounds; hosted by universities, research institutes, and companies.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 4–6 weeks (summer)📅 March (UK Year 12)🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
The University of Kansas Health System
Nurse Academy
High-school students gain hands-on exposure to nursing skills, nursing specialties, patient care, and hospital departments during an immersive academy.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
National University of Singapore
NUS High School Research
Undergraduate-level research mentorship at NUS for advanced high school students.
📍 Singapore⏱ 12 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada / NV Energy
NV Energy Powerful Partnerships Scholarship
Northern Nevada high-school seniors in NV Energy's service area compete for awards generally ranging from $1,000 to $1,500, with larger employee-dependent awards also offered.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Washington State University Native American Programs
NY'EHE - Native Youth Exploring Higher Education Camp
Free overnight summer camp on the WSU Pullman campus where high school students explore college life and higher education pathways.
📍 Washington State University, Pullman, WA📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
NYC Commuter Summer
Engage in a rich and demanding academic experience on Columbia's tranquil campus, in the heart of New York City.
📍 New York, NY📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC DYCD
NYC Ladders for Leaders
Free paid summer internship program for NYC high schoolers. Stipend included; competitive admission.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 6 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Baruch College
NYC Public High School Journalism Conference
Free annual conference with reporting workshops, journalism/AI sessions, professional journalists and the Newsies student journalism awards. About 200 students from 26 NYC public high schools attended in 2026.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
NYC Residential Summer
Engage in a rich and demanding academic experience on Columbia's tranquil campus, in the heart of New York City.
📍 New York, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Hall
NYO-USA
Free national youth orchestra tour for top high-school musicians; full scholarship including travel and residency.
📍 New York, NY📅 Auditions typically held each December for the following summer — exact date not yet posted🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State HESC
NYS STEM Incentive Program
Top-10%-of-class NY seniors entering approved STEM majors at SUNY/CUNY can receive full resident tuition in exchange for working in a STEM field in New York after graduation.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Learning Network Contests
Free monthly writing, photo, and podcast contests for teens 13–19 worldwide.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Personal Narrative Contest
Annual short personal narrative contest for teens. 600 words. Free entry.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Student Editorial Contest
Free annual contest for students aged 13-19 to write a 450-word evidence-based editorial. Top entries are published by the Times.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYT / NABJ / NAHJ
NYT Student Journalism Institute
Paid summer journalism program at The New York Times for diverse students.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Summer Reading Contest
Each summer week, students pick a Times piece and write 350 words about it. Free; winners published.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June-August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
OCCF Scholarship Portal
Centralized application system containing numerous donor-, school-, field- and community-specific scholarships.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Ocean Awareness Contest
International student contest in visual art, film, writing, and music addressing ocean conservation.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) Education
Ocean State Star Awards
An adjudicated musical theatre awards program recognizing excellence in Rhode Island (and nearby Massachusetts) high school productions, with one male and one female winner advancing to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City.
📍 Providence, RI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Council on Economic Education
OCEE Economics & Personal Finance Challenges
Statewide student competitions including the Economics Challenge, Personal Finance Challenge, Stock Market Game, and Outstanding Economics Student Awards, run by OCEE to build economic and financial literacy among Oklahoma high schoolers.
📍 Edmond, OK (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ochsner Health
Ochsner Job Shadowing Program
A free healthcare job shadowing program for students 16 and older, offering up to five half-day shadowing sessions per year with a pre-approved mentor at Ochsner locations across the Gulf South.
📍 Multiple Ochsner locations, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Ochsner Health
Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Program
A free four-week summer program for rising high school seniors to conduct inquiry-based scientific experiments in a dedicated student lab under Ochsner scientists, with training in resumes, presentations, and CPR certification.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio Department of Higher Education
Ohio Academic Scholarship
State awards recognize academically outstanding Ohio seniors using GPA and ACT performance, with at least one award allocated to each eligible participating high school.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General Teen Ambassador Board
Students serve a one-year term, advise the Attorney General's Office on teen issues, work with assistant attorneys general and meet government and law officials.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio History Connection
Ohio History Connection Youth Volunteer Program
Teen volunteers assist with interpretation, education, family programs, special events, museum operations and historic sites. Youth opportunities specifically include ages 15–17.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio Arts Council / NEA / Poetry Foundation
Ohio Poetry Out Loud
Students memorize and perform published poetry, progressing through school, regional and Ohio state recitation contests to national finals.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Findlay
Ohio Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A collaborative (non-adversarial) ethics competition where Ohio high school teams analyze and discuss contemporary ethical issues, judged by University of Findlay's collegiate ethics bowl team, faculty, and staff, with winners advancing to the National High School Ethics Bowl.
📍 Findlay, OH📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Ohio State University, CFAES Wooster Campus
Ohio State Research Internship Program (ORIP)
A 10-week paid research internship pairing graduating high school seniors with faculty mentors for lab and field research in agriculture, entomology, plant pathology, food science, and related fields, including weekly seminars and a final symposium.
📍 Wooster, OH (Ohio State University CFAES)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio State University
Ohio State Young Scholars Program
Free year-round academic + research support for first-gen Ohio students.
📍 OH⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Ohio Student Voice Workgroup
Students work directly with state and local education officials, discuss education policy, provide feedback and develop student-led solutions.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio Department of Higher Education
Ohio War Orphans & Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
State scholarship for eligible children of deceased or severely disabled veterans attending qualifying Ohio colleges or universities.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Oregon Health & Science University
OHSU On Track OHSU!
Free pipeline program for Oregon students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 OR⏱ Year-round + summer📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma City Police Department
OKCPD Youth Engagement Council
Students meet police leadership during multiple school-year sessions and discuss community/policing issues.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma 4-H Foundation
Oklahoma 4-H Graduating Senior Scholarships
One statewide application provides access to numerous named scholarships for graduating Oklahoma 4-H members.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Oklahoma Neuroscience Chapter
Oklahoma Brain Bee
A free live question-and-answer neuroscience competition for Oklahoma students ages 14-18, testing knowledge of the brain through quiz rounds, neuroanatomy identification, and a patient-diagnosis role-play; the winner advances to the International Brain Bee national competition.
📍 Oklahoma📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Conservation Commission / Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Envirothon
A statewide environmental knowledge competition where teams of five high schoolers, sponsored by their local conservation district, test their expertise in soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue through exams and field exercises; winners advance to the international NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Stillwater, OK📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R High School Scholarship
Nine district scholarships for graduating seniors from Farm Bureau families pursuing agriculture-related study in Oklahoma.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Oklahoma Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship
Competitive scholarship based on academics, civic involvement, volunteerism and extracurricular achievement.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Rose State College / U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Oklahoma High School Regional Science Bowl
A fast-paced, Jeopardy-style academic competition testing high school teams on biology, chemistry, physics, earth/space science, math, and energy; the Oklahoma regional winner advances to the National Science Bowl finals.
📍 Midwest City, OK📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma History Center Internship Program
An internship placing students within the Oklahoma History Center museum's departments after an interview process, giving hands-on experience with museum collections, exhibits, or public programming, with applications due the semester before the internship term.
📍 Oklahoma City, OK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House High School Page Program
Students spend a week at the Capitol helping representatives/staff and learning the legislative process, including a mock session.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Oratorical Contest
A statewide public-speaking competition for high schoolers under 20 that progresses from local posts through districts to a state final, where contestants deliver a constitutional-topic oration plus an impromptu speech, competing for scholarships up to $25,000 nationally.
📍 Edmond, OK📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma A+ Schools / Oklahoma Arts Council
Oklahoma Poetry Out Loud
Students memorize and perform poetry through school and state competition, with the state champion advancing nationally.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate High School Page Program
Students spend a week serving senators and staff while observing legislative work firsthand.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma Student Art Exhibition
Juried statewide student-art competition with a dedicated high-school division and works exhibited at the Oklahoma State Fair.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Oklahoma Arts Institute
Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) at Quartz Mountain
An immersive two-week residential academy providing professional artistic training to artistically advanced Oklahoma high school students in acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing & painting, film & video, orchestra, and photography, taught by nationally renowned faculty at Quartz Mountain.
📍 Lone Wolf, OK (Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Central Oklahoma / deadCenter Film
Oklahoma Teen Film Festival
A film festival open exclusively to Oklahoma high school students, who submit short films of 15 minutes or less across six categories (including animation, documentary, and drama) for cash prizes, workshops, and a red-carpet awards ceremony at UCO.
📍 Edmond, OK (University of Central Oklahoma)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Young Writer's Workshops
Oklahoma Young Writer's Workshops (OKYWW)
Free, recurring peer workshops for young writers held at venues like Warr Acres Library and Literati Press, offering critique, mentorship from established Oklahoma authors, and exposure to new writing forms and competitions.
📍 Oklahoma City metro, OK📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Oklahoma's Promise
Qualifying Oklahoma students can earn tuition at public Oklahoma colleges/universities or support toward eligible private/technology-center tuition.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
OKStars Summer Research Program
Six-week mentored research experience placing high-school juniors and seniors in active OSU-CHS research teams in biomedical science, forensics, data analytics, paleontology and athletic training.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia State Bar (Young Lawyers and Diversity Sections)
Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute
A week-long residential camp that teaches high school students about a life and career in the law: students learn how to put on a trial, meet local officials and judges, learn attorney etiquette and compete in a mock trial and networking reception.
📍 Richmond, VA (University of Richmond)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Chicago
One Summer Chicago
Free paid summer jobs and internships for Chicago youth ages 14-24.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Duke Summer Session
Online Courses (High School)
High school students can take a variety of Duke courses online for college credit during the summer.
📍 remote📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purple Comet! Math Meet
Online Math Team Championship (OMTC) / Purple Comet!
An international online math competition focused on high-level problem solving, often allowing students from rural areas to compete.
📍 Online⏱ 1 week📅 Late August (yearly)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Online Summer
Dive into the Ivy League experience with Columbia’s world-class instructors and a rigorous and collaborative online experience.
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Allen Institute with Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education
Open Science Quest at the Allen Institute
Three-week intensive internship course at the Allen Institute where students run advanced lab activities, generate and analyze biomedical data, and get exposure to neuroscience, cell biology and immunology.
📍 Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism, University of St. Thomas
Opinion Writing Workshop
Free four-Saturday competitive workshop (Oct 3, 10, 24, 31) where 15-18 Twin Cities high school students develop publishable opinion pieces on community topics with media professionals; participants receive a $200 stipend on completion. Priority deadline Sept 16, rolling admission afterward; lunch and snacks provided.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Opportunity Scholarship
North Carolina K–12 students may receive state funding toward tuition and fees at eligible private schools.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oregon State University Extension
Oregon 4-H State Ambassador Program
Selected senior 4-H members represent Oregon 4-H publicly and serve as youth leaders on statewide events and planning teams.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Pacific University Department of Philosophy
Oregon High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of 3-5 students collaboratively analyze real-world ethical dilemmas and respond to judges' questions, winning by rigor and respectful engagement rather than adversarial debate.
📍 Portland area, OR (rotating host high schools)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oregon State University / University of Oregon / Portland State University Departments of Mathematics
Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament (OIMT)
A one-day statewide math tournament for Oregon's top high school students, who qualify via regional competitions or a qualifying AMC-10/12 score, competing in Algebra 2, Geometry, and two open/advanced exam categories plus a team logic event.
📍 Corvallis, OR (OSU campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oregon Journalism Education Association
Oregon Journalist of the Year
Portfolio competition recognizing Oregon's top graduating student journalist.
📍 OR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Oregon Arts Commission / NEA
Oregon Poetry Out Loud
Students memorize and perform poetry through school and state contests with national advancement.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Oregon State Senate
Oregon Senate Honorary Page
Students work on the Senate floor, observe debates and learn legislative procedure firsthand.
📍 OR🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Oregon State University
Oregon State Environmental Science Internship
A program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in environmental research and data science.
📍 Corvallis, OR⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL High School Summer Internship
Paid DOE national lab research at Oak Ridge.
📍 TN⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL Next Generation STEM Internship Program (NGSI)
A paid, highly competitive seven-week internship where rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates from accredited high schools in designated East Tennessee counties work under the mentorship of ORNL scientists and technical staff on real STEM projects.
📍 Oak Ridge, TN📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Orville Belding Memorial Scholarship
Supports student-athletes born and raised in Nevada who are graduating from a Washoe County high school.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of South Dakota, College of Fine Arts
Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute
A free, two-week residential arts institute at USD for high school students in grades 10-12 who show talent in the visual arts and a strong interest in American Indian culture, with special attention given to Native American applicants. Students take drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and cultural studies classes from Northern Plains artists.
📍 Vermillion, SD📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation High School Programs (Youth Apprenticeship and School to Work)
Paid work-based programs for Wisconsin high schoolers: a 450-hour engineering Youth Apprenticeship for incoming seniors and a two-year manufacturing School to Work program for incoming juniors, earning high school credit, college credit and state certificates.
📍 Oshkosh, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
OSSAA Speech & Debate State Championship
The statewide interscholastic speech and debate season sanctioned by OSSAA, culminating in regional qualifiers and a state championship tournament across classifications, with monthly extemporaneous-speaking topics for practice throughout the year.
📍 Statewide, OK📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of the State Superintendent of Education / DCPS
OSSE Consortium Dual Enrollment
DCPS students can take a college course at a participating university while still in high school, with OSSE covering tuition and books for one three-credit course per semester.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Oklahoma
OU Sooner Health Research
Paid health research at OU for Oklahoma students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 OK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Vermont Department of Health Tobacco Control Program / Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation
Our Voices Xposed (OVX) Vermont Youth Tobacco Prevention Movement
A statewide youth leadership initiative for Vermont high school students who research tobacco advertising, run community events, testify to legislators and attend the annual 802 Youth Leadership Summit with tracks in storytelling, justice and policy.
📍 Vermont (local chapters, summit and Montpelier Statehouse rally)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)
OUT LOUD Teen Art Workshop Series
Free 12-week workshop series for current high school students, led by visiting artists, to explore new art mediums and develop an artistic voice. The program culminates in a museum exhibition of participants' work.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Public Health Museum in Massachusetts
Outbreak! High School Program
A free experiential-learning program for students entering grades 10-12 interested in public health careers, mixing expert talks and hands-on activities on topics like health equity, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness, culminating in an outbreak-simulation project.
📍 Tewksbury, MA (Public Health Museum, in-person and Zoom sessions)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Urban Ecology Center
Outdoor Leaders High School Internship (Urban Ecology Center)
A paid environmental career internship for Milwaukee high school students, with an eight-week summer intensive for 18 Outdoor Leaders and a September-April school-year cohort of nine, building skills in education, stewardship and research.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE)
Outstanding Young Environmental Leader Award
An annual nomination-based award recognizing Coloradans aged 14-23 for outstanding leadership in creating or implementing environmental education programs in their community.
📍 Colorado (statewide nominations)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oxbridge Launchpad
Oxbridge Launchpad Essay Competitions
Rolling essay competitions across STEM, humanities, and social sciences for global high school students.
📍 Remote (Global)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oxford
Oxford UNIQ and Open Days
Free Oxford summer schools and open days for academically excellent students.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl)
Pacific Northwest High School Regional Science Bowl (DOE National Science Bowl)
Regional high school science quiz competition hosted by PNNL for schools in listed Washington and Oregon counties, with the winning team advancing to the DOE National Science Bowl.
📍 Columbia Basin College, Pasco, Washington📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Liberty Science Center
Partners in Science
An intensive eight-week summer mentorship, running since 1986, that pairs NJ high school juniors/seniors with scientist mentors at regional institutions (NJIT, Princeton, Rowan, Rutgers, Stevens, and more) for hands-on lab research, plus biweekly career workshops at LSC.
📍 Jersey City, NJ (placements statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
PATH Emerging Scholars Program
One-week residential program preparing high-school juniors and seniors for careers in healthcare and health research through STEAM-H learning and leadership development.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
PathMaker Scholars
A 10-week residential summer research experience with laboratory training and an individual cancer research project under faculty mentorship. Targets rural and frontier students of the Mountain West.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Research Apprenticeship Program
Omaha Public Schools students age 16+ work for a semester in an active biomedical research laboratory, learning molecular biology and areas such as cell biology, cancer biology and microbiology. Students are paid hourly, transportation assistance is available, and placements may continue beyond one semester by mutual agreement.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UC Berkeley ATDP
Pathway Scholarship
Information about the Pathway Scholarship for ATDP programs.
📍 Multiple📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Space Grant Consortium / Averett University / Virginia Department of Aviation
Pathways Flight Academies
A free summer program for selected Virginia high school students that combines ground school and flight training and can end in a first solo flight.
📍 Virginia (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Yale University
Pathways to Arts & Humanities Summer Scholars
Free two-week program where local students study archives, art, photography, architecture, comics, playwriting, history and other humanities fields using Yale's collections and faculty.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Dunwoody College of Technology
Pathways to Careers Summer Experience
Juniors and seniors complete a free three-week experience exploring technical careers through job-site visits, industry interaction, and hands-on projects. Accepted participants planning to attend Dunwoody can become eligible for scholarships of up to $10,000 annually for two years.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Brown University
Pathways to Medicine
Year-long mentoring by medical, nursing, PA and pharmacy students; includes medical cases, simulations and a final project.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families / Gracefully Mindful Wellness Institute
Pathways Youth Internship Program
System-involved youth ages 14–17 receive paid employment placements together with workforce-readiness workshops, mentoring, case management, conflict-resolution training, and transportation support.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
PBS
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
Network of student newsrooms producing stories for PBS.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Peace First
Peace First Mini-Grants
Digital platform and mini-grants (up to $250) for 13–25-year-olds anywhere in the world to design and launch a project responding to injustice in their community.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Project-based📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Penn Math Contest (student-run, University of Pennsylvania)
Penn Math Contest (PMC)
A student-run math competition offering individual and team contests throughout the year for high schoolers of all levels, held in person on Penn's campus or online, with prizes and certificates for winners.
📍 Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania campus, or online)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Perelman School of Medicine
Penn Med Summer Mentorship
Six-week summer mentorship in healthcare for Philadelphia students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
PennApps
One of the oldest college hackathons; HS-track sometimes available. Travel stipends offered.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 36 hours📅 Spring/Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Pennsylvania Poetry Out Loud
Poetry recitation and public speaking.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
SECU Foundation
People Helping People Scholarship
North Carolina public-high-school seniors can receive a $10,000 scholarship distributed over eight semesters at a UNC System institution.
📍 NC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
QuestBridge
Personalized Support (through College Prep Scholars Program)
Personalized support for the college application process as part of the College Prep Scholars Program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska College of Engineering / Peter Kiewit Foundation
Peter Kiewit Engineering Academy
Cohort scholarship and support program for Nebraska seniors entering engineering, computing or construction at UNL or UNO who demonstrate financial need and commitment to advancing women in these fields. The package can cover tuition and fees plus housing, food, materials and additional professional-development support.
📍 NE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Peter Millimet Creative Writing Fund Contest
Manchester high-school students submit original creative writing, with particular encouragement for poetry. Recent awards were $500, $300 and $200 plus runner-up recognition.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Exploration Day
A free, full-day summer event for high schoolers featuring a SimMan patient simulation demonstration, pharmacy compounding techniques, a mock emergency room scenario, and campus tours led by current pharmacy students.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA (Duquesne University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy
PharmFUTURE
Rising juniors and seniors experience pharmacy-school life, work in a laboratory, explore pharmacist careers, and learn how to prepare for pharmacy admission and success.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health & Environmental Laboratories (PHEL)
PHEL STEM Student Outreach Program
A hands-on laboratory outreach program for Trenton-area junior-high and high schoolers, run with Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County and Rutgers 4-H, exposing students to vector-borne disease testing, newborn screening, heavy-metal analysis instrumentation, and pathogen genomics in a working state public health lab.
📍 Trenton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Philadelphia Youth Film Festival
Philadelphia Youth Film Festival (PHYFF)
A student-run, free-to-enter film festival for filmmakers ages 14-19 worldwide, accepting narrative, documentary, experimental, and screenplay submissions, with a culminating public screening event in Philadelphia.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Phoenix Union Foundation for Education
Phoenix Union Foundation Scholarships
Graduating Phoenix Union students apply for foundation- and sponsor-funded awards supporting university, community-college, and accredited trade-school study.
📍 AZ🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo ZooTeens
Year-long youth volunteer program for students entering grades 9-12 who commit to at least one 5-hour weekend shift per month from August through May, engaging guests and learning about conservation.
📍 Phoenix, AZ📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
AAPT
Physics Bowl
International multiple-choice physics competition for HS students.
📍 Global⏱ 45 min📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
A free residential summer program at FRIB where high school students explore nuclear astrophysics, conduct their own experiments, and tour a world-leading rare-isotope laboratory.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UBC
Physics Olympics
Annual lab and theory physics competition for high schools.
📍 Vancouver, BC⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
PICNICS Summer Research Program
High-school students conduct hands-on research in NDSU chemistry, biochemistry, coatings, polymer/materials and engineering laboratories alongside university researchers.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Carnegie Mellon CyLab
picoCTF
Free annual cybersecurity capture-the-flag competition for students.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Piedmont Healthcare
Piedmont Atlanta Teen Volunteer Program
High school students ages 16-17 volunteer at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital in guest services, clinical support, and patient assistance roles across an eight-week summer commitment, with career-readiness training included.
📍 Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, GA📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
FIRST / Pine Tree District
Pine Tree District FIRST Robotics Competition
Maine's official FIRST Robotics Competition qualifying event, where high school teams from Maine and across New England compete head-to-head with robots they designed and built for a chance to advance to the FIRST Championship.
📍 Falmouth High School, Falmouth, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
PING: Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (FRIB)
Two-week nuclear physics research experience for high school students at FRIB, pairing pre-college students with undergraduate mentors on a research project with possible national conference presentation and year-long continuation. Fully NSF-funded and free to participants; 2026 session ran July 12-25 (applications Jan 15 - Mar 15).
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
UW-Platteville School of Agriculture
Plant Biotechnology Boot Camp (UW-Platteville)
NSF-supported residential or commuter week of hands-on plant biotechnology for high schoolers: tissue culture, genetic transformation, DNA isolation, PCR and gel electrophoresis, with visits to the Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center.
📍 Platteville, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
PNNL High School Research and Business Internships
PNNL offers high school students academic-year (August-May, up to 4 hours a day) and full-time summer internships in research or business, with elective credit available through school work-based learning programs. Students must be 18 to work in lab spaces.
📍 Richland, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Woodland Pattern Book Center
Poetry Camp (Woodland Pattern Youth Literary Arts)
Free one-week summer poetry camp sessions for Milwaukee youth entering grades 6-12 with writing instruction, meals, field trips and a published anthology of participant writing.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA)
Poetry Forward (ArtsWA)
A statewide original poetry writing program open to Washington schools serving grades 9-12, in which each school selects a student poet to enter the statewide contest for awards.
📍 Washington (statewide)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Division of Arts & Museums
Poetry Ourselves Utah Original Poetry Competition
An original writing competition where grade 9-12 Utah students submit one or two original poems (or up to ten haiku) in English or Spanish. Students register and submit directly.
📍 Utah (statewide)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Poetry Out Loud
A national poetry recitation competition that begins in high school classrooms and ends in a national final.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Academic Year📅 January 10🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama Writers' Forum (in partnership with the NEA and Poetry Foundation)
Poetry Out Loud - Alabama
A free national recitation competition for high schoolers that builds public speaking skills and confidence, with students reciting published poems (and optionally original or social-issues poetry) through classroom, regional, state, and national rounds.
📍 Regional competitions statewide; state finals at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, AL📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud - Kentucky
A national recitation competition for grades 9-12, run in Kentucky by the Kentucky Arts Council, where students memorize and perform poems in a schoolwide contest followed by state finals, with the state champion receiving $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to nationals for a shot at a $20,000 scholarship.
📍 Schools statewide; State Finals in Kentucky📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota Arts Council / South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Poetry Out Loud - South Dakota
A free statewide poetry recitation and memorization competition for South Dakota students in grades 9-12 (public, private, or home school), building public-speaking skill and confidence; the state champion represents South Dakota at the national Poetry Out Loud finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Humanities / National Endowment for the Arts
Poetry Out Loud — Indiana
A free statewide poetry recitation competition where high schoolers memorize and perform poems from an approved anthology, advancing from classroom to Indiana State Finals in Indianapolis and potentially national finals in D.C.
📍 Indianapolis, IN (state finals)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SC Arts Commission / NEA
Poetry Out Loud — South Carolina
Students memorize and perform poetry through school and state contests with national advancement.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
California Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud California
A free national recitation competition, administered statewide by the California Arts Council, where high schoolers memorize and perform poems, advancing from classroom to school to county/district to state finals.
📍 California statewide; state finals in Sacramento📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado Creative Industries / Empowered / Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Poetry Out Loud Colorado
Free national recitation competition in which Colorado high schoolers memorize and perform poems, advancing from school and local competitions to the state finals at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
📍 Denver Center for Performing Arts (state finals)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Center for the Book / CT Department of Economic and Community Development (Arts)
Poetry Out Loud Connecticut
A free statewide poetry recitation competition where classroom winners advance through school, regional, and state finals, with the Connecticut champion competing at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. for scholarship money.
📍 Statewide (school-based, with a state final)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Poetry Out Loud DC
A free recitation competition, run as part of DC's Words on Fire festival, in which high school students memorize and perform published poetry to build public speaking skills and compete for national awards.
📍 Washington, DC (2026 DC finals at Planet Word Museum)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Division of the Arts
Poetry Out Loud Delaware
Statewide poetry recitation competition that builds public speaking skills and literary appreciation, advancing students from classroom competitions to school, regional, and state finals.
📍 Smyrna Opera House, Smyrna, DE (state finals)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Council for the Arts / Alliance Theatre
Poetry Out Loud Georgia
Poetry Out Loud challenges Georgia students in grades 9-12 to memorize and perform poems, advancing through regional and state competitions toward the National Finals, with free educational materials provided to schools.
📍 Statewide; state finals via Alliance Theatre, Atlanta📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts & Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Poetry Out Loud Hawaiʻi
Free national poetry recitation competition for grades 9-12, progressing from classroom to school, state, and national finals, with curriculum materials supplied by the National Endowment for the Arts.
📍 Statewide; state finals in Honolulu📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Commission on the Arts (Arts Idaho), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts
Poetry Out Loud Idaho
The Idaho leg of the national poetry recitation contest, where students in grades 9-12 memorize and perform poetry from an official anthology, advancing from school contests to state semifinals and finals in Boise.
📍 Statewide school contests; state finals in Boise, ID📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Illinois Arts Council Agency
Poetry Out Loud Illinois
National Endowment for the Arts recitation competition in which Illinois students progress from classroom to school, regional, and state finals reciting memorized poetry, with the state champion advancing to the National Finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Springfield, IL (State Finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Humanities Iowa / University of Iowa Office of Community Engagement
Poetry Out Loud Iowa
A recitation competition that encourages grades 9-12 students to study and perform poetry, progressing from classroom and local contests to the Iowa State Finals and a chance at the national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide; State Finals in Iowa City, IA📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana Division of the Arts (Louisiana Dept. of Culture, Recreation & Tourism)
Poetry Out Loud Louisiana
A free statewide poetry recitation competition for grades 9-12 in which students memorize and perform poems from an official anthology, advancing from local and regional rounds to a state championship, with the state winner going on to national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) / Maryland Humanities
Poetry Out Loud Maryland
Maryland's state recitation competition in the national Poetry Out Loud program, where high school students select and recite poems from an anthology, advancing from school to regional to state competition with a Poetry Coach mentoring finalists.
📍 Maryland (statewide)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Huntington Theatre Company (with Mass Cultural Council)
Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts
The Massachusetts state program of the national poetry recitation contest, in which high schoolers memorize and perform poems, advancing from school contests through semi-finals to a state final judged on interpretation and delivery.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide; state finals at Old South Meeting House, Boston)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Humanities
Poetry Out Loud Michigan
A free poetry recitation competition where high schoolers memorize and perform poems in increasingly competitive rounds, starting at school level and advancing to Michigan State Finals and potentially the national championship in Washington, D.C.
📍 Mt. Pleasant, MI (State Finals)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southern Cities Student Coalition (SCSC) / Minnesota State Arts Board
Poetry Out Loud Minnesota
A statewide recitation competition in which high school students memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems, advancing from regional competitions to a state championship, with the Minnesota champion representing the state at nationals in Washington, DC.
📍 Regional sites and state championship, Minnesota📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud Missouri
A national poetry recitation competition for high school students, in which participants memorize and perform poems, advancing from school-level competitions through seven regional contests to the Missouri state championship and national semifinals.
📍 Regional contests in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis, and Springfield📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud Nebraska
A free national poetry recitation program for grades 9-12 where students memorize and perform poems, advancing from classroom and local competitions to the Nebraska State Finals and a chance at the national competition in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide Nebraska; State Finals in Kearney, NE📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Arts (NM Department of Cultural Affairs) / National Endowment for the Arts / Poetry Foundation
Poetry Out Loud New Mexico
A statewide poetry recitation competition in which New Mexico high school students memorize and perform published poems, advancing from the classroom to state finals and on to nationals.
📍 Albuquerque, NM (state finals at the National Hispanic Cultural Center)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Arts Council / Children's Theatre of Charlotte
Poetry Out Loud North Carolina
A statewide poetry recitation competition for grades 9-12 (NEA/Poetry Foundation program) in which students master public speaking and literary heritage through memorization and performance, advancing from classroom to state finals to nationals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Charlotte, NC (state finals at Children's Theatre of Charlotte)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tennessee Arts Commission (with The Porch)
Poetry Out Loud Tennessee
A national poetry recitation competition for Tennessee high school students that begins at the classroom level, where students memorize and recite poems before advancing toward the Tennessee state finals.
📍 Statewide, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Commission on the Arts
Poetry Out Loud Texas
A poetry recitation competition where students memorize and recite poems from the Poetry Out Loud anthology, advancing from school contests to a statewide competition in February. The state finals are held in person in Austin.
📍 Austin, TX (statewide school contests)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Division of Arts & Museums
Poetry Out Loud Utah
A poetry recitation competition where grade 9-12 students memorize and perform three published poems, advancing from school to regional to state finals. The state champion competes at the national finals in Washington, D.C. for a $20,000 grand prize.
📍 Utah (school, regional and state finals)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Commission for the Arts / Wayne Theatre
Poetry Out Loud Virginia
A poetry recitation contest for high school students that moves from classroom and independent competitions to virtual semifinals and a state final, with the state champion going to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
📍 Waynesboro, VA📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA)
Poetry Out Loud Washington
A poetry recitation competition for Washington high school students that runs from classroom and school contests through regional finals to a state final, with the state champion advancing to the National Finals.
📍 Washington (state final at Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma, WA)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud Wyoming
A free poetry recitation contest for Wyoming high school students; school champions advance to the state finals and the state champion competes nationally. Also includes Poetry Ourselves, a companion program for original student writing.
📍 Casper, WY📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Point Foundation
Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship
Scholarships and mentorship for LGBTQ students from high school through graduate school.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Polk County Conservation
Polk County Conservation Youth Corps
Teens complete paid conservation service restoring forests, prairies, wetlands, and trails while developing outdoor, teamwork, leadership, and environmental-science skills. Sessions are offered in spring, summer, and fall, with 2026 stipends reaching $600–$1,100 depending on session.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Polygence
Polygence Press
Symposium and publication outlets for high school student researchers in any field.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Polygence
Polygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Polyphony Lit
Polyphony Lit Editorial Internship
International literary magazine staffed by high school students; editors and writers worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Poolesville High School Math Team
Poolesville Math Tournament
An online high school math competition billed by organizers as Maryland's premier high school math competition, open to student teams statewide.
📍 Online (Maryland)📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community School of the Arts
Pop, Rock and All That Jazz
Students perform in pop, rock and jazz ensembles, receive private lessons, write songs, record music in a studio and learn about music technology and the music industry.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Port of Seattle
Port of Seattle High School Internship Program
Paid summer internships for high school students across Port departments in aviation operations, maritime operations, governance, community engagement and green jobs, with mentorship meetings, facility tours and resume workshops.
📍 Seattle, Washington📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Portland Urban Debate League (PUDL)
Portland Urban Debate League
A free competitive policy-debate league for Portland-metro high schoolers running tournaments from October through April, paired with student and teacher workshops to build critical thinking, research, and advocacy skills.
📍 Portland metro, OR📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Posse
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships nominated by partner cities. High schoolers from cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta nominate by August of senior year.
📍 Partner cities⏱ Senior year📅 August🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Posse Foundation
Posse Scholarship
Full-tuition leadership scholarship sending diverse cohorts to top colleges.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 4 years📅 Fall🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Minnesota Department of Education
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Minnesota students take eligible college courses on campus or online while earning both high-school and college credit. Tuition, required textbooks, fees, and required course materials are provided at no charge; grade-10 participation is more restricted than grades 11–12.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
PPPL Plasma Physics Research
DOE national lab program — fusion and plasma research mentorship.
📍 NJ⏱ 1 week + mentorship📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Fall and Spring PreCollege Classes
Spend Saturdays developing your skills in classes designed to fit a high school schedule. With both online and in-person options, students collaborate with peers from near and far while receiving expert guidance on their projects.
📍 Brooklyn, New York (and remote)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Online Summer Program
Join a global community of students in live online classes, held Monday through Thursday. Through demos, critiques, and guided projects, instructors help students sharpen their skills and create polished, portfolio-quality work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt PreCollege Explore Program
Live and learn on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus! Spend two weeks learning about Fine Art, Design, or Architecture with a small group of peers. Program includes site-visits to artist studios and gaining a broad understanding of the different fields.
📍 Brooklyn, New York🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt PreCollege Intensive Program
Live and learn on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus! Spend four weeks taking two courses, building a portfolio, and experiencing life as a college student in New York City. This immersive program pushes students creatively while preparing them with college-ready work.
📍 Brooklyn, New York🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Pre-Apprenticeship: Educators Rising Program
A Grow-Your-Own pre-apprenticeship pathway introducing middle and high school students to teaching careers, piloted in 2025-26 at five North Dakota school districts: Fargo, Hazen, Northern Cass, Watford City, and Williston.
📍 Fargo, Hazen, Northern Cass, Watford City & Williston, ND (pilot districts)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown University
Pre-Baccalaureate
Brown University for-academic credit program for high school students.
📍 Online📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Pre-College Cancer Engineering Summer Institute at Illinois (PRE-CE)
High school juniors and seniors conduct supervised cancer-related research in UIUC laboratories and participate in professional-development activities. Participants receive a $4,000 taxable stipend.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UC Irvine Institute of Transportation Studies
Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME)
Eight-week research experience where high-school students join a transportation research project and contribute under the mentorship of an ITS research associate. No prior research experience is required.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy
Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program
Three-day summer boot camp at MCW introducing high school and college students in the Milwaukee area to pharmacy careers with hands-on compounding and vitals collection, followed by program meetings through the year.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska System
Presidential Scholars Program
For Fall 2027, qualifying Nebraska seniors with a perfect ACT composite/STEM result or 1570–1600 SAT receive full cost of attendance at any University of Nebraska campus plus a $5,000 annual stipend, renewable for up to eight semesters.
📍 NE🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Princeton SEAS
Princeton Day of Action / Princeton AI4ALL
Various Princeton SEAS outreach programs and summer engineering experiences for HS students.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Princeton University
Princeton Laboratory Learning Program
Free competitive lab research program for HS students in NJ-area Princeton labs.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 5-6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Princeton University Art Museum
Princeton University Art Museum Summer Academy
A free two-week intensive for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Trenton Central and Ewing High Schools to explore careers in art museums and the visual arts, working with Princeton mentors and regional artists on a capstone project, with no prior art experience required.
📍 Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Princeton University / Princeton Center for Complex Materials
Princeton University Materials Academy (PUMA)
A three-week, free materials-science and engineering program that has brought Trenton-area and other NJ high schoolers to Princeton's campus every summer since 2002 for inquiry-based labs, faculty-led research projects, and career-path conversations with grad students.
📍 Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press Junior Reviewers
Various junior reviewer / reader programs and writing contests in the humanities.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The Museum of Flight with Puget Sound Skills Center
Private Pilot Ground School (Museum of Flight)
A three-week, no-cost summer career and technical education course for Washington students that covers aerodynamics, aviation weather and flight instruments to prepare for the FAA private pilot written exam, with flight simulator training and field trips.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Space Grant Consortium
Private Pilot Ground School (Virginia Space Grant Consortium)
A free statewide hybrid course for Virginia high school students interested in a private pilot license, covering weather, navigation, flight systems and FAA regulations.
📍 Virginia (statewide, online)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Product Design Academy
A program exploring the principles and processes of product design.
📍 University of Pennsylvania📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina A&T State University
Professional Accounting Career Exploration Summer Camp (PACE)
Free five-day residential program using workshops, case studies, mentoring and professional networking to introduce students to accounting careers.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bowling Green State University & Washington Local Schools
Project EDUCATE
A two-year program for juniors and seniors at Whitmer High School that immerses students in authentic teaching experience through a BGSU partnership, including designing lesson plans and classroom immersion alongside practicing teachers using a design-thinking approach.
📍 Toledo, OH (Washington Local Schools / BGSU partnership)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society — North Jersey Section
Project SEED
An 8-week mentored chemistry research internship in a university lab for high schoolers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (family income typically under $34,000), hosted across NJ institutions including Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark, Seton Hall, Ramapo College, William Paterson, and Fairleigh Dickinson.
📍 Multiple NJ campuses📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society
Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged)
A paid summer research fellowship placing high school students from economically disadvantaged families in real chemistry labs with scientist mentors for 8-10 weeks, requiring at least one completed chemistry course.
📍 Multiple NY sites (NYU and other participating institutions)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Harvard Medical School
Project Success
Boston and Cambridge juniors and seniors complete paid summer internships in Harvard Medical School and affiliated science laboratories with research mentorship and STEM career programming.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UNC-Chapel Hill, Carolina Higher Education Opportunity Programs
Project Uplift
A campus-visit program for rising high school seniors, especially those underrepresented in higher education, who live on Carolina's campus and interact with faculty, staff, and current students across educational and cultural activities.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ozark Natural Science Center
Project Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature
Two-week field-science program where students work alongside scientists, track wildlife, monitor bats, sample aquatic ecosystems, conduct a capstone study and explore conservation science.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Partnership for Maternal & Child Health / NJ Department of Health
Protect Me With 3+ Poster & Video Contest
Students create an original poster or 30-second video communicating the importance of vaccination and public health.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OHSU-affiliated / Portland-area research institutions
PSI Program (Partnership for Scientific Inquiry)
A 16-week biomedical research introduction course (January-May, two hours weekly) for Oregon sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in medicine or biomedical research, with mentored research and an optional summer internship for students 16+.
📍 Portland, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Misericordia University
PT for Every Community
Physical therapy and diversity career exploration camp.
📍 PA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
UT Health San Antonio Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science / South Central AHEC / UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Public Health Camp (UT Health San Antonio)
A free week-long summer camp for area high school students introducing public health careers and the 10 Essential Public Health Services. Run as a partnership since 2011 to build awareness of population health professions.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Teen Summer Internship (DHHS)
An 8-week paid summer internship for teens with lived experience in child welfare, juvenile justice, youth services, disability services, or substance use and mental health. Positions include public health services and communicable disease surveillance.
📍 Utah📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Public Service Scholars: High School Internship Program
A program for Ohio high school seniors enrolled in College Credit Plus at OSU that pairs an introductory public-affairs course with a supervised internship (80+ hours) at a government, nonprofit, or public-serving organization, earning six college credits.
📍 Columbus, OH (internship placements statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The Telling Room
Publishing Workshop
Students work through the real editorial and production process to create and publish an anthology while learning book publishing, communication, writing, and leadership skills.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Green Bank Observatory / WVU / NANOGrav
Pulsar Science Collaboratory
An out-of-school citizen science project in which, after training, members analyze radio astronomy data from the Green Bank Telescope to search for new pulsars; students aged 13 and up and teachers can join.
📍 Online (with optional Green Bank, WV events)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Princeton University
PUMaC
Princeton University Math Competition. Team and individual events, held on Princeton campus each November.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 1 day📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Purdue University
Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture Interns
Paid positions for Indianapolis youth to maintain urban gardens and learn about food justice.
📍 Indianapolis, IN⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purdue University
Purdue STAR (STEM Academic Research)
Free research immersion at Purdue for Indiana students underrepresented in STEM.
📍 IN⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Art of Problem Solving
Putnam-Style Online Practice
Free competition math forums, classes, and practice for K-12 students.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Q?Crew Teen Volunteer Program
Teens help visitors explore scientific specimens and activities in Q?rius while learning science communication and museum skills and earning service hours.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sandia National Laboratories
QCaMP (Quantum, Computing, Mathematics & Physics)
A free, week-long summer camp introducing high school students to quantum information science and technology, covering classical computing, quantum mechanics phenomena, and programming on a real quantum computer, offered in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Gallup.
📍 Albuquerque / Santa Fe / Gallup, NM📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Casper College
Quantum and Laser Fusion Science Camp
A two-week camp for high school students interested in physics, engineering and technology, with instruction from Texas A&M's Institute for Quantum Science & Engineering faculty and guest lecturers.
📍 Casper, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan State University College of Engineering
Quantum Motor City
A free NSF-supported summer camp introducing high school students to quantum computing, where participants program a real IBM quantum computer and tour MSU's Laboratory for Hybrid Quantum Systems.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Royal Commonwealth Society
Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition
The world's oldest international schools' writing competition; open to any student in the Commonwealth aged 18 or under.
📍 Commonwealth countries📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
QuestBridge
QuestBridge National College Match
Full four-year scholarships matching low-income HS seniors with partner colleges.
📍 United States⏱ 4 years📅 Fall🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Quetzalcoatl
Student humanities research publication featuring work from Morganton's humanities courses and research projects.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Connecticut Bar Foundation
Quintin Johnstone Statewide High School Essay Contest
Connecticut students research a contemporary constitutional/legal issue and write an analytical legal memorandum for statewide judging.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
East Central University
R. Darryl Fisher Creative Writing Contest
Statewide poetry and short-fiction competition associated with the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhode Island Press Association
R.I. Press Association Journalism Scholarship
An annual $1,000 scholarship competition for Rhode Island high school seniors or college students planning a journalism career, requiring a letter of nomination from a teacher plus a resume and writing samples.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
RADIANT: Research, AI, Data Innovation, and New Technologies
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Radius Adventure
Radius Adventure Outdoor Learning Programs
Tuition-free outdoor education programs for K-12 Colorado students, including rock climbing, backpacking, and canyoneering, that build leadership, communication, and decision-making skills through standards-aligned modules.
📍 Colorado Springs and partner schools statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Raleigh
Raleigh Summer Youth Employment Program
Raleigh high-school students complete an eight-week paid summer work experience with city departments and partner employers.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Political Science Association
Ralph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest
An annual creative writing contest for high school students (grades 9-12) in Allegheny County, accepting short prose (fiction/nonfiction up to 4,000 words) and poetry (up to two pages), with up to two entries per student.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny County)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Florida Department of Education
Randolph Bracy Ocoee Scholarship Program
Provides college assistance to qualifying descendants of victims of the 1920 Ocoee Election Day violence or qualifying African American residents of Ocoee.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Rays of Hope
Self-paced online course examining bycatch, fisheries technology and human impacts on fisheries and ocean ecosystems.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Federal Reserve Banks
RBA / Federal Reserve Essay Contests
Various regional Fed essay and case competitions for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Denver Foundation / RBC Wealth Management
RBC Wealth Management Colorado Scholarship
Colorado seniors pursuing science, mathematics, or engineering compete for a scholarship based on exceptional academic achievement.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Scripps Research
REACH High School Summer Internship Program
Seven-week full-time biomedical laboratory internship where students conduct hands-on research under a scientist mentor, attend scientific seminars and professional-development workshops, and present at the Summer Intern Symposium.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Reach Higher Montana
Reach Higher Montana Scholarship
Fifty $2,000 scholarships are listed for Montana high-school seniors who graduate from a Montana school, complete the FAFSA and attend an accredited Montana postsecondary institution at least half-time.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business and Public Policy
Real Estate Management + Investment (REM+I) Workshop
Three-day program where students learn why people invest in real estate, calculate cash flows and returns, analyze a property, tour real buildings, and meet Alaska property-industry professionals.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Red Cross
Red Cross Youth Volunteer
Youth volunteer roles in disaster relief, blood services, education.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The world's largest pre-college STEM research competition with affiliated fairs in 60+ countries.
📍 USA (affiliated fairs worldwide)📅 Regional fairs Winter–Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron ISEF
The largest international pre-college science fair. Qualify through an affiliated regional or state fair. Travel and lodging covered for finalists.
📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron ISEF Categories
Finalists at Regeneron ISEF compete across 22 different scientific categories, covering a wide range of STEM fields.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising future leaders in STEM. Each year, around 2,600 students enter Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review. $3.1 million in awards are distributed annually, including the first place prize of $250,000.
📍 Washington, D.C.📅 2026-11-05T20:00:00 EST🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising future leaders in STEM. Each year, around 2,600 students enter Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review. $3.1 million in awards are distributed annually, including the first place prize of $250,000. It is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students.
📍 Washington, D.C. (Finals Week, if selected), Remote (Application)📅 November 5, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Renewable Energy — The Future is Here
Residential exploration of renewable-energy science and engineering.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Reno & Gloria Quilici Scholarship
Supports graduating Churchill-area students who demonstrate potential and motivation even when college may otherwise seem financially inaccessible.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada / Reno Central Rotary
Reno Central Rotary Scholarship
College scholarship restricted to graduating seniors from Wooster and Hug high schools.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada / Reno Pops Orchestra
Reno Pops Orchestra Hillary Case Memorial Scholarship
High-school seniors participating in Reno Pops Orchestra and committed to keeping music in their lives may apply.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP)
Baltimore City juniors and seniors enter a two-year biomedical research pathway with a five-week first summer, school-year research rotations, and an applied research experience the following summer. Summer participation can be paid through YouthWorks, with additional research-rotation compensation up to $500.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Carolina A&T State University
Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
Two-week residential research apprenticeship in food, agriculture and environmental sciences where students conduct independent projects with university scientists.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Alabama A&M University
Research Experience for Secondary School Students in Ceramics and Nanostructures
High-school students work in university laboratories on ceramics and nanostructured-materials research with faculty mentors during a summer research appointment.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Akron Children's Hospital, Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute
Research Student Programs (Research Internships)
Paid and unpaid research internships placing high schoolers alongside researchers and physicians on real pediatric-health projects spanning pediatric medicine, nursing, allied health, and public health.
📍 Akron, OH (Akron Children's Hospital)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
NC State University
Resource Conservation Workshop
Residential program combining field study, natural-resource science, conservation careers and scholarship competition.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Tu Salud Si Cuenta
RGV Summer Science Internship
A six-week internship exposing Rio Grande Valley high school students to university-level research, with students working about 20 hours per week with mentors and presenting their work to faculty, family and community.
📍 Rio Grande Valley, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
The American Legion, Department of Rhode Island
Rhode Island American Legion Oratorical Contest
A constitutional-themed public speaking contest, established nationally in 1938, in which students deliver an 8-10 minute prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution followed by a 3-5 minute response to an assigned topic.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, post-level to state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Boys State
A week-long, fully-funded residential program where rising seniors run a simulated city, county, and state government, including legislative sessions, court proceedings, and a visit to the actual State House to debate bills they've written.
📍 Barrington, RI📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rhode Island Department of State (Office of the Secretary of State)
Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program
A year-long nonpartisan program that connects high school students to their state government, with teachers nominating up to three 'Civic Liaisons' per school to attend monthly sessions at the State House led by officials and community leaders.
📍 Providence, RI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhode Island FBLA
Rhode Island FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
The Rhode Island high school chapter network of FBLA, open to all full-time secondary students, offering a Fall Leadership Conference, a Leadership Breakfast, and a State Leadership Conference with competitive business events each year.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, chapter-based)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhode Island FFA / Rhode Island Farm Bureau
Rhode Island FFA
The Rhode Island state association of FFA, an intracurricular organization for students interested in agriculture, food science, and related careers (not just farming), organized through local chapters including Narragansett, Chariho, Ponaganset, and Exeter West Greenwich FFA.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, chapter-based)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Girls State
The companion program to Rhode Island Boys State, in which female high school juniors form political parties, run campaigns, and operate a mock city, county, and state government over a week-long residential session.
📍 Barrington, RI📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Brown University Department of Philosophy
Rhode Island High School Ethics Bowl
A collaborative (not adversarial) discussion competition in which teams from Rhode Island public, charter, and private high schools analyze real-world ethical cases, hosted annually at Brown University.
📍 Providence, RI (Brown University)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rhode Island HOSA
Rhode Island HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
The Rhode Island state chapter network of HOSA, building leadership and technical competencies for students in health science education through Fall Leadership and State Leadership Conferences leading up to the International Leadership Conference.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, chapter-based)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhode Island Legal Education Foundation (RILEF)
Rhode Island Mock Trial Tournament
An annual statewide tournament, running for over thirty years, in which roughly 600 middle- and high-school students from 50 schools argue a case packet as attorneys and witnesses before real judges and magistrates at Rhode Island courthouses.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, courthouse venues)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
RISCA / NEA
Rhode Island Poetry Out Loud
Poetry recitation and public speaking, school to state contests.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Rhodes Trust
Rhodes Scholarship
Postgraduate scholarship to study at the University of Oxford (long-term aspirational track for HS students).
📍 Oxford, United Kingdom⏱ 2-3 years📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Rice University Center for Environmental Studies and Houston Climate Justice Museum
Rice Environmental Justice Summer Program for HISD Students
A free, week-long residential program on Rice's campus teaching HISD high school students about climate justice and environmental storytelling through arts and media practices. Field excursions have included Galveston Island and boat tours of Buffalo Bayou.
📍 Houston, TX📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
RIMSE Summer Schools — High School Research
Local high-school students develop an independent materials-science "Discovery" project after securing a UCSD research mentor and work alongside the MRSEC research community.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cal Poly Pomona
RISE ABOVE
Residential college-readiness program focused on admissions, academic planning, career exploration, advanced leadership, self-advocacy and community engagement.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Boston University
RISE Internship/ Practicum
Conduct university-level STEM research in a laboratory setting.
📍 Boston, MA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rowan University
RISER — Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering
Rising seniors work approximately 20 hours/week for six weeks in Rowan biomedical-engineering or biomedical-science laboratories. The 2026 program was an unpaid research placement.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
SMU Dedman School of Law
Rising Scholars
A free, week-long residential program each June at SMU's law school for rising high school seniors interested in law, with law school mini-classes, writing and public speaking workshops, attorney panels and a moot court competition.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
State of Iowa / Iowa Department of Education
Robert D. Blue Scholarship
Iowa high-school seniors planning to attend an Iowa college or university can compete for $500–$1,000 awards based on academics, financial need, recommendations, and a 500-word essay.
📍 IA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship
Connecticut seniors with strong academic performance and demonstrated financial need can receive state aid for attendance at eligible Connecticut colleges.
📍 CT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
RoboCon New Jersey (student-run, FIRST Robotics Competition teams)
RoboCon New Jersey
A free, two-day public STEM/robotics event produced by NJ high school FIRST Robotics Competition teams, featuring 'Robot Rumble' exhibition matches, FRC/FTC/FLL team demonstrations, and a large-robot driving experience, open to student teams and the public.
📍 Bridgewater, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northeastern State University
Robotics for Young Scientists and Engineers
Hands-on robotics and engineering design academy.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Notre Dame College of Engineering
Robotics Summer Camp
Local students entering grades 10–12 work in teams to construct and program robots and complete engineering challenges.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Rockefeller University
Rockefeller Summer Science Research
NYC-area students do paid biomedical research at Rockefeller.
📍 NY⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering
Rooted in STEM
A two-year pipeline program (10th through 12th grade) for Twin Cities students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM, meeting one Saturday per month for CSE faculty presentations, lab tours, and industry-alumni panels, plus summer enrichment. Graduates who enroll in CSE can receive a $40,000 3M scholarship.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 December🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Jane Goodall Institute
Roots & Shoots
Youth-led community action for people, animals, environment.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
Florida Department of Education
Rosewood Family Scholarship
Scholarship for qualifying direct descendants of families affected by the January 1923 Rosewood violence.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Rotary International
Rotary RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
Multi-day leadership training program for ages 14-30 hosted by local Rotary districts.
📍 Global⏱ 3-10 days📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Rotary International
Rotary Youth Exchange
Long-term (year) and short-term cultural exchanges for ages 15-19.
📍 Global⏱ 1 year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
RoundPier
RoundPier Networking & Competition Portal
An online platform where students can find curated digital internships, summer courses, and research opportunities specifically for HS.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Retirement Systems of Alabama
RSA Summer Internship Program
Students work full-time temporary summer positions with RSA, including clerical-aide and laborer roles, and receive wages.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
Running Start (Washington community and technical colleges)
A state program that lets 11th and 12th graders take college courses at Washington's 34 community and technical colleges and earn high school and college credit at the same time.
📍 Washington (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)
Free college-prep and research program for rural Alaska Native and rural Alaska students.
📍 AK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Russ Richards Memorial Scholarship
Supports a Las Cruces High School senior pursuing higher education in medicine, first response or another health field.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Rutgers University
Rutgers Future Scholars Research
Free college-prep + research for first-gen New Jersey students.
📍 NJ⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (program-based)🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rutgers University Extension
Rutgers Master Gardener Youth Programs
Support for community garden initiatives and school composting programs led by NJ high schoolers.
📍 NJ⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Two-year cancer-research pathway in which NJ high-school students spend about 10 weeks each summer conducting mentored basic, clinical, or population-science research and presenting their work. Participants are compensated.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
S-PREP
Free academic enrichment program for students interested in medicine and STEM, with courses and preparation spanning science, math and health.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
S.T.E.A.M. Squad
Year-round teen volunteers lead science and nature activities and assist with gallery interpretation, museum collections, education programs, special events and summer camps.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Morgan State University School of Architecture and Planning
SA+P Design Summer Camp
A free day camp introducing rising 4th-12th grade BIPOC students to architecture, design, and planning through hands-on projects including sketching, Building Information Modeling, virtual reality, TinkerCAD, and 3D printing.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Oklahoma FFA
SAE CEO Challenge
A statewide pitch contest for Oklahoma FFA members who run their own entrepreneurship Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) business, combining a classroom entrepreneurship curriculum with a state-level pitch contest at the OKFB annual convention.
📍 Oklahoma City, OK📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
SAE Grants
SAE Grants are awarded primarily based on financial need. Grant applications are evaluated by the SAE Grant Committee and are awarded primarily on demonstrated financial need.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oregon
SAIL — Student Academy to Inspire Learning
Free academic immersion in university subjects plus college-access preparation and year-round mentoring; includes residential and day formats.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Salt Lake County Mayor's Office
Salt Lake County Youth Government
A program for Salt Lake County middle and high school students to learn how government works and build leadership, advocacy and service skills, structured like the official county government. Students can run for elected offices or take non-elected roles and meet elected officials.
📍 Salt Lake County, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Salt River Higher Education Scholarship Program
Financial assistance and college/career advising for enrolled Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, including dually enrolled high school students taking college coursework for credit.
📍 Scottsdale, AZ (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco Zoo Teen Volunteer Programs
Teen volunteer tracks at the San Francisco Zoo, including Junior Zoologists and Leadership Fellows for ages 15-17, training future ecologists and conservationists in animal care or public education roles.
📍 San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, San Francisco, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia High School Internship Program
Sandia hires students in their final years of high school for mentored R&D, engineering, technical and business work. High-school applicants generally must be at least 16; technical/R&D roles require a 3.0 GPA.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Sanford Health
Sanford Aspire Student Programs (MedX & EMT Certification)
Sanford Health's K-12 Aspire initiative gives high schoolers a behind-the-scenes look at health care careers through Sanford MedX career-exploration days with facility tours and hands-on activities, plus a hybrid online/live EMT certification course for seniors that leads to the National Registry EMT exam and college credit.
📍 Sioux Falls, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sanford Health
Sanford Health Student Volunteer Program
A semester-long hospital volunteer program open to students age 16 and up who commit to a weekly shift in a health care setting, gaining direct patient-facing experience for those considering a medical career.
📍 Sioux Falls, SD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Santa Fe Film Institute
Santa Fe Film Institute High School Scholarship
New Mexico high-school students with demonstrated film interest or experience may apply for a $500 scholarship plus a Santa Fe International Film Festival pass.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Art Museum
Satellite Teen Internship (Milwaukee Art Museum)
A weekly fall internship for Milwaukee-area teens ages 16-18 to explore museum careers, work with local artists, and develop tours for elementary students, ending in a museum-wide event.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 August🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Saturday Scrubs
Monthly high-school sessions introduce students to medicine through professional presentations and hands-on activities. Students attending seven sessions during the academic year earn a certificate.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Clemson University Cooperative Extension / National FFA Organization
SC FFA Association
The statewide student organization for agricultural education, offering 31 Career Development Events, leadership summits, and a state convention for students in agriculture-related coursework, spanning careers from biology to engineering.
📍 South Carolina (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Odyssey of the Mind
SC Odyssey of the Mind
A volunteer-run creative problem-solving competition for teams spanning kindergarten through college, where students write skits, build props, and engineer solutions to long-term open-ended challenges for state competition.
📍 Statewide, South Carolina📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA) Seattle
SCA Seattle Urban Green Summer Crew
Paid summer conservation crew for Seattle high school students ages 14-18, working about 35 hours a week on urban park restoration with Seattle Parks and Recreation and partners, with environmental education field trips.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts
Scholarship Art Contest
An annual visual art competition open to all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors (public, private, charter, or home school), judged on concept, technical skill, and creativity, awarding a total of $19,000 in college scholarships to ten finalists.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Idaho Power
Scholarship for Academic Excellence
Graduating students in Idaho Power's service area pursuing STEM, business or communications can compete for one of fourteen academic scholarships.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Delaware Higher Education Office
Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP)
Need-based state scholarship for Delaware students attending an eligible Delaware institution or certain out-of-state programs unavailable in Delaware.
📍 DE🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New York State Education Department / HESC
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
School-nominated awards of $500 or $1,500 annually for high-achieving New York graduating seniors.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US — writing, visual art, photography, film.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 December-January (regional)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers / School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - Massachusetts Writing Region
The Massachusetts regional affiliate of the nation's longest-running writing recognition program for teens, through which students in grades 7-12 submit work in categories like poetry, short story, and personal essay for regional and national Scholastic Awards.
📍 Massachusetts (regional partner: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Boston)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Programs (Exhibitions and workshops)
Exhibitions and workshops for teens, along with professional development for educators.
📍 Various📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Scholarships
Information about scholarships available through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
📍 remote📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers / School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Scholastic Art Awards - Massachusetts Art Region
The Massachusetts regional affiliate of the Scholastic Art Awards, through which teens in grades 7-12 submit original artwork across categories such as painting, photography, and design for regional and national recognition.
📍 Massachusetts (regional partner: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Boston)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Museum of Art / Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art Awards - Mississippi Region
The Mississippi regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, recognizing outstanding visual artwork from the state's middle and high school students, with Gold Key winners advancing to national judging.
📍 Jackson, MS📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Museum of Art
Scholastic Art Awards - Northern Nevada Region
The Nevada Museum of Art administers the regional Scholastic Art Awards for middle and high school students across 13 northern Nevada counties, with Gold Key winners advancing to national competition and over $6,000 in scholarships awarded annually.
📍 Reno, NV (Nevada Museum of Art; open to 13 northern Nevada counties)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Altru Health System
School to Career Internships
High-school juniors and seniors work in paid health-system positions for roughly ten weeks while exploring medical and health-care careers.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Howard University / Johns Hopkins University
School2Lab
NCI-sponsored summer research fellowship pairing DMV high-school students with university researchers for cancer, medical-physics, computational, biological and biomedical research plus scientific communication and a poster presentation.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Schoolhouse.world
Schoolhouse.world Tutor
A non-profit platform providing free, peer-to-peer tutoring in SAT prep and Math to students worldwide; volunteers can lead 'series' or 'sessions'.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Ongoing🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Department of the Navy / ONR
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Interns work at a Naval laboratory on real-world research under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Geographic / Disney+ / Hulu
Science Fair: The Series
A three-part docuseries following young innovators, engineers, and scientists on their way to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Remote🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hudson River Park
Science Leadership Program
Six-week paid marine/ecology research and science-leadership internship for eligible female-identifying students from designated feeder programs.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Science on Saturday
Winter lecture series geared toward high-school students, featuring scientists and engineers discussing current research across physics, fusion, engineering and other technical fields.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Cambridge / Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Cambridge Rindge and Latin students undertake a paid, year-long independent astrophysics research project with Center for Astrophysics scientists.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Toledo Instrumentation Center
Scientific Instrumentation Summer Camp
Students use advanced scientific instruments including MALDI mass spectrometry, super-resolution microscopy, X-ray diffraction and NMR.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of New England / Maine AHEC Network
Scrub Clubs
Four-day summer clinical-skills programs for students in grades 8-12, featuring suturing, casting, IV training, operating-room simulations, and CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed certifications.
📍 University of New England, Biddeford, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
San Diego State University
SDSU STARS (Training Astronomy Research Scholars)
A four-week summer astronomy research program pairing local high school juniors and seniors with SDSU faculty for hands-on telescope observation, Python programming, and data analysis.
📍 San Diego State University, San Diego, CA (with a trip to Mount Laguna Observatory)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Gonzaga University School of Engineering and Applied Science
SEAS Summer Immersion Program (SSIP)
A one-week residential camp for rising junior and senior high school students exploring engineering and computer science through robot programming, Python coding, research rotations with Gonzaga faculty and a research symposium.
📍 Spokane, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle Children's Mental & Behavioral Health Camp
Free five-day camp for Puget Sound high school students ages 16-18 to explore careers in mental and behavioral health at Seattle Children's sites.
📍 Seattle Children's Hospital, Magnuson and Bothell sites, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle Children's Nurse Camp
Free five-day summer camp at Seattle Children's Hospital where Puget Sound teens ages 16-18 explore nursing careers through hands-on activities and time with hospital staff.
📍 Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Seattle Children's Research Internship
Paid pediatric biomedical research in Seattle.
📍 WA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle Children's Scrubs & 'Scopes Camp
Free five-day camp at Seattle Children's Hospital for Puget Sound teens ages 16-18 interested in medical and surgical careers.
📍 Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Seattle Public Schools Seattle Skills Center
Seattle Skills Center Summer Program
Free in-person summer introductory career and technical classes for Seattle Public Schools students entering grades 9-12, including medical careers, engineering, automotive, culinary, media arts, video game design, maritime operations and education.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle University School of Law with University of Washington School of Law and Just the Beginning
Seattle University School of Law Summer Legal Institute (Law & Leadership Conference)
Multi-day summer law and leadership conference for high school students with mock law classes, panels with faculty and alumni, visits to federal courts and law firms, and a learning session on applying to law school.
📍 Seattle University and University of Washington law schools, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
City of Seattle
Seattle Youth Employment Program
Free paid summer internships for Seattle youth ages 16-21. Targeted toward youth furthest from opportunity.
📍 Seattle, WA⏱ 8 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Seattle Human Services Department
Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Internship
Paid 6-8 week summer internship placements with City departments, community organizations and private employers for Seattle youth ages 16-24, plus Learn & Earn workforce training tracks.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Seattle Arts & Lectures (Writers in the Schools)
Seattle Youth Poet Laureate
Annual honor for a young Seattle-area poet committed to poetic excellence and civic engagement, with a stipend, mentorship, a published chapbook, public readings and eligibility for regional and national competitions.
📍 Seattle, Washington📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Berkeley ATDP
Secondary Division
For students completing grades 7–11. Rigorous summer courses in an area of deep interest.
📍 Multiple📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory / Columbia partners
Secondary School Field Research Program
Six-week summer field and laboratory research experience focused on environmental and ecological sciences for students from participating schools.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northeastern State University
See My Ability Camp
Inclusive arts/education experience using culturally responsive music, books and creative activities.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute / Indiana University Indianapolis
SEED/STEM Summer Program
Indiana high-school students spend eight weeks working full-time with a faculty research mentor and finish by presenting their project. Need-based stipends of up to $4,000 are available.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Maine College of Engineering and Computing
Semiconductor Camp
High-school students study bits, gates, transistors, circuits, integrated devices, and semiconductor systems through hands-on electronics work and a Texas Instruments visit.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina General Assembly
Senate Page Program
Students serve for a legislative week with the North Carolina Senate, assisting chamber operations and observing lawmakers and committees.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Office of Senator Jack Reed / Rhode Island Art Education Association (RIAEA)
Senator Reed High School Art Competition
An annual statewide art competition co-sponsored by Senator Jack Reed and RIAEA in which each participating Rhode Island high school submits up to three student artworks for judged exhibition and awards.
📍 Warwick, RI (Warwick Mall exhibit)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Senatorial Scholarship
Maryland students apply through their State Senator for awards ranging from $400 to $14,086 for 2026–27.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU
Astrobiology and astronomy summer research.
📍 Mountain View, CA⏱ 10 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU and Education
Astronomy and astrobiology education programs including HS workshops.
📍 Mountain View, CA⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SF DCYF
SF Mayors Youth Employment & Education
Free paid year-round and summer internships for SF youth.
📍 San Francisco, CA⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Shepherd University
Shepherd University NeuroData Summer Camp
A one-week summer camp where students explore the fundamentals of neuroscience and data science through hands-on, real-world applications.
📍 Shepherdstown, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 8–12
Highly Selective
Science Coach / St. Charles Community College
Show-Me SCIENCE Competition
Missouri statewide science, invention, and engineering competition for students who advance from affiliated regional fairs. The April 8–9, 2027 competition includes biology, chemistry, computing/math, engineering, environmental science, medicine, physics/astronomy and other categories; top students advance to ISEF.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sacred Heart University, Dr. Susan L. Davis College of Nursing
SHU Nursing Immersion Program
A week-long summer immersion at Sacred Heart's Center for Healthcare Education, in partnership with Nuvance Health, where area high schoolers earn CPR certification, work in simulation labs with the Anatomage Table, and visit a hospital's clinical acute care unit.
📍 Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT; clinical visit at Norwalk Hospital📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Sierra Club ICO
Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors
Outdoor leadership and conservation volunteer service.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sierra Club
Sierra Student Coalition
Youth-led grassroots environmental network with trainings, fellowships, and campaigns.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York University
Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program
A fully-funded, three-week residential program giving rising juniors, seniors, and recent grads college-level coursework and labs across biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology, taught by NYU faculty.
📍 New York, NY (NYU campus)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
UNLV
SISTEM (Student Interactions with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
A free, semester-long series of talks and hands-on interactions that lets any Nevada high school student learn about STEM careers and research directly from STEM professionals, with an in-person track for students near UNLV and a remote option for students elsewhere in the state.
📍 Las Vegas, NV (remote option statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
SIU Project Upward Bound
Free federally funded TRIO college-prep program for first-generation, low-income, or academically at-risk high schoolers, offering tutoring, academic counseling, a six-week summer program, and university field trips.
📍 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
SkillsUSA Arizona
SkillsUSA Arizona
Workforce-development student organization for students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, with regional and state competitions across Arizona.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA Georgia
SkillsUSA Georgia
SkillsUSA Georgia develops high school students pursuing trade, technical, and skilled-service careers through a Champions Rally, Fall Leadership Conference, and regional-to-national skills competitions.
📍 Statewide; based in Ringgold, GA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA Missouri / Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
SkillsUSA Missouri
SkillsUSA Missouri serves high school students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations across nine districts and 85+ local chapters, culminating in a State Leadership and Skills Conference with more than 150 competitive events.
📍 Local SkillsUSA chapters statewide; State Leadership and Skills Conference📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA / North Dakota
SkillsUSA North Dakota
A career-readiness CTSO for trade, industrial, technical, health science, and IT students, culminating in a State Leadership & Skills Conference and national championships spanning 100+ occupational and leadership skill areas.
📍 Bismarck, ND (state office) and statewide chapters📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA Rhode Island
SkillsUSA Rhode Island
The Rhode Island state association of SkillsUSA, a partnership of students, teachers, and industry building career and technical skills through school-based chapters, culminating in the annual State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC).
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, chapter-based; conference at rotating sites)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SLC Brain Bee Committee, University of Utah
SLC Brain Bee
Annual neuroscience competition free to Utah high school students, with neuroanatomy and neurological disease questions, Brain Awareness Week modules, a graduate student panel and laboratory tours at the University of Utah Health Sciences campus. The 2026 event was March 21.
📍 University of Utah Health Sciences Campus, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Utah State University Center for the School of the Future
Slopes Hackathon
A free 12-hour coding competition where high school students form teams of up to four and build a working project from scratch with mentoring from USU faculty, students, and industry professionals.
📍 Logan, UT📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Smallpeice Trust
Smallpeice Trust Engineering Courses
Residential engineering courses at UK universities for Year 10–13 students — many fully funded via bursaries; specialisms include civil, aerospace, chemical, and robotics.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 2–5 days📅 Rolling · by course🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
SMART Summer Program
A free four-week summer enrichment program, established in 1991, that introduces rising 10th-12th graders from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to health science and biomedical research careers.
📍 Newark, NJ📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
St. Mary's College of Maryland
SMCM Summer Space Camp
High-school students from St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles counties participate in a free STEM-focused space camp led by three SMCM professors. Lunch is provided.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Engineering Foundation / SAME Albuquerque Post
Society of American Military Engineers Albuquerque Post High School Scholarship
Two $4,000 awards were offered to graduating high-school students through the 2026–27 NMEF cycle.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Marshall University
Society of Yeager Scholars Scholarship
A four-year full scholarship covering tuition, room and board, a textbook stipend, a computer and support for study abroad or research, for entering Marshall freshmen, with a summer program at the University of Oxford.
📍 Marshall University, Huntington, WV📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
NDSU Department of Mathematics
Sonia Kovalevsky Day
A free annual celebration of women in mathematics for grades 8-12 female students, featuring hands-on workshops, a career panel with women who use math professionally, and a math competition.
📍 Fargo, ND (NDSU campus)📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University
Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day
Students participate in mathematics problem solving, interactive activities and workshops designed to build mathematical confidence and interest.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwest Youth Corps
Sound to Summit
Five-week paid conservation crew for teens ages 15-18 in Tacoma and Olympia: four weeks of day work with city and county parks departments, then a camping project week at a nearby national park, with weekly education and training.
📍 Tacoma and Olympia, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Coastal Carolina University / National History Day
South Carolina History Day
The state affiliate of National History Day, where students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website, competing to advance to the national contest.
📍 South Carolina (varies by year)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Academy of Science / Furman University
South Carolina Junior Academy of Science (SCJAS) Annual Meeting
An annual statewide research conference where middle and high school students present original research across categories like biochemistry, environmental science, computer science, and psychology, alongside a day of hands-on STEM activities.
📍 South Carolina (varies by year)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE), in partnership with SCDNR and Ducks Unlimited
South Carolina Junior Duck Stamp Competition
A visual-arts and wildlife-conservation competition where South Carolina K-12 students, including a dedicated grades 10-12 category, create an original drawing or painting of a native duck, goose, or swan species to compete for Best of Show and advancement to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
📍 Charleston, SC (entries mailed statewide)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
South Carolina Science Olympiad
South Carolina Science Olympiad (Division C)
The high school division of the statewide Science Olympiad tournament, where teams of up to 15 students in grades 9-12 compete across dozens of STEM events, with the state champion advancing to Nationals.
📍 South Carolina (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA South Carolina
South Carolina SkillsUSA
South Carolina's SkillsUSA supports CTE students preparing for trade, technical, and skilled-service careers through the State Leadership & Skills Conference, training certifications, scholarships, and state officer leadership positions.
📍 Statewide, South Carolina📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development
South Dakota 4-H Legislature Program
A civic-education program for senior 4-H members (ages 14-18) to run campaigns, serve as elected 4-H Legislators, draft bills, and debate them during a mock legislative session at the South Dakota State Capitol, mirroring committee meetings, caucuses, public testimony, and floor debate.
📍 Pierre, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of South Dakota
South Dakota Business Student Summer Leadership Academy
A rigorous residential program for high school students in South Dakota to explore the business world and entrepreneurship.
📍 Vermillion, SD⏱ 1 week📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
DECA Inc. - South Dakota Chartered Association
South Dakota DECA
South Dakota's chapter of DECA, which prepares emerging leaders in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through classroom instruction and a competitive State Career Development Conference (SCDC).
📍 South Dakota (2026 SCDC hosted by the SD Army National Guard)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota Envirothon
South Dakota Envirothon
A natural-resources competition for teams of 5-6 high school students testing knowledge of soil, water, forestry, and wildlife plus a presentation on an annually-selected current environmental issue; the state champion advances to the North American Envirothon competition each summer.
📍 Statewide, SD (state competition site varies)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America - South Dakota
South Dakota FBLA
South Dakota's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, preparing high school students for business careers through competitive events, public speaking, and leadership training culminating in a State Leadership Conference.
📍 Pierre, SD📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota FFA Association
South Dakota FFA Association
The statewide agricultural education and leadership organization for the state's 112 FFA chapters, offering Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, an Agriscience Fair, leadership retreats, and the State FFA Convention for students in agricultural education classes.
📍 Brookings, SD (chapters statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arts South Dakota / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A free art and conservation-science contest open to students in kindergarten through high school, who research waterfowl and wetlands conservation and submit an original drawing or painting of a duck, goose, or swan; entries are postmarked by March 15, and the state Best of Show winner advances to the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota State Legislature
South Dakota Legislative Page Program
A year-long fellowship for South Dakota high school students to engage in state policy-making and legislative observation.
📍 Pierre, SD⏱ 1 year📅 April 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
South Dakota Department of Education / SD Board of Regents
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
A merit scholarship rewarding South Dakota residents who complete a rigorous high school curriculum and enroll at an eligible South Dakota college, university, or technical college.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books
Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books Volunteer
Volunteer roles at the annual Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books at Carroll University in Waukesha, with high school students listed among the ideal volunteers and most shifts only 3-4 hours after a short orientation.
📍 Waukesha, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of New England Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences
Southern Maine Brain Bee
A neuroscience quiz-bowl competition for local high school students, covering brain biology, cellular function, anatomy, physiology, and psychology, preceded by prep activities like sheep-brain dissections.
📍 University of New England, Biddeford, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southwest MN Hacks (Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall)
Southwest MN Hacks
Free 24-hour student hackathon held in spring and fall at Southwest Minnesota State University for participants ages 14 and up, from high school through university. Teams of up to four build projects with mentors and workshops; beginners are welcome, and meals and snacks are included.
📍 Marshall, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Western Wyoming Community College
Southwest Regional Science Fair (Western Wyoming College)
A regional science fair for STEM students in grades 6-12 at Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs, with junior and senior divisions and ISEF-style categories; it is a regional qualifier for the Wyoming State Science Fair.
📍 Rock Springs, WY📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SGAC
Space Generation Advisory Council
Global network for 18–35 year-olds interested in space policy, engineering, and exploration. Local events and scholarships.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UC San Diego Stem Cell Program
SPARK — Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge
Eight-week regenerative-medicine research internship where students work in active laboratories, learn about stem-cell and regenerative-medicine fields, and shadow physicians in clinics.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Davis Biotechnology Program / CIRM
SPARK Research Scholar Awards
Eight-week mentored research experience at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures combining an individual stem-cell research project, a certified stem-cell biology course, clinical-medicine exposure and a research presentation.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SPARK SMP
SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Free 1:1 mentorship with industry researchers. Started by WA students, now nationwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The EdVenture Group / West Virginia Department of Education
SparkWV Student Business Pitch Competition
A statewide business-idea competition for middle and high school students with a Big Idea (invention or tech concept) track and a Small Business track, culminating in live finals during Bridging Innovation Week.
📍 Online submissions via VentureDash; finals at Bridging Innovation Week, Charleston, WV📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Atlanta Botanical Garden
SPEAK Volunteer Program
High-school volunteers teach Garden visitors about climate change and sustainable gardening while gaining environmental-education experience.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Special Olympics
Special Olympics Youth Activation
Youth leadership and unified sports programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
University of Montana spectrUM Discovery Area
spectrUM High School Explainer Program
Paid high-school explainers develop and lead interactive science activities for younger students, with current work touching neuroscience, psychology and biomedical science. Positions are roughly 5–10 hours/week and current postings pay $14/hour.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Spokane Cyber Cup (nonprofit, hosted at Spokane Falls Community College)
Spokane Cyber Cup
Daylong capture-the-flag cybersecurity competition for teams of 2-5 from regional high schools and colleges, with separate divisions for experienced and first-time participants.
📍 Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Power
Sprenger/Whittier/Wimer Memorial Scholarship
Graduating Idaho seniors planning engineering study at an accredited Idaho college can compete for a memorial scholarship.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NYU Tisch
Spring Future Artists Program
The Spring Future Artists Program is free of charge and offered to students in the Tri-state area. It is designed for students who may not have access to other programs in their schools and/or communities and who would qualify for financial aid at NYU. This program requires a 14-week commitment on Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from early February through mid-May, and is taught by faculty from the undergraduate departments.
📍 New York, NY📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Springs Preserve
Springs Preserve Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16+ educate visitors about Mojave Desert ecology and Las Vegas history and assist with gardens, exhibits and public programs. Ages 16–17 may participate with parental permission.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop Apprenticeship
A 2-4 month paid apprenticeship where teens work on real projects for real clients in film, audio, music or design while building a portfolio and earning a stipend.
📍 Kahlert Media Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop In-House Media Arts Programs
Free hands-on film, audio, music and design programs for youth ages 12-25 at the Kahlert Media Arts Center in Salt Lake City, ranging from drop-in classes to year-long capstone projects. Students get free gear checkout, Adobe Creative Suite access and UTA transit passes.
📍 Kahlert Media Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Stanford
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Medical research at Stanford labs. Need-based stipend available. Strong focus on accessibility.
📍 CA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Stanford University
Stanford Intersect Journal
Undergraduate journal of science, technology, and society (high schoolers may submit).
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Stanford Math Circle
Stanford Math Circle offers after-school classes for elementary, middle & high-school students interested in math to improve academic and extracurricular performance.
📍 Stanford, CA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics offers high school students an opportunity to take advanced courses online and earn Stanford University Continuing Studies credit and a transcript.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Stanford University
Stanford TreeHacks (High School Track)Check Site
Youth-led hackathons and tech workshops held annually at Stanford.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 1 day📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts DESE
Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award
High-achieving Massachusetts public-school students can earn a four-year public-college tuition credit through qualifying MCAS performance plus AP or other recognized academic achievements.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
STARTedUP Foundation
STARTedUP Challenge / Innovate WithIN
Indiana high-school students develop ventures through statewide entrepreneurship programming and compete in a pitch competition for mentorship, scholarships, and startup funding. The state champion can receive $25,000 in seed funding.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar Association of North Dakota (SBAND)
State Bar Association of North Dakota High School Mock Trial Competition
Teams of North Dakota high school students argue a simulated civil or criminal case before real attorneys and judges, working side-by-side with legal professionals to learn trial procedure and courtroom skills.
📍 Bismarck, ND (statewide competition)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar of New Mexico
State Bar Student Essay Contest
New Mexico juniors and seniors write an original essay on an annual legal issue; attorneys and sitting judges evaluate finalists.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
State of Alaska, Division of Personnel
State of Alaska Student Internship Program
Student Intern I and II positions are specifically designed for high-school and pre-college students. Openings can occur in agencies including Fish & Game, Natural Resources, Law, and Transportation, combining employment with public-sector work experience.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi / State of Hawaiʻi
State of Hawaiʻi B Plus Scholarship
Need-based scholarship for Hawaiʻi public-high-school graduates who complete a rigorous curriculum and earn at least a 3.0 GPA.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Massachusetts DESE
State Student Advisory Council
Students elected through regional councils advise the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on issues affecting Massachusetts students; the statewide chair becomes a voting Board member.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Department of Labor
State Summer Youth Employment Program
Youth receive up to ten weeks of summer employment through approved providers while learning workplace expectations and building work experience.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
State Superintendent's Student Cabinet
Selected students advise the state superintendent on education policy while developing leadership, advocacy, public-speaking and decision-making skills.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Department of Administration
State Youth Council Program
Network of local youth councils where high-school students advise communities, organize service projects and build civic leadership skills.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Telling Room
Statewide Writing Contest
Maine youth submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, songwriting, or other creative writing. A grand-prize winner and county winners are selected, and submissions can be considered for publication.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics
StatStart
A free month-long summer program (July 6-30) for Boston-area high school juniors and seniors, designed for first-generation and low-income students, teaching R programming and introductory statistics with mentoring from Biostatistics graduate students.
📍 Boston, MA📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Melbourne School District
STEAM & Beyond: Summer Exploration
Ten-day interdisciplinary enrichment combining STEM, arts, music, literature, communication, social studies and world languages through original projects and problem-solving.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Council on Women
STEAM-H Essay Contest Scholarship (Virginia Council on Women)
An annual essay contest that awards merit-based and need-based scholarships to female Virginia high school seniors planning careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, math or healthcare, with one recipient chosen from each of five regions.
📍 Virginia (online submission)📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Valley City State University Prairie Waters Education & Research Center
STEM Explorers: Water Research Institute
Students investigate water quality, aquatic invertebrates and fish through field and laboratory research with environmental scientists.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
STEM Fellowship
STEM Fellowship Big Data Challenge
International data science competition with publication in STEM Fellowship Journal.
📍 Online⏱ 8 weeks📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
STEM Fellowship
STEM Fellowship Journal
Peer-reviewed journal publishing student STEM research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders
Define, investigate and excel: Spend your time doing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
📍 On Campus📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boise State University College of Engineering
STEM Gems Summer Camp
A free overnight summer camp at Boise State for girls exiting 9th-11th grade, featuring workshops led by Society of Women Engineers professionals and college students on topics that have included artificial intelligence and game animation alongside other engineering applications.
📍 Boise, ID (Boise State University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Center for Excellence in Education (CEE)
STEM Lyceums
STEM Lyceums are virtual events that connect high school students with leading STEM professionals, providing insights into various STEM fields and career paths.
📍 Virtual📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NMSU Physical Science Laboratory
STEM Mavericks
Free two-week camp covering Linux/Python, embedded engineering, AI, radio frequency, 3D printing and cybersecurity. Summer 2027 is already confirmed to return.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Nevada, Reno (Department of Biology)
STEM Sisters
A six-week paid summer research program in which local high school students from backgrounds underrepresented in science are paired with graduate-student mentors in a UNR biology lab, forming their own hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting a poster at a university symposium and an international scientific meeting.
📍 Reno, NV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Notre Dame College of Engineering
STEM Summer Camp
Local high-school students complete hands-on engineering activities with Notre Dame faculty and staff while exploring STEM fields and careers.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Penn State Harrisburg
STEM Summer Enrichment Program (STEM-SEP)
A free two-week summer program giving high schoolers hands-on experience across eight STEM disciplines (biology, chemistry, math, physics, computer science, civil/mechanical/electrical engineering), including visits to the Hershey Clinical Simulation Center and Three Mile Island, capped with student presentations.
📍 Middletown, PA (Penn State Harrisburg)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama in Huntsville, College of Science (with CAP & GOWN Project)
STEM Summer Institute
A free outreach institute combining ACT-prep classes with hands-on STEM projects, campus tours and interactive sessions with UAH professors across nursing, optics, biology and physics facilities.
📍 Huntsville, AL (UAH campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The LEAH Project
STEM Teaching Internship
A paid school-year internship placing Massachusetts high schoolers in afterschool programs where they teach STEM curricula to elementary school students, with training in classroom management, lesson planning, and professionalism.
📍 Boston, MA (Chinatown-Downtown area)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
STEM with Phones
Students use smartphone accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, microphones, magnetic sensors and GPS signals to investigate physics, engineering and data-analysis problems.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Georgia Tech Research Institute
STEM@GTRI High School Summer Internship
Georgia high-school students work in GTRI laboratories on real science and engineering projects for five weeks, about 24 hours per week.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Arizona Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Steps 2 STEM Summer Research Internship
Students in eligible Pima County JTED programs spend four weeks working in University of Arizona research laboratories, complete science-literacy training, earn three transferable college credits, and present at a research showcase.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
SIFMA Foundation
Stock Market Game
Free K-12 simulation of investing in real-world markets used in classrooms nationwide.
📍 Online⏱ 10-14 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Stockholm Water Foundation
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
International youth water-research prize awarded during World Water Week in Stockholm.
📍 Stockholm, Sweden (national rounds worldwide)📅 National rounds Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Security Agency (NSA)
Stokes Educational Scholarship Program
Scholarship and internship program for students interested in a career in cybersecurity.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Varies📅 December 15🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Nasher Sculpture Center
Student Ambassadors
A group of Dallas-area high school students who help shape Nasher student programming, volunteer at events and get behind-the-scenes museum learning. The group meets monthly on Wednesday evenings in the Dallas Arts District.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
Student Conservation Association Houston Urban Green
Houston conservation program with a free school-year weekend volunteer track (five camping weekends of trail building and habitat restoration) for high schoolers, plus a paid summer weekday service crew for high school students and young adults. Includes invasive species removal, dune restoration, and environmental education.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Adventist Health Portland
Student Healthcare Leaders
A free after-school program introducing Portland-area high schoolers to healthcare careers through weekly rotating hospital department tours (ER, cardiology, oncology, robotic surgery, IT) and panel discussions with clinicians.
📍 Portland, OR (Adventist Health Portland hospital)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Press Association
Student Journalism Day
Free annual event for New Hampshire students combining professional journalism panels, a student-press workshop, an NHPBS tour, lunch and student journalism awards.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana High School Press Association
Student Leadership Workshop
High-school student-media leaders participate in a free workshop focused on journalism leadership and strengthening school publications and media organizations.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Student Lecture Series (Intern Mentoring Program)
An intern mentoring program for high school and college students who research a topic tied to the museum's permanent exhibit, such as US history, the American presidency, or public policy. The program ends with student-led presentations to peers, the public, and library staff.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services
Student Page Program
A non-partisan program placing high school seniors as pages in the Maryland General Assembly during the legislative session, keeping bill books current, distributing floor materials, and assisting members and visitors.
📍 Annapolis, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New York State Archives
Student Research Awards
Students create research projects using historical records and primary sources. High-school projects compete for statewide recognition.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Natural Areas Conservancy / CUNY partners
Student Urban Nature Program
Paid summer urban-ecology internship conducting field research in places such as Forest Park and Staten Island's Greenbelt.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum
Student Volunteer Program
Students assist with exhibits, visitor engagement, educational programs, science events, collections and museum operations. Students can earn community-service hours; ages 14–15 have supervised junior-volunteer options.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center
Student Volunteer Program (Cheyenne Regional Medical Center)
Students ages 15-18 can volunteer at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center by completing a Student Volunteer Application and committing to 25 hours a year, through a routine weekday schedule or occasional and seasonal projects.
📍 Cheyenne, WY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus
Student Volunteer Program at Ascension NE Wisconsin Mercy Campus (Oshkosh)
A hospital volunteer program for students age 15 and older who give one 2-4 hour weekly shift for at least six months, with an application, interview, health screening and orientation.
📍 Oshkosh, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Louisiana State Bar Association
Suit Up for the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program
Incoming juniors and seniors spend three weeks attending an abbreviated law-school experience, studying legal research and writing, touring courts and law schools, and job-shadowing at law offices, courts, and agencies. Students completing the 2026 program were eligible for up to a $250 stipend.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Puget Sound
Summer Academic Challenge
A tuition-free four-week project-based STEAM enrichment program for Tacoma and Pierce County students, with 2026 topics including salmon and water quality, probability and statistics, and sustainable home design.
📍 Tacoma, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Morgan State University
Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences (SAAMS)
A rigorous, primarily virtual (with one on-campus week) enrichment academy for rising 11th/12th graders in mathematics, actuarial science, and computer science, including college-level coursework, Excel training, professional development, and field trips.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Boston University
Summer Challenge
Expand your academic horizons over two weeks, choosing 2 seminars.
📍 Boston, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American University
Summer Civics Institute on American Principles and Debates
Students participate in college-style seminars on constitutional government, free expression, civil disobedience and political thought, plus Washington field trips and guest lectures.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Summer Computer Academy
Female students learn Python programming and apply it to small robots, image processing, and other computing projects while participating in career-planning activities. Minnesota Academy of Science identifies the academy as a free program.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico Public Education Department
Summer Enrichment Internship Program
State-funded paid internships for New Mexico high-school students at municipal, county, tribal, pueblo, nonprofit and other workplace sites. The program continues statewide under a new administrator beginning summer 2026.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stockton University, School of Business
Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA)
A free, one-week residential academy for rising high school juniors/seniors covering accounting, analytics, finance, marketing, and hospitality, culminating in a business-plan pitch competition judged by faculty and community leaders, with a $500 prize for the winning team.
📍 Galloway, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Suffolk University Center for Entrepreneurship
Summer Entrepreneurship Program for High School Students (Becoming Entrepreneurial)
A free three-week, three-credit program for rising Boston-area high school seniors covering idea development, customer research, revenue models, and marketing, taught through class work, team projects, and visits to Boston entrepreneurial organizations.
📍 Boston, MA (Suffolk University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Two-week virtual bootcamp offers a curated curriculum that covers the fundamentals of machine learning in healthcare settings.
📍 Virtual📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Hospital Association / Minnesota Department of Health
Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP)
Paid summer internships in Minnesota hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities and home care for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school; employers pay at least minimum wage between Memorial Day and Labor Day for 6-12 weeks, with up to half of wages reimbursed through the program. Students apply to participating facilities.
📍 Statewide (Minnesota)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
HCA Healthcare New Hampshire
Summer Healthcare Exploration Program
Paid seven-week rotational experience in which high-school and college students shadow multiple healthcare departments, receive leadership mentoring, complete a project and participate in weekly professional-development activities.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Summer High School Internship
Students work with Garden horticulture staff maintaining plant collections while attending college-, career-, financial-planning and professional-development sessions.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Juniors and seniors living within 50 miles of NIST Gaithersburg spend seven weeks conducting research alongside NIST scientists and engineers. The internship is unpaid; 2027 applications are expected to open in mid-October 2026.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Nasher Sculpture Center and The Warehouse Dallas
Summer Institute for Teens
A five-day program where high school students explore Dallas museums, meet art-world professionals and make hands-on projects with artists. Tuition is free for accepted participants.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Art League Houston
Summer Intensive For Teens (SIFT)
A 4.5-week, tuition-free studio art intensive in Houston with six hours of daily coursework in sketching, textiles, ceramics and digital media, plus artist mentorship, a collaborative mural and a gallery exhibition. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ascension St. Joseph Hospital
Summer Internship Program at Ascension St. Joseph (Milwaukee)
Four-week paid summer internship giving Milwaukee high school juniors through college sophomores hands-on healthcare career exploration, mentorship and professional development.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Summer Junior Volunteer Program
Experienced teen volunteers assist at discovery carts, touch pools, classrooms and other aquarium education stations.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio University
Summer Law & Trial Institute
Two-week residential law program with attorneys, judges, court visits, Ohio Supreme Court exposure and a full mock trial.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Connecticut
Summer LEAD Program
Connecticut rising seniors live on the Storrs campus, attend sample classes and workshops and learn about admissions, financial aid, leadership and the transition to college.
📍 CT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
Summer Marine Mammal Intensive Learning Experience (SMMILE)
Twelve students live at Moku o Loʻe for ten days and train in marine-mammal research involving acoustics, stranding science, field observations, drones and laser-scanning technology.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Delaware
Summer Math Modeling Program for High Schoolers
Students work collaboratively on real-world mathematical modeling problems and interact with UD mathematics faculty.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Omaha Theatre
Summer Musical Theatre Academy
Tuition-free four-week intensive where Omaha-area high-school artists train with UNO faculty and industry professionals in performance, technical production and instrumental music while mounting a full-length musical.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Rockefeller University
Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
A two-week, fully-funded program for NYC public high schoolers that pairs interactive neuroscience lectures and a journal club with an original student-designed neuroscience experiment, led by Rockefeller graduate students.
📍 New York, NY📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Los Alamos National Laboratory / New Mexico School for the Arts
Summer Physics Camp
A free, two-week hands-on STEM camp at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe where students explore physics, engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, computer programming, and cybersecurity with scientists from LANL and Sandia, plus a tour of LANL facilities.
📍 Santa Fe, NM📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers University, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Summer Program on Fundamental Physics
A free, two-week intensive summer program at Rutgers' Busch Campus where high schoolers study cutting-edge topics in cosmology, particle physics, quantum computing, and cosmic rays through faculty talks, lab tours, and hands-on cosmic-ray measurement.
📍 Piscataway, NJ📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
QuestBridge
Summer Program Scholarships (through College Prep Scholars Program)
Exclusive access to scholarships for summer programs as part of the College Prep Scholars Program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming EPSCoR / University of Wyoming
Summer Research Apprentice Program (SRAP)
A six-week paid summer research program giving qualified high school students hands-on research experience in science, mathematics, statistics and engineering, with priority for Wyoming residents and underrepresented or first-generation students.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
Summer Research Internship
Two-week virtual opportunity to explore technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare.
📍 Virtual📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kentucky Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
Summer Research Training Fellowship
High-school students age 16+ with advanced biology and chemistry training spend eight weeks working 20–25 hours per week in a research laboratory under a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or scientist. Fellows receive $2,500.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
Summer Science Corps
Free weeklong environmental science and ecology learning experiences for K-12 students across Central New York, delivered through partnerships with local schools, libraries, parks, and arts organizations, facilitated by ESF student mentors.
📍 Syracuse and Central New York (SUNY ESF partner sites)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM)
Summer Science Institute (SSI)
A residential week-long program for rising 11th and 12th graders from Alabama or Georgia to explore advanced scientific research through hands-on laboratory, field, and medical education experiences alongside Auburn faculty.
📍 Auburn University, Auburn, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of South Carolina
Summer Seniors
A four-day residential program for rising high school seniors who will be first-generation college students, covering college admissions, academic preparation, and student life at USC.
📍 Columbia, SC📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Summer Session
Pre-College Summer Session program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP Philly)
Summer Speech Academy (ASAP Debate)
A free, annual week-long July camp run by ASAP Debate for Philadelphia students, focused on raising their voices on issues they care about. Participants do team building and public speaking activities, take a field trip, and write Original Oratory speeches that culminate in an end-of-week speech tournament. ASAP also runs the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League (Public Forum) for high school clubs from November through March.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky State University
Summer STEM Momentum
Rising sophomores through seniors take up to two college-level STEM courses during a fully funded four-week program. Residential and virtual participation options are offered.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Carolina A&T State University
Summer Transportation Academy
Multi-week academy exposing students to transportation engineering, planning, research and careers through university instruction and extensive field trips.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Pima County Community & Workforce Development
Summer Youth Employment Program
Youth work in paid internship positions with Pima County businesses and organizations while receiving career planning, skill development, and educational support.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Summer Youth Employment Program
Massive paid summer-employment program placing NYC youth in jobs and career experiences across nonprofits, government, businesses and cultural organizations.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Science
Summer Youth Internship Program
High-school students ages 14–19 complete a seven-week museum internship combining department-specific projects with professional-development workshops and authentic workplace experience.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Miami-Dade County / Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)
Students complete a paid five-week workplace internship, earn academic credit and develop professional and financial-literacy skills.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
City of Lexington / Partners for Youth
Summer Youth Job Training Program
Rising sophomores through seniors complete workforce training and a six-week placement with Lexington businesses or community organizations. Youth work up to 20 hours weekly and earn $15 per hour; registration for the 2027 cycle opens October 1, 2026.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
IU Indianapolis School of Education
Summer YPAR Institute
A five-day intensive institute where high school youth learn youth participatory action research (YPAR) methodology to investigate and address issues in their own communities, prioritizing students of color and those eligible for free/reduced lunch.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Summer@Brown
Explore new paths and connect with different ways of thinking, seeing and doing.
📍 On Campus📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wentworth Institute of Technology
SummerFAB
A four-week, grant-funded architecture and design program for Boston-area high school juniors and seniors, who work alongside Wentworth faculty and current architecture students to design, fabricate, and build a full-scale community-driven project addressing a local neighborhood challenge.
📍 Boston, MA (Wentworth Institute of Technology)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
TheatreSquared
SummerStage
Eight-day immersive theatre program where students work with professional playwrights, poets, musicians, actors and directors to devise and perform an original production.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Sundance Institute / George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
Sundance Film Festival Student Screening Program
Free screenings of specially curated festival films for Utah secondary students, with content advisories and Q&A sessions with filmmakers. Screenings are offered online and at festival venues in Salt Lake City.
📍 Utah (online and Salt Lake City festival venues)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Fannie Lou Hamer's America / Sunflower County Film Academy
Sunflower County Film Academy
A free, intensive multi-week filmmaking workshop for high school students from the historically underserved Mississippi Delta, who work with professional filmmakers using industry-standard equipment to produce a documentary short while studying civil rights history.
📍 Cleveland, MS (Mississippi Delta)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with regional ESD art shows
Superintendent's High School Art Show
Annual statewide student art competition: high school students enter a regional Educational Service District show, and selected pieces advance to the statewide Superintendent's show, where award recipients receive a $200 cash award and trophy.
📍 Regional ESD shows and Olympia, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
Superior & Chippewa National Forests Program
Hands-on wilderness and developed recreation programs for young adults in Minnesota’s legendary forests, lakes, and wetlands.
📍 Minnesota, US📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Superior Court of Delaware
Superior Court High School Internship Program
One-week internship introducing students to Delaware's state-court system at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Street Law
Supreme Court Summer Institute
Teacher and student programs on constitutional law and the Court.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Youth Volunteer
Coastal cleanup and ocean advocacy chapters across US.
📍 Coastal states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Policy Institute
Susan K. Hamill Summer Internship Program
A nine-week internship at a Maine public-policy think tank open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, working in public policy, development, or digital media and gaining research, fundraising, and communications skills.
📍 Yarmouth, ME📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Buffett Foundation
Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarship
A program providing financial support and mentoring for Nebraska high school students from underprivileged backgrounds pursuing higher education.
📍 Lincoln, NE⏱ Multi-year📅 January 31🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Maine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute
Sustainable Engineering Leaders of the Future (SELF)
Maine high-school students attend a free residential institute involving renewable-energy research, woody biomass, engineering, AI activities, collaborative research, and presentations.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Pacific University (OHWI-AHEC)
Synapse: Health Career Explorations
A week-long summer camp for advancing high school juniors and seniors to explore healthcare careers through job shadows, simulations, tours, workshops, and panel discussions with healthcare professionals.
📍 Hillsboro / Forest Grove, OR📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Systems Consultants Scholarship
Graduating Churchill County students interested in mathematics or computer science may apply.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Montana Community Foundation
T. Eugene Young Montana's Promise Scholarship
Scholarship for Montana high-school seniors planning postsecondary study in STEM or healthcare-related fields, with preference for students attending Montana institutions.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Utah System of Higher Education
T.H. Bell Education Scholarship
State scholarship for recent high school graduates and adult students who enroll in an approved teacher education (or speech-language pathology) program and commit to teaching in a Utah public school. Awards are available for up to four consecutive years, with priority for first-generation students and those planning to teach in high-need areas.
📍 Utah (public institutions)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
T3 Alaska
T3 Alaska Student Summer Program
A free residential summer program bringing Alaska high schoolers together on University of Alaska campuses to explore technology, energy, cybersecurity, and design thinking through hands-on, community-based projects.
📍 Fairbanks / Anchorage, AK (UAF / UAA)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE)
TAJE Student Scholarships
TAJE awards $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors in journalism programs and up to six $150 scholarships to help students attend summer journalism workshops. Applicants need an adviser who is a current TAJE member.
📍 Texas (online application)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Take One Make One (TOMO)
An outdoor education and mentoring program that pairs first-time youth hunters with an experienced SCDNR-affiliated mentor for a safe, ethical introductory hunt, plus access to conservation camps and shooting-sports clinics.
📍 Statewide, South Carolina📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Fermilab (Department of Energy)
TARGET Program
Students engage in cutting-edge research in high-energy physics and accelerator science at a national laboratory.
📍 Batavia, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
Louisiana residents can earn state merit aid for eligible Louisiana postsecondary institutions through several award levels based on academic and testing requirements.
📍 LA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The College of New Jersey / NJ DVRS
TCNJ Pre-College Summer Program for Students with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
State-funded 10-day residential transition-to-college experience covering academics, career exploration, social-emotional development, self-determination and independent campus life. Tuition is covered through DVRS for eligible NJ residents.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Concord Review
TCR History Camp
A camp focusing on history and writing, with testimonials highlighting invaluable writing lessons for high school students.
📍 Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Utah Emma Eccles Jones College of Education
Teach for Utah Scholarship
A scholarship and mentoring program preparing future secondary STEM teachers; high school students with university or AP credit may apply as early as junior or senior year. Offers early mentoring, peer support, and customized coursework.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation / NSHE
Teacher Academy College Pathway Program
State-funded pathway covering tuition and mandatory fees for Nevada high-school students taking dual-credit teacher-education courses at NSHE institutions. Statewide implementation began in spring 2026.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland State Department of Education / Towson University
Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM)
A statewide Career and Technical Education pathway starting in 10th grade where students take a four-course sequence culminating in an Education Academy Internship, gaining classroom observation and lesson-planning experience.
📍 Maryland public high schools statewide; affiliated with Towson University📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Delaware College of Education & Human Development
Teachers of Tomorrow
Rising juniors and seniors interested in teaching complete a two-week institute with academic skill-building, leadership, college preparation and education-career exploration, followed by continued support.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tennessee System - Grow Your Own Center
Teaching as a Profession (TAP)
A Tennessee high school CTE pathway introducing students to education careers through introductory coursework, classroom field experiences and internships in local schools, and a capstone project, with potential college credit toward teaching degrees.
📍 Statewide, TN (offered through participating high schools)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship
High-school seniors planning to enter an approved teacher-certification program can receive major tuition, fees, and room-and-board support in exchange for a Maryland teaching service obligation.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Wyoming Speech and Debate
Team Wyoming Free Debate Coaching
Free supplemental debate coaching for Wyoming and Mountain West high school debaters, with weekly Zoom coaching from University of Wyoming staff, practice rounds with feedback, shared prep files and an online Q&A forum.
📍 Online (University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Rochester / Eastman School of Music
TEAMuP AI Music Production Camp
NSF-supported free high-school camp combining digital music production with artificial-intelligence tools and creative technology.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northern State University
Tech and Innovation Camp
A free residential summer camp for students entering grades 9-12 focused on hands-on learning in technology, coding, entrepreneurship, and digital content creation, with on-campus meals and lodging included.
📍 Aberdeen, SD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ithaca College
Tech Innovation Summer Academy
Free residential program offering tracks in fields such as robotics, AI, app/web development, VR, gaming and hardware; tuition, housing and meals are covered and students earn 0.5 college credit.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Sandia National Laboratories
Technical High School Intern — Counter-Autonomy & Machine Learning
Current Sandia high-school internship involving sensors, experiments, data collection/curation, programming, machine learning, robotics and computer engineering in a mentored R&D environment.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Technovation
Technovation Girls
Global tech entrepreneurship challenge for girls 8-18.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 October🎓 Grades 3–12
Selective
UNH Manchester Tech Camp
TechVoyagers: AI for Models
Students collect real laboratory data with sensors and cell cultures, then create and train AI models to test and verify the data.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNH Manchester Tech Camp
TechVoyagers: Body Builders
Students combine anatomy and physiology with art, electronics and Arduino-based engineering to construct functional models of body systems.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNH Manchester Tech Camp
TechVoyagers: Zoom Lens
Students investigate microscopy, then use 3D modeling and printing to prototype a high-magnification microscope attachment for a phone.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TED-Ed
TED-Ed Student Talks
Free, self-run program that helps students discover, develop, and share their own ideas in TED-style talks; open to schools and clubs anywhere in the world.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Self-paced club📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TEDx
TEDxYouth Events
Local TEDxYouth events held worldwide; students can apply to speak or attend.
📍 Global⏱ 1 day📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
New York Civil Liberties Union
Teen Activist Project
Students organize around youth rights, education, health and civil-liberties issues while receiving advocacy/public-speaking training. Participants can receive a stipend or service hours. The 2026–27 cycle includes NYC, Buffalo and Nassau-area participation.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Des Moines Art Center
Teen Arts Academy and Teen Clay Academy
Motivated high-school artists participate in a nine-month program of instructor-led studio classes, independent work, critiques, museum discussions, guest artists, and college-portfolio development. Art Center materials describe the academies as free.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Frist Art Museum
Teen Arts Action Group (TAAG)
A teen leadership program for ages 15-18 who collaborate with Frist educators and professional artists to plan teen programming such as Teen ArtLabs and the Teen Fall Festival, while developing leadership and professional skills; service hours count toward school requirements.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Detroit Institute of Arts
Teen Arts Council
Twelve high-school students serve as DIA employees, work with museum staff, and design cultural and creative programming for Metro Detroit teens.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Saint Louis Art Museum
Teen Arts Council
Ages 14–18 advise the museum on teen programming, plan an annual juried teen art exhibition, attend workshops and field trips, and meet every other week from September through May. Members receive a $200 stipend each semester for full attendance.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle Art Museum
Teen Arts Group (TAG) at Seattle Art Museum
An intensive program for high school-aged youth interested in leadership and community who learn how the museum works behind the scenes, lead tours, plan Teen Night Out and make their own art.
📍 Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Public Library
Teen Center Ambassadors
Paid teen internship in which students help develop library programs and resources, build professional skills and serve their communities.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Anchorage Museum
Teen Climate Communicators
Teens meet weekly with museum staff and guest presenters to investigate climate change, create short-term projects, and collaboratively develop a public exhibition about climate action. Participants receive documented volunteer hours and a certificate.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Teen Conservation Leaders
Teens complete intensive marine-biology and ocean-conservation training, then volunteer in tracks such as visitor interpretation and science communication while developing career and leadership skills.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Teen Eco Summit
A free, year-long, student-driven program where teams of 4-7 high schoolers and a faculty advisor create Conservation Action Plans to make their school or community more eco-friendly, beginning with an in-person kickoff and ending with a spring celebration event.
📍 Powell, OH (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Natural History Museum of Utah
Teen Explainers Program
A paid high school internship where teens learn to engage museum guests in interactive science learning and build communication and professional skills. Offered as an October-April school-year cohort and a June-August summer cohort.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Teen Guest Engagement Volunteer
Teen volunteers assist museum guests with visitor engagement, information, wayfinding, ticket scanning and special museum activities.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OhioHealth, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine & Labcorp
Teen Healthcare Camp
A 3-day hands-on healthcare camp bringing together high schoolers from area schools for medical-education exercises led by medical students and OhioHealth physicians, part of a Discovery Series partnership exploring healthcare careers.
📍 Dublin, OH (Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Young Authors Foundation
Teen Ink
An award-winning monthly print and online magazine by and for teens.
📍 Online / Jersey City, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Jewish Week
Teen Journalism Fellowship
NYC-area Jewish teens report and publish professional journalism while receiving editing and mentorship; fellows receive compensation for published stories.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Spokesman-Review with Comma Community Journalism Lab
Teen Journalism Institute (The Spokesman-Review)
A paid eight-week summer newsroom internship in downtown Spokane for rising high school juniors and seniors, who write news and features, rotate through departments and publish a community journalism project.
📍 Spokane, WA📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Teen Lab
Free teen-focused workshop series offering hands-on art experiences; the fall 2026 series includes multi-session printmaking and pattern-design work.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Shedd Aquarium
Teen Lab Workshops
Free workshops for currently enrolled high-school students ages 14–18 explore aquatic science, conservation, STEAM topics, and related careers through hands-on activities. Workshops are offered on multiple dates and topics.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
826michigan
Teen Leadership Lab
High-school students mentor younger writers, complete professional-development activities, develop and workshop their own writing, and receive support toward publication. Participants who complete the program receive a stipend. Fall 2026 enrollment is open.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota
Teen Science Cafe
Free public programs 'by teens for teens' run by a Teen Advisory Board, where teens meet University of Minnesota STEM experts for conversations, interactive presentations and hands-on activities. No prior STEM experience needed; RSVP via Eventbrite. Sponsored by General Mills.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Teen Science Cafés
Free monthly events where teens interact directly with working scientists through talks, activities and informal Q&A.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Salt Lake City Public Library (The City Library)
Teen Squad (Salt Lake City Public Library)
Six-week program for students in grades 7-12 who work with a librarian to set goals and develop a project, earning volunteer hours and job skills.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Teen Stylin' Fashion Program at VMFA
A free, 12-week fashion program for teens in grades 6-12 in which participants learn from professional designers and create garments inspired by VMFA's collection, showcased in a juried runway exhibition; an independent-study option serves students statewide.
📍 Richmond, VA (statewide independent study option)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Children's of Alabama
Teen Summer Program (Volunteer Services)
A half-day hospital volunteer program for teens combining patient/family support with education about healthcare careers and hospital operations, requiring a four-week commitment with a required midday Lunch and Learn session.
📍 Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
GrubStreet
Teen Summer Writing Fellowship
A three-week intensive fellowship for Boston-area teen writers to generate new work across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting, with daily mentorship, guest author visits, and a culminating public performance showcase.
📍 Boston, MA (GrubStreet)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
Teen Takeover Contest
North Dakota teens submit an original artistic creation plus a short written explanation inspired by state history and museum collections.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Teen Takeover: Spirit Realm
WAMTAC teens take over the museum with teen-designed art activities, games, interpretation, and programming inspired by the museum collection. The 2026 event is free.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
McWane Science Center
Teen Volunteer Program
Teens help present STEM activities, support camps and visitors, and develop communication, leadership, and science-education experience.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Teen Volunteer Program
Teens complete roughly 50 hours of summer service while learning about animals, habitats and conservation and helping educate aquarium visitors.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Catholic Medical Center
Teen Volunteer Program (Catholic Medical Center)
Hospital volunteer program for students ages 15-18 to gain healthcare-setting exposure through patient transport support, information desk work, pastoral care assistance, and patient experience services.
📍 Manchester, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SEE Science Center
Teen Volunteer Program (SEE Science Center)
Teens facilitate hands-on science activities for kids as Kit Facilitators, Near Peer Facilitators at special community events, and STEM Role Models sharing their own science career stories.
📍 Manchester, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Science Museum of Virginia
Teen Volunteer Program (Teen Leadership Program) at the Science Museum of Virginia
Teens ages 15-18 (or rising sophomores) learn hands-on guest engagement, mentorship and behind-the-scenes museum skills in a semester-long volunteer cohort, with options in exhibits, labs or administrative work.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Williamsburg Regional Library
Teen Volunteer Roles and Teen Advisory Group (Williamsburg Regional Library)
Teens volunteer at the library through the year-round Teen Advisory Group (ages 13-18) and seasonal roles such as Summer Reading Room, Summer Reading Program helper and puppeteer; the group helps shape teen materials, services and events.
📍 Williamsburg and James City County, VA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DISCOVERY Children's Museum
Teen Volunteers
Teen volunteers support museum programming and hands-on educational experiences for children and families. Applications are accepted through the museum's active teen-volunteer program.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Teen/Artist Project
An eight-month program for sixteen high school students who meet three hours every Sunday at the Modern for workshops with visiting artists, gallery discussions and studio projects, ending with an exhibition. Free for accepted students.
📍 Fort Worth, TX📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TeenHacks LI
TeenHacks LI
Free high-school hackathon where programmers, engineers, designers and entrepreneurs form teams and build technology projects during an intensive event hosted on Long Island.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Teens in Public Service (TIPS)
Teens in Public Service (TIPS) Summer Internships
A paid summer internship program that places Seattle-area high school students with nonprofit organizations for 6-8 weeks, with required trainings and mentoring.
📍 Greater Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Park Service
Teens Programs (Service Projects and Volunteer Opportunities)
Learn how to participate in service projects and volunteer opportunities within the National Park Service.
📍 National Parks across the US📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TeenTix
TeenTix Newsroom
Teen arts-journalism program in which writers attend arts events for free, write reviews that are edited one-on-one by teen editors, and are paid for their writing.
📍 Seattle, Washington area📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Telluride Film Festival / Artemis Rising Foundation
Telluride Film Festival City Lights Project
A festival-funded program that brings six students and two teachers from two selected high schools to attend the Telluride Film Festival, screening 10-12 films and meeting filmmakers over five days.
📍 Telluride, CO📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Tennessee at Martin
Tennessee Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences (TGSAS)
A residential summer program for rising Tennessee high school seniors with a demonstrated interest in agriculture, covering its importance to the state's culture and economy through coursework and hands-on activities.
📍 Martin, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Philosophy
Tennessee High School Ethics Bowl
A discussion-based (not debate) competition, established in 2010, in which high school teams analyze controversial ethical issues using moral reasoning and present their analysis to a panel of judges. The winning team advances to the National High School Ethics Bowl.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Tennessee Historical Society (National History Day state affiliate)
Tennessee History Day
The Tennessee affiliate of National History Day, in which students research and present original historical projects through a multi-level competition of District, Regional, State, and National contests across six Tennessee regions.
📍 Statewide, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tennessee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition
A statewide mock trial competition in which high school teams role-play as lawyers and witnesses in simulated court cases, judged by practicing attorneys and judges. District winners advance to the state championship, and the state champion represents Tennessee at Nationals.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University Department of Statistics
Texas A&M Statistics and Data Science Summer Camp
A free one-week day camp introducing high school students to core statistics and data science concepts through lectures, data analysis exercises and group projects. Aimed at students in the Bryan/College Station area.
📍 College Station, TX📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NASA Johnson Space Center
Texas Aerospace Scholars (NASA Johnson Space Center)
A free, year-long NASA STEM program for Texas high school students combining an online course, a virtual summer design challenge with NASA mentors, and a residential week at Johnson Space Center for top teams. A Junior Experience and a Senior Experience are offered.
📍 Houston, TX📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Texas Book Festival
Texas Book Festival Volunteer Program
Teens 13 and older can volunteer at the Texas Book Festival in downtown Austin, including in the children's and young adult programming areas, alongside more than 900 volunteers.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar of Texas Law-Related Education Department and Sumners Foundation
Texas Citizen Bee
A civics competition for students in grades 9-12 covering the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases and current events, with regional contests by Education Service Center region and a state championship in Austin.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship
Texas High School Ideas Challenge
A statewide entrepreneurship competition for Texas high school students ages 14-18, individually or in teams of up to six. Ideas go through an online pre-screen round, and finalists pitch at Texas A&M for cash prizes; the 2027 challenge is scheduled for spring 2027 with applications opening early 2027.
📍 College Station, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas State Historical Association (Texas affiliate of National History Day)
Texas History Day
A statewide student research competition where grade 9-12 students present papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances, or websites on a historical topic tied to the annual National History Day theme. Winners advance from regional to state to the national contest.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE)
Texas Journalist of the Year (JOY)
A portfolio-based state competition for Texas high school seniors across reporting, editing, design, broadcast, photojournalism, web and law/ethics. The winner advances to the national JEA Journalist of the Year competition.
📍 Texas (online submission)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Audubon Texas
Texas Leaders in Conservation (TLC)
A free high school stewardship and leadership program where students explore conservation topics (climate, water, coasts, working lands, or bird-friendly communities) through field trips and a five-day summer conservation camp. Offered through partner schools in Dallas, Balch Springs, and San Antonio via the Young Women's Preparatory Network.
📍 Dallas, Balch Springs, and San Antonio, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech Clark Scholars Program
Highly selective seven-week paid research program for 12 high schoolers across all fields.
📍 Lubbock, TX⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Translational Genomics Research Institute
TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy
Twenty Arizona students spend two weeks studying precision medicine, genomics, experimental design, clinical trials, bioethics, disease research, science communication, and leadership while shadowing laboratory work.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
5 Gyres Institute
The 5 Gyres Institute Ambassador Program (Youth)
Young leaders working to solve the ocean plastic crisis through local policy change.
📍 Online/Nationwide⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Alamo (Alamo Trust)
The Alamo Internship Program
Ten-week internships in museum studies, visitor experience and business operations, including conservation, collections management, educational programming and marketing, open to high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
The American Experiment: Liberty for All?
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Amy Lowell Trust
The Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
One of the most valuable writing scholarships for high school seniors, based on a portfolio.
📍 Online📅 January 21🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Susquehanna University
The Apprentice Writer
National literary magazine of high school student writing published by Susquehanna.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Brodsky Prize / New Hampshire journalism community
The Brodsky Prize
New Hampshire high-school students submit journalism-oriented writing addressing news, media and public affairs. The program awards a $5,000 prize.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Concord Review
The Concord Review Submissions
The Concord Review is the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic research papers of secondary students. Students are encouraged to submit their history papers for consideration.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Daphne Review
The Daphne Review
An independent literary journal specifically for middle and high school writers and artists.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Diana Award
The Diana Award
International charity honoring young people (9–25) for social action or humanitarian work; programmes include mentoring, anti-bullying, and the Legacy Award.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Varies📅 Nominations open year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Earth Foundation
The Earth Prize
Global environmental sustainability competition with $200k in prizes for student teams.
📍 Global📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Concord Review, Inc.
The Emerson Prize
A prize awarded to authors published in The Concord Review, recognizing exemplary historical research and writing.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)
The Free Enterprise Institute Summer Seminar (FEE) / FEE con Alternative
Highly selective program on free-market economics, legal principles, and leadership for upperclassmen.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 1 week📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
San Francisco State University
The Great Sunflower Project (Citizen Science)
A massive collaborative project where students collect soil samples and perform data analysis for ecological research. Hybrid model.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Ongoing📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pittsburgh Promise (Related to Opportunity)
The Heinz Scholars Program (Historical Affinity) / Pittsburgh Promise
Award for high-achieving, low-income students in PA and OH to attend a partner college.
📍 PA/OH⏱ 4 years📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering
The Human + AI Experience
High-school students investigate global problems, develop potential solutions, and explore how humans and artificial intelligence can work together. The four-day 2026 program was free.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma
The Human Water Cycle
Water science and environmental STEM investigations.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The Knowledge Society
The Knowledge Society (TKS) Virtual Program
A 4-week virtual accelerator where high schoolers solve real-world problems for top companies like Microsoft and TKS partners.
📍 Online⏱ 4 weeks (Trial) / 10 months (Pro)📅 Rolling (Monthly cohorts)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The NSHSS Foundation
The NSHSS Foundation
Fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability fields. Connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth and career interests.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi School of the Arts
The Phoenix Literary Journal
Mississippi School of the Arts students may submit poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, visual art, photography, and collaborative work each spring for publication. Senior Literary Arts students manage submissions, layout, and production.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
The Power of Investing: Financial Literacy and the Miracle of Compound Interest
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Chamber Foundation
The Prospects
Statewide virtual entrepreneurship competition for Montana K–12 students with either a new business idea or an existing student-run business. High-school winners can earn substantial scholarships and cash prizes; the 2026 grand champions received $5,000.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Cooper Union
The Saturday Program
A free, 55-year-old program offering NYC public high schoolers weekly Saturday studio classes in architecture, drawing, graphic design, media production, painting, and sculpture, with portfolio development for college art and architecture programs.
📍 New York, NY📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Scholarship Academy
The Scholarship Academy
Offers curriculum to help students identify tailored scholarship options and build solid scholarship profile.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SALA / Global Leaders
The Summer Academy for Global Leadership (Virtual)
An intensive 4-week program for students to learn community organizing, civic engagement, and effective altruism. Often has online cohorts.
📍 Online/Regional Chapters⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Wichita
The Way to Work Summer Youth Program
Wichita and Sedgwick County youth ages 14–17 receive work-readiness preparation and summer employment experiences intended to build job skills and self-sufficiency. Income eligibility requirements apply.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Weight Journal
The Weight Journal
An online literary magazine that curates the best of student writing in various genres.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
The Wharton One-Day High School Experience
A one-day immersive experience at Wharton for high school students.
📍 University of Pennsylvania🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The Young Researcher
The Young Researcher
Peer-reviewed journal for IB Extended Essay and similar research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering
Think Like an Engineer: The Ultimate Systems Challenge Camp
Students use industrial and systems engineering to improve real-world systems involving manufacturing, logistics, supply chains, healthcare, and delivery networks. The 2026 program was free.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rowan University
Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy
Free academy for rising juniors and seniors centered on entrepreneurship, innovation, prototyping and business development while earning three college credits. A 2027 session is expected.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals
Thomas Hospitals VolunTEEN Program
A hospital volunteer program for students ages 14 to 18 interested in healthcare and community service, with a regular weekly shift and orientation through Volunteer Services.
📍 Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
America250 Idaho (Idaho's 250th Anniversary Commission)
Thomas Jefferspud Writing Contest
A statewide essay/short-story contest for Idaho students ages 12-18 about a revolutionary-era figure instrumental in the nation's founding and why they should still be honored today, tied to America's 250th anniversary.
📍 Idaho (online/mail submission)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Institute for the Creative Arts
Through the Lens
Students study exposure, composition, lighting, portraiture, landscape filming and visual storytelling while producing a portfolio of original photography and film work.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama
Tide to Success
A six-hour, self-paced online college-readiness course for Alabama high-school students covering ACT preparation, majors and careers, scholarships, and college planning.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TiE Oregon
TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Oregon
A project-based entrepreneurship curriculum where seasoned entrepreneurs and mentors teach Portland-area high schoolers invention, design thinking, and customer validation, culminating in a state competition that feeds into the Global TYE Competition.
📍 Portland Metro, OR📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Auburn University
Tiger Takeoff
Alabama rising seniors spend three days living on Auburn's campus, experiencing sample college classes, leadership activities, university resources, and peer mentoring.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Utah Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge
A statewide business-idea competition for Utah high school students with an online application, top-20 selection, finalist video submissions, public online voting, and an in-person final.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Tombaugh Gallery Visual & Graphic Arts Scholarship
$500 scholarship for an LCPS senior pursuing visual or graphic arts at NMSU or Doña Ana Community College.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarship Program
A state scholarship of up to $25,000 per year for Massachusetts residents pursuing a teaching license through an approved educator-preparation program at a Massachusetts public university, in exchange for a four-year teaching service commitment in a MA public school.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
TOPS Tech Early Start
Louisiana public-school juniors and seniors can receive funding for eligible dual-enrollment coursework leading toward credentials in high-demand occupations.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Toshiba / NSTA
Toshiba ExploraVision
K-12 team STEM competition forecasting future technologies.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 January🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA)
Free arts classes for Austin youth in grades 6-12 taught by professional artists in painting, film, theatre, sculpture and more at Austin recreation centers, plus summer film and theatre camps.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tracy Aviary
Tracy Aviary Volunteer Program (Ages 15+)
Ongoing volunteer positions at Salt Lake City's Tracy Aviary for people 15 and older, with hands-on work in aviary programs, conservation and grounds. Volunteers earn a free annual family membership after 20 hours.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Transylvania University Center for Entrepreneurship
Transylvania University Entrepreneurship Camp
A one-day entrepreneurship camp at Transylvania's Center for Entrepreneurship, run in partnership with Junior Achievement, where Fayette County high schoolers learn to build problem statements, value propositions, and early business plans with mentorship from local entrepreneurs.
📍 Transylvania University, Lexington, KY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)
Trey LaBostrie Visual Arts Scholarship
A scholarship for Louisiana high school seniors (and college students) who submit original artwork -- paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, digital art, short films, or music videos -- with an artist statement addressing grief, healing, or joy.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NDSU / Minnesota State University Moorhead / Concordia College Mathematics Departments
Tri-College Math Contest
An annual math competition rotating among NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia with Beginning High School, Senior High School, and Middle School divisions, drawing over 200 teams and 1,700 students.
📍 Fargo, ND (rotates among NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Trinity College
Trinity College Dream Camp
Long-running Hartford youth program combining summer enrichment with year-round academic mentoring; high-school programming emphasizes college awareness, SAT preparation, admissions and financial aid.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Case Western Reserve University
TRIO Talent Search
Provides free tutoring, mentoring, college/career information and financial-aid guidance to roughly 500 students annually, particularly in East Cleveland and Euclid schools.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
North Carolina A&T State University
TRIO Upward Bound
Year-round college-preparation program with a six-week residential summer component, academic instruction, tutoring, college tours and advising for students from designated Guilford County schools.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama A&M University
TRIO Upward Bound
Eligible first-generation and/or income-qualified students from participating North Alabama schools receive tutoring, mentoring, ACT and college preparation, financial-literacy instruction, enrichment, campus visits, and a summer residential component.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Case Western Reserve University
TRIO Upward Bound
Free year-round academic program with tutoring, college planning, SAT/ACT preparation, Saturday enrichment and a six-week summer component.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Community College of Philadelphia
TRIO Upward Bound — Community College of Philadelphia
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Idaho State University TRIO
TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science
A federally funded, free college-prep program for first-generation and low-income high schoolers in nine eastern/southeastern Idaho high schools, featuring weekly academic-year advising, Saturday Academy, and a six-week residential Summer Academy with college-prep coursework and paid internships.
📍 Pocatello, ID (ISU campus) and partner high schools in eastern/southeastern Idaho📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University Billings
TRIO Upward Bound Summer Institute
Federally funded college-preparation program serving eligible Yellowstone County students, including a free summer institute plus year-round advising and academic support.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans / Brees Dream Foundation
Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge
A Shark Tank-style entrepreneurship competition where Louisiana high school students pitch original business ideas to judges at regional finals, with winners advancing to a statewide championship and The Big Pitch at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Technology Student Association (TSA)
TSA National Competitions
The premier middle and high school competition for engineering and technology projects involving a formal design process.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State Board of Education
Tschudy Family Scholarship
Graduating Emmett High School students with financial need and qualifying academics can receive renewable undergraduate and graduate scholarship support.
📍 ID🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Towson University / Baltimore County Public Schools
TU-BCPS Model United Nations
A free Model UN partnership between Towson University and Baltimore County Public Schools featuring a training day and an annual conference on Towson's campus, connecting students with professors and college mentors.
📍 Towson, MD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Tufts University Department of Biomedical Engineering
Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
A free six-week summer research program where high school students from designated Massachusetts cities work full-time in Tufts biomedical engineering labs investigating cells, tissues, and organs alongside faculty and graduate mentors.
📍 Medford, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
MI Student Aid
Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
Medicaid-eligible Michigan students can receive tuition assistance for qualifying certificate, associate-degree, and later bachelor's-degree study after completing high school.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Tulane University School of Science and Engineering
Tulane High School Summer Research Program
A paid six-week research internship for rising 11th and 12th graders from Greater New Orleans public schools, working with Tulane faculty and graduate students in a research lab, with priority for under-resourced and first-generation students.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Tulane University / City of New Orleans
Tulane Mayoral Scholarship
Ten eligible graduates of New Orleans high schools are selected for four-year full-tuition Tulane scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and mayoral endorsement.
📍 LA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The Turner Group
Turner Group Architecture & Engineering Scholarship
New Hampshire seniors planning to study architecture or engineering compete for two $1,000 scholarships.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth
Twin Ports Teen Science Cafe
Free monthly program for Twin Ports high school students to explore advances in science and technology through conversations and hands-on activities with researchers and STEM experts at UMD. Registration and a parent permission form are required; upcoming session is an aquarium careers and animal encounter at the Great Lakes Aquarium.
📍 Duluth, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Utah
U of U ACCESS Program
Year-long STEM research program for women entering the U of U from Utah high schools.
📍 UT⏱ Summer + school year📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Utah Department of Mathematics
U of U Math Circle
A weekly fall-semester math circle where high school students work with professors and graduate students on puzzles and problems beyond the typical classroom curriculum. Designed to extend mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Program
Protect our nation’s waterways, lakes, and campgrounds through wildlife surveys and water safety.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad - Maryland Section
A two-stage chemistry competition (local exam then national exam) for Maryland high school students, with top national performers invited to a residential Chemistry Study Camp to prepare for the International Chemistry Olympiad.
📍 Maryland (local exam held online; national exam at CCBC)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society (ACS)
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) - Local Chemistry Olympiad Exams
The first tier of the USNCO multi-tiered chemistry competition for high school students. Held each March, students register with ACS and are notified by their ACS Local Section Coordinator. Coordinators choose nominees for the National Exam based on results of the local competition.
📍 Varies by local section📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society (ACS)
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) - National Chemistry Olympiad Exams
A three-part exam administered to more than 1,000 students each April. National Exams are often hosted by ACS Local Sections at local universities and colleges.
📍 Varies by local section📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation / William Randolph Hearst Foundation
U.S. Senate Youth Program — Indiana
A fully funded week-long trip to Washington, D.C. for two Indiana high school junior/senior delegates in elected or appointed student leadership roles, who meet senators, cabinet members, and Supreme Court justices and each receive a $12,500 scholarship.
📍 Washington, D.C. (Indiana Bar Foundation administers the state selection)📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
PA Association of Student Councils / Hearst Foundations
U.S. Senate Youth Program — Pennsylvania
Two PA student leaders receive Washington Week plus a $12,500 scholarship.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
RIDE / Hearst Foundations
U.S. Senate Youth Program — Rhode Island
Two RI juniors/seniors are selected for Washington Week and a national college scholarship.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Maine Department of Education / U.S. Senate Youth Program
U.S. Senate Youth Program (Maine)
A principal-nominated program sending two Maine junior/senior delegates to a week-long, all-expenses-paid program in Washington, D.C. featuring sessions with senators, cabinet officials, and national media, plus a $12,500 undergraduate scholarship for delegates.
📍 Washington, DC (Maine delegates)📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Arizona
UA KEYS Research Internship
Paid bioscience research at the UA — Arizona students only.
📍 AZ⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Alaska
UA Scholars Award
Alaska students ranked in the top 10% of their high-school class at the end of junior year can receive a $15,000 award for study within the University of Alaska system.
📍 AK🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business and Public Policy
UAA Business Plan & Big Idea Competition
Local high-school students submit an entrepreneurial concept and finalists pitch live to investors, executives, and entrepreneurs for feedback and cash awards.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks
UAF TRiO Upward Bound
Eligible Upward Bound students receive free college-preparation support plus summer academic and career experiences. 2026 options included American history and civic leadership, applied ethnobotany, engineering, and a Sitka marine-science intensive.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks TRiO Upward Bound
UAF Upward Bound Summer Programs (Alaska Futures in Engineering & others)
Free summer enrichment programs for Upward Bound students, including an Alaska Futures in Engineering session at UAF's Troth Yeddha' campus and other tracks in ethnobotany, civic leadership, and science, several offering college or CTE credit.
📍 Fairbanks, AK (UAF) and other sites📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS Summer Science Program
Paid biomedical research for Arkansas students underrepresented in healthcare.
📍 AR⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Cincinnati
UC Futures: Rural & Small-Town Scholars
Free residential-style college and career exploration experience for students from rural and small-town communities in the Ohio River Valley.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UC Health
UC Health Teen Volunteer Program
Juniors and seniors volunteer at UC Medical Center throughout the summer and gain hospital exposure through nonclinical service.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
UCCS Pre-Collegiate Program
Multi-year college-readiness program providing career and college exploration, academic preparation and a Summer Academic Institute. It prioritizes first-generation, low-income and military-connected students.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Chicago
UChicago Pre-College Courses
Pre-College academic courses offered by the University of Chicago.
📍 Chicago, IL📅 Applications are closed for this summer and will reopen in Spring 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Chicago
UChicago Pre-College Programs
Learn about the various pre-college programs offered at the University of Chicago.
📍 Chicago, IL📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UCLA
UCLA Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Paid biomedical research at UCLA for LA-area students.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UC San Francisco
UCSF SEP High School Intern
Paid summer research for SFUSD students underrepresented in science.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UCSF
UCSF Summer Research Training Program
Mentored research in basic and clinical science for SF Bay Area students.
📍 San Francisco, CA📅 Not yet announced — official site says 2027 info will be posted later🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
UD Marine Science Summer Camp (Advanced Track)
High school students conduct marine science and oceanography experiments at the University of Delaware's coastal campus.
📍 Lewes, DE⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of the District of Columbia
UDC Capital Cup Entrepreneurship Competition
Teams create a business or product concept with international-market potential, submit a qualifying video pitch and finalists present their venture to judges at UDC.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
UGA Young Scholars Program (CAES)
Laboratory-based research for high school students in agricultural and natural resource sciences.
📍 Athens, GA/Tifton, GA⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi
UH System Common Scholarship
One systemwide application allows incoming students to compete for numerous UH scholarships across participating campuses and scholarship funds.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Illinois Chicago / NCI-Cancer Center
UIC High School Summer Research Program (ResearcHStart)
High school students in Illinois work in University of Illinois Chicago labs on health-related research.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University Interscholastic League (UT Austin)
UIL High School Academic and Speech Contests
Statewide high school academic contests including literary criticism, ready writing, social studies, current issues, journalism, speech and debate (Congress, CX, Lincoln Douglas), and filmmaking. Students compete through their school.
📍 Texas (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UK Mathematics Trust
UKMT Mathematical Challenges
Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Mathematical Challenges run by the UK Mathematics Trust — international schools can register and top scorers progress to Olympiad rounds.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 1-hour exam📅 Oct–Feb🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Writing Project
UM Writing Competition
Students submit original essays, poetry, or short stories responding to the annual theme. Winners receive recognition, Summer 2027 academic-competition scholarships, and publication opportunities in the annual Celebrations literary magazine.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Pre-College Programs
UM Writing Competition (Celebrations)
An annual literary competition for grades 7-12 in poetry, short stories, and essays tied to a yearly theme, with winners published in the Celebrations literary magazine and awarded summer-program scholarships.
📍 Oxford, MS (University of Mississippi)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University Medical Center New Orleans (LCMC Health)
UMC New Orleans Shadow Program
A hospital shadowing program open to students 15 and up interested in healthcare careers, requiring sponsorship by a credentialed staff member and submission of immunization records and a confidentiality agreement.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Minnesota
UMN Eureka! and Talented Youth Math
Free STEM enrichment for Minnesota girls and underrepresented students.
📍 MN⏱ Summer + school year📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United Nations
UN Youth Opportunities Board
Curated board of fellowships, internships, and youth advisory roles across the UN system.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
United Nations Association of Minnesota
UNA-MN Model United Nations
Junior and senior high students form school or community delegations, research UN member countries, and spend three days at a downtown Minneapolis conference debating global issues such as human rights, climate action, and peacekeeping while drafting resolutions.
📍 Minneapolis Marriott, Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Dakota
UND Summer Healthcare Programs
Free intro programs for North Dakota students, including INMED for Native American students.
📍 ND⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of North Dakota TRIO Programs
UND Upward Bound
Eligible first-generation and/or lower-income students receive tutoring, advising, college preparation and a six-week residential summer academic program.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute
Undergraduate & High School Research Programs
Places high school students age 16 and up directly in Cleveland Clinic Research laboratories for hands-on biomedical research experience, either through a formal internship application or by contacting principal investigators directly about lab openings.
📍 Cleveland, OH (Cleveland Clinic)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
Undergraduate Health Sciences Enrichment Program
Graduating New Mexico seniors entering college participate in residential health-career exploration, shadowing, service learning and college preparation. The 2026 program included a $750 completion stipend.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC)
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program
A competitive scholarship of up to $10,000 per year ($40,000 total) for 25 current high school seniors each year who commit to teach math, science, special education or elementary education in West Virginia for five years.
📍 Online application; open to seniors in and outside West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UNESCO
UNESCO Youth Programmes
Rolling list of UNESCO calls: youth forums, writing prizes, sustainability grants. Open to youth worldwide.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Northern Iowa School of Music
UNI Music Career Day
Juniors and seniors considering music careers attend free breakout sessions, college classes, ensemble rehearsals, student panels, campus tours, and career-specific activities. The next listed event is November 6, 2026.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UNICEF USA
UNICEF Clubs
Student-led advocacy for global child welfare.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNCF
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships
Hundreds of scholarships for African American students attending college.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
United States Senate Youth Program - DC Delegation
DC's application pathway for the national USSYP, sending two DC junior/senior student leaders to a fully funded Washington Week of briefings with government officials, plus a $12,500 undergraduate scholarship.
📍 Washington, DC (Washington Week, March 6-13, 2027)📅 December🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Idaho State Department of Education / United States Senate Youth Program
United States Senate Youth Program - Idaho
Two Idaho high school juniors or seniors with demonstrated leadership (student government, honor society, or similar) are selected for a week-long program in Washington, D.C. meeting federal officials, plus an undergraduate scholarship.
📍 Washington, D.C. (Idaho selection via Idaho Department of Education)📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
United States Senate Youth Program / Mississippi Department of Education
United States Senate Youth Program - Mississippi Selection
A prestigious Washington Week program that selects two Mississippi high school juniors or seniors holding elected or appointed student-government leadership positions for briefings with U.S. senators, the President, and a Supreme Court justice.
📍 Washington, D.C. (Mississippi selection via MS Dept. of Education)📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Education
United States Senate Youth Program - West Virginia
Merit-based program for student leaders who spend a week in Washington, D.C. hearing from senators, cabinet members and federal officials, with an undergraduate scholarship for delegates.
📍 Washington, D.C.📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce / Hearst Foundations
United States Senate Youth Program — Ohio
Two Ohio student leaders are selected for Washington Week, meetings with senior federal officials and a $12,500 undergraduate scholarship. Applicants must hold a qualifying elected/appointed leadership role.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma State Department of Education / Hearst Foundations
United States Senate Youth Program — Oklahoma
Two qualifying Oklahoma student leaders are selected for Washington Week and a $12,500 scholarship.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Hearst Foundations / U.S. Senate
United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)
A prestigious week-long program in DC for leaders interested in government, history, and public service.
📍 Washington, D.C.⏱ 1 week📅 Mid-January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
US Senate Youth Program
United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week
A unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by Senators, Cabinet Members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as usually participate in meetings with the President and a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $12,500 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Students must be actively serving in high-level elected or appointed leadership positions to qualify to apply.
📍 Washington, D.C.📅 2026-12-01🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Principals' Association / Hearst Foundations
United States Senate Youth Program (Vermont delegate selection)
Two Vermont high school juniors or seniors with leadership and public-service records are chosen for a week-long Washington, D.C. leadership program and a college scholarship.
📍 Application via Montpelier, VT; program in Washington, D.C.📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Wyoming Department of Education / William Randolph Hearst Foundation
United States Senate Youth Program (Wyoming)
Two Wyoming student leaders are chosen each year for a week in Washington, D.C. with Senate and federal officials, plus a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship; applicants must hold an elected or appointed student leadership position.
📍 Washington, D.C.📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Iowa
University of Iowa TRIO Upward Bound
Eligible first-generation and/or income-qualified students from Columbus Community, Muscatine, and West Liberty high schools receive free year-round college preparation, tutoring, STEM programming, college visits, and a summer residential experience.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Maine System / Maine Department of Education
University of Maine System Early College
Eligible Maine high-school students take university courses online, on campus, or through concurrent enrollment and earn both high-school and college credit. Beginning with the Class of 2027, qualified students can receive up to 18 tuition-free credits.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
University of North Georgia Military Service Scholarship
Georgia students compete for full scholarships to UNG while participating in the Corps of Cadets and preparing to commission into the Georgia Army National Guard.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UNL Young Nebraska Scientists
Free STEM camps at UNL for Nebraska students.
📍 NE⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNLV Cyber Clinic
UNLV Cyber Clinic Junior Member Program
Free high-school cohort offering weekly online workshops on cybersecurity, OSINT, social engineering and defensive/offensive security concepts, plus internal competitions and college guidance.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cybersecurity Center
UNLV GenCyber Camp
Free Southern Nevada cybersecurity camp covering encryption, computer security, cybercrime, wireless security, infrastructure protection and hands-on cybersecurity challenges.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New Mexico
UNM Albuquerque Dual Credit
Eligible juniors and seniors at partner schools can enroll in regular UNM college courses, including online options, while still in high school. Tuition and general fees are waived.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
UNM Health Professions Symposium
New Mexico's largest health-career convention offers 80+ workshops, information tables, demonstrations and networking with health professionals. It is free and explicitly includes high-school attendees. The next symposium is April 10, 2027.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Chemistry & Chemical Biology / NM Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
UNM/DVR High School Research Experience
New Mexico high-school students supported through DVR conduct paid university laboratory research, including mosquito/insect collection and analysis connected to public-health monitoring. The program operated in summer 2026.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Oregon / Saturday Academy
UO Saturday Academy ASE
Paid 1:1 research apprenticeships across Oregon. Strong equity focus.
📍 OR⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Oregon, School of Architecture & Environment
UO Summer Architecture Academy
A free, intensive four-week program on the UO Eugene campus for prospective architecture, interior architecture, and landscape architecture students, combining daily studio work with workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and field trips.
📍 Eugene, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UPchieve
UPchieve Volunteer Tutor
An ed-tech nonprofit that provides free, online, 1-on-1 tutoring to low-income students. Tutors must be high school students with high GPAs.
📍 Online⏱ Semester-based📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Toledo
Upward Bound
Year-round college-preparatory program for Toledo-area high-school students with tutoring, counseling, leadership development, college visits and six-week summer study.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Youngstown State University
Upward Bound
College-preparation program with after-school tutoring, Saturday enrichment, ACT preparation and a six-week residential summer program for Youngstown-area students.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Commonwealth University
Upward Bound — Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg)
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, continuously funded since 1978.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
East Stroudsburg University
Upward Bound — East Stroudsburg University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, hosted since 1974.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Greater Erie Community Action Committee
Upward Bound — Greater Erie Community Action Committee
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program hosted by a community action agency rather than a college.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Harcum College
Upward Bound — Harcum College
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Kutztown University
Upward Bound — Kutztown University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program partnered with William Allen High School.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Lincoln University
Upward Bound — Lincoln University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program serving Chester/Delaware counties since 1966.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Penn State
Upward Bound — Penn State (University Park)
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound college-access program hosted at Penn State's University Park campus.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Penn State Altoona
Upward Bound — Penn State Altoona
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program serving the Altoona region; shares a combined regional page with the Clairton/McKeesport project.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Penn State
Upward Bound — Penn State Clairton/McKeesport
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program serving Clairton/McKeesport-area high schools; shares a combined regional page with Penn State Altoona.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Penn State
Upward Bound — Penn State Hazleton/Reading
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program serving Hazleton/Reading-area high schools; shares a combined regional page with Penn State's Upward Bound Math & Science project.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
PennWest California
Upward Bound — PennWest California (Greene area)
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound "Monongahela Project" serving Greene County-area school districts; shares a combined page with the Fayette project.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
PennWest Clarion
Upward Bound — PennWest Clarion
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, continuously hosted since 1978.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Reading Area Community College
Upward Bound — Reading Area Community College
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program serving Reading High School students.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Temple University
Upward Bound — Temple University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound college-access program.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Upward Bound — University of Pennsylvania
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound college-access program serving Sayre, Overbrook, West Philadelphia and Parkway West high schools.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
University of South Carolina
Upward Bound — University of South Carolina
Free academic support, tutoring, college preparation and a six-week residential summer component for TRIO-eligible Richland County students.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Wilkes University
Upward Bound — Wilkes University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, hosted since 1967.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
University of Akron
Upward Bound Classic
Federally funded college-access program supporting students in targeted Akron Public Schools through grades 9–12.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Akron
Upward Bound Math & Science
STEM-focused program offering tutoring, six-week residential study, polymer science/chemistry and engineering laboratories, mentoring and internship opportunities.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Toledo
Upward Bound Math & Science
STEM-focused TRIO program adding science and mathematics research exposure, computer training and faculty-guided scientific research to the Upward Bound model.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Penn State
Upward Bound Math & Science — Penn State
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science program serving Berks County; shares a combined regional page with Penn State Hazleton/Reading Upward Bound.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Temple University
Upward Bound Math & Science — Temple University
Federally funded TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science program with a STEM focus.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Highly Selective
Colorado Mesa University
Upward Bound Summer Academy
Six-week college-simulation program combining academic classes with a residential campus experience for eligible CMU Upward Bound participants.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Keene State College
Upward Bound Summer Academy (Keene State College)
A residential summer program giving high schoolers a taste of college life through academic classes in English, math, and science, plus grade-level seminars on college prep and study skills.
📍 Keene, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Urban Alliance
Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Seniors complete job-skills training, receive one-on-one mentoring and can earn up to 500 hours of professional work experience with employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
📍 DC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center
Urban Barcode Research Program
Students complete prerequisite training and then conduct year-long independent DNA-barcoding/bioinformatics research. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of the District of Columbia
Urban Hydroponic Farming Summer Camp
Students learn vertical farming and hydroponic food production from seed to harvest and explore nutrition, sustainable agriculture and urban-agriculture business opportunities.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute
Urban Journalism Workshop
Intensive journalism boot camp bringing together about 20 juniors and seniors from NYC and the surrounding tri-state region for reporting, writing and multimedia journalism.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
US House
US House Page Program (alumni network)
Visit programs and learning resources from the US House of Representatives.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society (ACS)
US National Chemistry Olympiad
A multi-tiered chemistry competition for high school students, featuring local and national exams, a study camp, and selection for the International Chemistry Olympiad.
📍 US; International (for IChO participants)📅 Annual — 2026-27 cycle not yet announced (historically opens each October)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Association of Physics Teachers
US Physics Olympiad
F=ma exam then USAPhO. Top 20 attend a training camp for the International Physics Olympiad team.
📍 School-administered⏱ Multi-round📅 Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Excellence in Education
USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)
Free 3-round biology olympiad. Top 20 attend a residential training camp; top 4 represent the US at the International Biology Olympiad.
📍 Online + training camp⏱ Multi-round📅 Jan-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USA Brain Bee / International Brain Bee
USA Brain Bee
A neuroscience competition for teens ages 13-19 that begins with local chapter bees and advances winners to regional and national championships testing knowledge of brain science.
📍 Local/regional chapters nationwide, national championship rotates location📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society
USA Chemistry Olympiad
Local-section through national chemistry olympiad. Top scorers attend the USNCO study camp at the US Air Force Academy.
📍 Local section + national⏱ Multi-round📅 Mar-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USACO
USA Computing Olympiad
Free online programming contests held four times a year. Top US students earn an invitation to the summer training camp and the IOI team.
📍 Online⏱ Multi-round📅 Dec-Apr contests🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USACO
USACO Training Resources and Historical Contest Problems
Hundreds of hours of free on-line training resources and historical contest problems (complete with solutions) that students can use to improve their programming and computational problem-solving skills.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MAA
USAMO / USAJMO
Two-day, nine-hour proof-based olympiad. Top finishers join the US team for the IMO. Invitation only via AIME.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 2 days📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USC Sumter
USC Sumter Upward Bound
Free academic-year and residential summer college preparation serving students including Manning High School.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
University of Southern Mississippi / American Chemical Society
USM Project SEED
An 8-10 week summer research fellowship placing high school students side-by-side with USM chemistry faculty on hands-on laboratory research, aimed especially at students who have historically lacked exposure to scientific careers.
📍 Hattiesburg, MS📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UT Austin Department of Computer Science
UT Computer Science Academy for All
A free, week-long residential program on the UT Austin campus introducing students to programming, teamwork and real-world computing, with a Standard (Arduino) edition and a Machine Learning (Python) edition taught by UT CS faculty.
📍 Austin, TX📅 December🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
MD Anderson Cancer Center
UT MD Anderson HS Summer Program
Paid cancer research at MD Anderson for Texas students.
📍 TX⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Utah System of Higher Education (Talent Ready Utah) with aerospace employers
Utah Aerospace Pathway
Career pathway for high school juniors and seniors that combines Manufacturing Principles 1 and Composites 1 coursework with an externship at partner employers such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman. Completers earn a certificate and a guaranteed job interview with participating employers.
📍 Davis, Granite, Iron, Ogden, Tooele and Weber school districts, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Springville Museum of Art
Utah All-State High School Art Show
A juried statewide exhibition of the best high school artwork in Utah, with each student allowed up to two pieces submitted through their school art department. Awards include cash prizes, a Utah State Senate Visual Arts Award and selection for a statewide traveling show.
📍 Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Utah Attorney General's Office
Utah Attorney General's Student Advisory Council
A council of 53 junior and senior high school students who meet monthly, alternating virtual and in-person sessions at the Utah State Capitol, for seminars with legislators, prosecutors and policy experts. Members discuss issues like online safety and youth crime and can track legislation in real time during the session.
📍 Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Utah State University Extension 4-H
Utah Envirothon
Two-day outdoor natural resources competition for teams of five high school students (grades 9-12, ages 14-19) with stations in forestry, aquatic ecology, wildlife, soils and land use, and a current issue. Winners qualify for national contests, with sponsors covering travel.
📍 Salt Lake County, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah State University Extension Sustainability
Utah High School Clean Air Marketing Contest
Statewide contest where high school students learn about Utah's winter inversion air pollution and create public service announcements using social marketing techniques. Schools pick winners by mid-January and state winners share more than $6,000 in prizes at a February event in Logan.
📍 Utah (Cache, Carbon, Grand, Salt Lake and San Juan counties)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Utah State University Extension Youth Programs (U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl)
Utah High School Regional Science Bowl
Team quiz-bowl style science competition for Utah high school students, hosted on January 23, 2027 at Entheos Academy in Kearns, with up to 20 teams and no more than 3 teams per school. Winners can advance toward the National Science Bowl; there is no registration fee.
📍 Kearns, UT📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Law Related Education
Utah Mock Trial Competition
Students act as attorneys, witnesses and bailiffs in simulated trials using real legal cases adapted for youth, coached by volunteer attorneys. High school state champions advance to the national mock trial competition.
📍 Courtrooms across Utah📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah System of Higher Education
Utah Opportunity Scholarship
Statewide achievement-based scholarship for Utah high school graduates with a 3.3+ GPA and 3 advanced courses (AP, IB or concurrent enrollment) in math, science and language arts. Class of 2026 awards were up to $800 per semester for four semesters; the Class of 2027 application opens January 4, 2027.
📍 Utah (public colleges and universities)📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Utah Department of Physics & Astronomy
Utah Physics Circle
An extracurricular group where high school students work with University of Utah faculty and students on physics discussion, problem solving and demonstrations, including preparation for the F=ma physics olympiad. The Fall 2026-Spring 2027 series begins September 30, with later dates to be set (likely monthly).
📍 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Utah Shakespeare Festival / Southern Utah University
Utah Shakespeare Festival Shakespeare Competition
Scholastic Shakespeare competition in Cedar City covering acting, dance, music, and technical theatre, with workshops, professional evaluations, and scholarships to SUU and Festival summer classes. Students in grades 10-12 can also earn one SUU university credit.
📍 Cedar City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Utah Office of State Treasurer
Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge
A free, statewide 10-week stock market simulation in which teacher-led teams of 3-5 students manage a virtual portfolio using real market data. Top teams in the high school division receive recognition and prizes including college savings certificates.
📍 Utah (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UTEP Department of Computer Science
UTEP Computer Science AI Camp
A free one-week camp introducing Python programming and basic AI algorithms, with beginner and advanced tracks for high school students with prior CS experience. Open to rising 6th-12th graders with no experience required for beginner sessions.
📍 El Paso, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UTEP Department of Computer Science
UTEP Computer Science CyberCamp
A free cybersecurity training camp led by UTEP cybersecurity students, with beginner and advanced sessions for rising 6th-12th graders. No prior experience is required.
📍 El Paso, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC Minority Pre-Science Program
An eight-week summer program pairing high school seniors through college seniors with healthcare clinicians, basic science researchers, or biomedical research technologists to build familiarity with scientific method and technical language.
📍 Memphis, TN📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Virginia
UVA Summer Medical Leadership Program
Free medical exposure program at UVA for Virginia students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington Bothell
UW Bothell Research Experiences
Local UW Bothell faculty research opportunities — great for North Seattle students.
📍 WA⏱ Variable📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Washington
UW Genome Sciences Summer Bridge
Seattle-area paid genomics research. Strong support for first-gen and low-income students.
📍 WA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington
UW in the High School (UWHS)
Lets high school students take UW courses taught by their own high school teachers and earn college credit, with subjects including computer science, math, science and astronomy.
📍 Participating high schools across Washington📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery
UW Neurological Surgery Neuroscience Summer Student Program
Eight-week NIH-funded summer program placing students in a UW neuroscience lab with clinical shadowing, observation of neurosurgical procedures and a final research presentation.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, Washington📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Washington Department of Radiology
UW Radiology High School Immersion Week
Five-day hands-on program at UW Medical Center - Montlake where high school students learn radiology, anatomy and imaging (radiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear) and shadow healthcare professionals.
📍 UW Medical Center - Montlake, Seattle, WA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison PEOPLE Program
Free year-round college-prep + research for Wisconsin students of color and first-gen.
📍 WI⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Platteville Department of Mathematics
UW-Platteville High School Mathematics Contest
Annual team and individual mathematics contest for high school students from southwest Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, with Level 1 and Level 2 exams, plaques for top schools and an All-Academic Team.
📍 Platteville, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Milwaukee College of Engineering and Applied Science
UWM Design & Build Camp (Architecture, Engineering and Construction)
Two-week summer experience for rising Milwaukee Public Schools juniors and seniors to design and build a structure for a community gathering place, with college and career readiness sessions and a possible paid internship extension.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts
UWM Peck School of the Arts "Day in the Life" Preview Days
Hands-on preview days for high school students ages 14-18 to experience a day as an Art and Design, Theatre, Dance, Film and Animation, or Music major, with workshops and classes.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming
UWyo High School Institute
Free residential STEM camps at UWyo for Wyoming students.
📍 WY⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Valley Press Club
Valley Press Club Scholarship
A set of $1,000 scholarships (including The Republican Scholarship, the 22News Scholarship, and the Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship) for western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut high school seniors committed to pursuing journalism careers.
📍 Springfield, MA (western Massachusetts region)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Vans
Vans Custom Culture Art Competition
National high school art competition to design custom Vans shoes for cash and supply grants.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation
VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program
Virginia high school seniors spend a day shadowing a banker at a participating bank, then write an essay on the experience that is judged for scholarships.
📍 Virginia (participating banks statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Veritas AI (Harvard alumni)
Veritas AI
AI research mentorship and publishing program. Financial aid available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8-15 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Vermont
Vermont American Legion High School Oratorical Contest
Constitutional oratory contest in which students deliver an original 8-10 minute oration on the U.S. Constitution plus assigned-amendment speeches, progressing from local to department to national finals.
📍 Vermont📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Vermont Association of Broadcasters Judy Simpson Memorial Scholarship
A scholarship of up to $1,000 per year for Vermont residents and Vermont high school graduates accepted to college who are pursuing broadcast media or communications degrees.
📍 Vermont📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Vermont Neuroscience Graduate Program
Vermont Brain Bee
An annual neuroscience competition and day of exploration for Vermont high school students, with a multiple-choice test, oral exam and brain-anatomy practical, plus a preparatory boot camp.
📍 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Principals' Association
Vermont Debate & Forensics League
Interscholastic Public Forum debate and eight individual public speaking events with weekly tournaments and VPA-sanctioned state championships at the State House in Montpelier.
📍 Vermont (state finals in Montpelier)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Association of Conservation Districts
Vermont Envirothon
A hands-on natural resources competition where teams of five high school students are tested on forestry, wildlife, soils and aquatics, connecting with professionals in conservation, wildlife, forestry and agriculture.
📍 Buck Lake Wildlife Management Area, Woodbury, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Vermont Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Vermont High School Prize Examination in Mathematics
A long-running annual mathematics contest open to all Vermont secondary students, with state and regional prizes and an awards celebration at UVM Math Day.
📍 Vermont schools; awards at University of Vermont, Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Historical Society
Vermont History Day
Annual National History Day affiliate contest where students research a historical topic and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website; top finishers advance to nationals.
📍 Colchester, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Humanities
Vermont Humanities Camps
Week-long, project-based humanities summer camps run by schools, libraries and community partners across Vermont, built around reading, writing projects, field trips and outdoor activities.
📍 Vermont (multiple host sites)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Vermont Undergraduate Admissions
Vermont Pitch Challenge
A business pitch competition for high school students worldwide, with a full UVM tuition scholarship for the grand prize and cash prizes for runners-up; entries are a written proposal, video or audio pitch.
📍 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Vermont Arts Council and the Flynn
Vermont Poetry Out Loud
Statewide poetry recitation contest for high school students; school winners advance to a spring state final and the champion goes to the national finals in Washington, DC.
📍 Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont State University
Vermont State University 3D Technology Summer Institute
A residential institute in 3D imaging, 3D printing, modeling, animation, programming, virtual reality and CT scanning, with up to 9 college credits and a Certificate in 3D Technology.
📍 Vermont State University Randolph, Randolph, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Vermont State Youth Council
Vermont State Youth Council
Council of up to 28 Vermont youth ages 11-18 that advises the Governor and General Assembly on policies affecting young Vermonters, serving three-year terms.
📍 Vermont📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Bar Association
Vermont Statewide High School Mock Trial
Annual statewide mock trial competition where high school teams argue prosecution and defense in courtrooms at Vermont Law and Graduate School, judged by attorneys and judges.
📍 South Royalton, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont STEM Fair (hosted at Norwich University)
Vermont STEM Fair
Vermont's only statewide STEM fair, an inquiry-based poster presentation competition for middle and high school students judged by science and engineering professionals, with top winners advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Norwich University, Northfield, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Summer Teen Crews
Paid summer conservation and organic farm crews for teens doing trail work, habitat restoration, invasive species removal and sustainable agriculture across Vermont.
📍 Richmond, Burlington, Rutland and Woodstock, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Sundog Poetry (with Urban Word, the Flynn, Ruth Stone House and Young Writers Project)
Vermont Youth Poet Laureate
A statewide contest in which teen poets submit three original poems plus community and civic engagement information; the Laureate receives a cash prize, public readings in Vermont and an invitation to the regional competition of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program.
📍 Vermont (online submission at youthlaureate.org)📅 February🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
VEX Robotics Competition (REC Foundation) / Northwest Nazarene University
VEX Robotics Idaho High School State Championship
Idaho's state championship for VEX Robotics, where high school teams build robots from parts kits and write competition code to complete tasks, with the winning team advancing to the VEX World Championship.
📍 Nampa, ID (Northwest Nazarene University)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VEX Minnesota (REC Foundation)
VEX Robotics Minnesota State Championship
Minnesota's state VEX Robotics championship, now in its 17th year, held at the River's Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, where high school (V5RC) teams design, build, and program robots to compete on a shared field alongside middle and elementary school divisions.
📍 St. Cloud, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Robotics Institute of Maine
VEX V5 Maine State Championship
Maine's statewide VEX V5 Robotics Competition championship, where middle and high school teams compete in qualification matches, skills challenges, and eliminations for spots at the VEX Robotics World Championship.
📍 The Point Community Center, South Portland, ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Arkansas
VFW Voice of Democracy - Arkansas
An annual audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme; students record a 3-5 minute essay and submit it through a local VFW post, competing for state and national scholarships.
📍 Local VFW posts statewide, Arkansas📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
VFW Voice of Democracy - California
An audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, entered through local VFW Posts, with over $2 million awarded in scholarships nationally each year.
📍 California (submitted through local VFW Posts statewide)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Kentucky
VFW Voice of Democracy - Kentucky
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 in which Kentucky students record a patriotic essay on a set theme through their local VFW Post, competing for a share of over $2.3 million awarded nationally, including a $35,000 top scholarship.
📍 Submitted through a participating VFW Post in Kentucky📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Montana
VFW Voice of Democracy - Montana
An audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, judged at the local VFW Post level with winners advancing to state and national competition.
📍 Submitted through local Montana VFW Posts statewide📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of North Dakota
VFW Voice of Democracy - North Dakota
A patriotic audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12; students record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual democracy/veterans theme, with winners advancing from the local VFW Post to department and national judging.
📍 Statewide, ND (entries submitted through local VFW Posts)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Rhode Island
VFW Voice of Democracy - Rhode Island
An audio-essay competition in which high school students record a patriotic-themed essay responding to an annual prompt, with local, state, and national scholarship prizes.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide, submitted through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of South Dakota
VFW Voice of Democracy - South Dakota
An audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic/democratic theme, run nationally by the VFW since 1947 with nearly 40,000 student participants a year; South Dakota's Department first-place winner receives at least $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for national judging.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Colorado
VFW Voice of Democracy (Colorado)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for students in grades 9-12 who record and submit a patriotic-themed essay through a local VFW post via the Scholars App.
📍 Entry through local VFW posts statewide📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New York
VFW Voice of Democracy (Department of New York)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students who record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual patriotic theme; New York's 2026-2027 entries are due to local VFW posts by October 31, 2026. The national grand prize is a $35,000 scholarship, with nearly 80,000 students competing nationwide.
📍 New York (submit through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of North Carolina
VFW Voice of Democracy (Department of North Carolina)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students on an annual patriotic theme, administered through local NC VFW posts with entries due October 31, followed by District judging by December 15 and Department judging by January 10. The national grand prize is a $35,000 scholarship.
📍 North Carolina (submit through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Georgia
VFW Voice of Democracy (Georgia)
Voice of Democracy is an audio-essay competition in which Georgia students in grades 9-12 write and record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual patriotic theme, with entries submitted through a local VFW Post.
📍 Submitted via local VFW Posts statewide📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Iowa
VFW Voice of Democracy (Iowa)
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, with Iowa's state winner advancing to the national contest for a shot at a $35,000 top scholarship.
📍 Submitted through local VFW Posts, Iowa📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Minnesota
VFW Voice of Democracy (Minnesota)
A national audio-essay scholarship contest in which grades 9-12 students write and record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual patriotic theme, starting at the local VFW Post level and advancing through district, state, and national rounds.
📍 Local VFW Posts statewide, Minnesota📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New Jersey
VFW Voice of Democracy (New Jersey)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for students in grades 9-12 who write and record a 3-5 minute original essay on an annual patriotic theme, with the national first-place winner receiving a $35,000 scholarship.
📍 Submitted through local VFW posts statewide, New Jersey📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Ohio
VFW Voice of Democracy (Ohio)
An audio-essay competition for grades 9-12 on a democratic/patriotic theme, submitted through a sponsoring local VFW post, with the Ohio first-place winner earning at least $2,500 and a shot at national scholarships up to $35,000.
📍 Submitted through local Ohio VFW posts📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Texas
VFW Voice of Democracy (Texas)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students expressing their views on democracy through a recorded essay. Entries go through a local VFW post, with state and national scholarship prizes.
📍 Texas (statewide)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Vermont
VFW Voice of Democracy (Vermont)
Audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12; entries are submitted through a local VFW post and Vermont department winners receive at least $1,000.
📍 Vermont📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Washington
VFW Voice of Democracy (Washington)
Audio-essay scholarship contest for Washington high school students in grades 9-12 on the 2026-27 theme "What a Veteran Taught Me About America", judged at the Post, District, Department and national levels.
📍 Washington (entries uploaded online, judged through local VFW Posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Wyoming
VFW Voice of Democracy (Wyoming)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students entered through a local VFW post. The 2026-27 theme is "What a Veteran Taught me about America."
📍 Wyoming (entries via local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Arizona
VFW Voice of Democracy Arizona
Audio-essay scholarship competition for students in grades 9-12 on an annual patriotic theme, judged from the local VFW post level up through the department and national levels.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Virginia
VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest (Virginia)
A 3-5 minute audio essay contest for grades 9-12 on the theme "What a Veteran Taught Me About America," judged from local VFW Posts up to the Department (state) level.
📍 Virginia (entries through local VFW Posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Tennessee
VFW Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Scholarship (Tennessee)
Annual VFW audio-essay competition for high school students, entered through a local Tennessee VFW post and judged at post, district, and department levels before national judging. The VFW Department of Tennessee lists Voice of Democracy among its state programs.
📍 Tennessee (entries submitted through a local VFW post)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Delaware
VFW Voice of Democracy Delaware
Audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on an annual patriotic theme, submitted through local Delaware VFW Posts, with the state winner earning a trip to the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Program.
📍 Delaware (submit via local VFW Post)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Illinois
VFW Voice of Democracy Illinois
Annual audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 built around a patriotic theme (2026-2027: 'What A Veteran Taught Me About America'), progressing from local VFW posts through district and state competition.
📍 Illinois (entries submitted through local VFW posts)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Missouri
VFW Voice of Democracy Missouri
An audio-essay scholarship competition, established in 1947, letting Missouri students in grades 9-12 record a patriotic-themed essay; the 2026-27 theme is 'What a Veteran Taught Me About America.'
📍 Submitted through local sponsoring VFW Posts statewide📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of New Hampshire
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship (New Hampshire)
An audio-essay competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, with NH winners advancing to compete for a share of the national program's $2.1 million in scholarships.
📍 Statewide, NH (recorded essay submission)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Nevada
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest
An annual audio-essay patriotic scholarship contest for high school students in grades 9-12, who record and submit a 3-to-3.5-minute essay on an assigned theme through their local VFW post.
📍 Statewide (submitted through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Utah
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program (Utah)
An audio-essay scholarship contest for grade 9-12 students on a patriotic theme, entered through a local VFW post. State winners receive at least a $1,000 scholarship and national winners up to $35,000.
📍 Utah (entries submitted via local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Wisconsin
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program (Wisconsin)
Grade 9-12 students record a 3-5 minute audio essay on a patriotic theme, entered through a local VFW post and judged at post, district and state levels, with state and national scholarships.
📍 Wisconsin (entered through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL)
VHSL Creative Writing Contest
VHSL accepts student creative writing entries from member high schools for statewide evaluation and recognition, with published entry guidelines and an entry form.
📍 Virginia (entries submitted by member schools)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League
VHSL Debate Championships
Virginia's state high school debate competition run through member schools, with district and regional rounds leading to state championships.
📍 Virginia (state finals hosted by member schools)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL)
VHSL Esports Championships
VHSL's school-based esports league with fall and spring seasons, playoffs and in-person state championships in titles such as League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart.
📍 Virginia (fall championships at Shenandoah University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL)
VHSL Film Festival (State High School Film Competition)
The VHSL's statewide student film festival, where member-school students submit short films that are judged in categories and screened at the state festival.
📍 Charlottesville, VA (Piedmont Virginia Community College)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL)
VHSL Scholastic Bowl State Championships
VHSL's academic quiz competition in which member-school teams advance through section and region rounds to the state finals.
📍 Virginia (finals at Jamestown High School)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League
VHSL Speech and Forensics Championships
Virginia's state high school speech competition, sponsored by the league that began as a debating league, with district and regional qualifying rounds leading to state finals.
📍 Salem, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL)
VHSL Theatre (One-Act Play) State Championships
VHSL runs a district-regional-state one-act play competition for member high schools, with state championships held by school classification at the Piedmont Virginia Community College Earl Dickinson Building in Charlottesville.
📍 Charlottesville, VA (state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia High School League (VHSL) / Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers
VHSL-VAJTA Media Championships (Newspaper, Yearbook, Broadcast, Online News)
Annual state media contest in which high school student journalists and publication staffs enter newspapers, newsmagazines, online news, broadcast, yearbook and literary magazine work for ratings and awards.
📍 Vienna, VA (James Madison High School, 2026 state event)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
VIMS Summer Aide Program
Temporary hourly summer positions at the VIMS campus in Gloucester Point for which high school students may apply, filled depending on faculty need and funding.
📍 Gloucester Point, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
VIMS Volunteer Program (Outreach, Catch the King, MapMyShore)
Volunteers age 16 and older can lead behind-the-scenes campus tours, staff festival exhibits, or join community science projects such as the Catch the King survey and MapMyShore shoreline mapping.
📍 Gloucester Point, VA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio State Fair
Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Scholarships
Numerous $1,000+ scholarships reward Ohio State Fair/Junior Fair participants based on academics, leadership, fair involvement and essays.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia Space Grant Consortium / NASA Langley
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
Free online STEM course on NASA-related topics for Virginia juniors and seniors; top performers attend a six-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center working with scientists and engineers.
📍 Hampton, VA (online course plus NASA Langley academy)📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
Virginia Campus Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE Camp)
One-week STEM-H camp for rising juniors and seniors in a cadaver lab and simulation center with clinical experiences such as suturing, simulations, microscope work, basic epidemiology and a small-group research project.
📍 Blacksburg, VA📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia Space Grant Consortium
Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS)
Online course on NASA satellite missions and remote sensing for Virginia juniors and seniors, with a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley and up to five dual-enrollment college credits.
📍 Hampton, VA (online course plus NASA Langley academy)📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE) at VCU
Virginia Economics Challenge (Online)
A statewide high school competition in which teams of three to four students take online economics exams, with qualifying teams advancing to a championship competition; no prior economics course is required.
📍 Virginia (online; championship in Richmond area)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Department of Education / University of Lynchburg
Virginia Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (Summer Residential)
Three-week residential Governor's School for gifted high school juniors and seniors with classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects, and seminars with scholars and professionals.
📍 Lynchburg, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Virginia History Day
The Virginia affiliate of National History Day, where students enter district contests in papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances or websites, with top state winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers (VAJTA)
Virginia Journalist of the Year (VAJTA Portfolio Contest)
A portfolio-based state contest for high school student journalists; the Virginia winner is submitted by VAJTA to the national Journalism Education Association Journalist of the Year competition, which carries scholarships.
📍 Virginia (online submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia Academy of Science
Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) Research Symposium
Student science organization sponsored by the Virginia Academy of Science since 1941; members can submit papers to a juried research symposium and compete for awards and scholarships, with the top achiever invited to the national AJAS.
📍 Virginia (symposium held at a Virginia college)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Council on Economic Education
Virginia Personal Finance Challenge
An online personal finance competition for teams of three to four Virginia high school students, with no formal personal finance course required, coached by a school-sanctioned teacher.
📍 Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Department of Energy / Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl (DOE National Science Bowl)
A buzzer-style quiz competition on math and science (including biology, chemistry, physics and earth and space science) in which high school teams from across Virginia compete at Jefferson Lab; the winner earns a trip to the National Science Bowl.
📍 Newport News, VA (Jefferson Lab)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Virginia State Parks)
Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps
A two-week summer job for Virginia teens in which crews live at a state park, do trail maintenance and small construction projects on weekdays, and join ranger-led programs and outdoor adventures at night and on weekends.
📍 Virginia State Parks (host parks across Virginia)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VSSEF Inc. / Old Dominion University
Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (VSSEF)
State science and engineering fair that gathers students who presented at Virginia regional fairs (200 to 250 exhibits) and selects finalists for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Virginia (host site varies by year)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia War Memorial / Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Virginia War Memorial Veterans Day Student Essay Contest
An annual essay contest for Virginia middle and high school students writing 500-750 words about a Virginian who served in the U.S. military and inspires them; one high school and one middle school winner are chosen.
📍 Virginia (online submission)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Writers Club
Virginia Writers Club Teen Nib Contest
A statewide writing contest for Virginia high school students in fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with winning entries eligible for publication in the Golden Nib and Teen Nib Journal.
📍 Virginia (email submission)📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Mississippi
Voice of Democracy
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition open to grades 9-12 students, who record a patriotic-themed essay on a yearly theme and submit it through a sponsoring local VFW post; national winners share over $2 million in scholarships.
📍 Submitted through local VFW posts statewide📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Idaho
Voice of Democracy
An audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme ('What a Veteran Taught Me About America' for 2026-27), entered through local VFW posts across Idaho.
📍 Idaho (entries via local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of Louisiana
Voice of Democracy
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, judged first at the local VFW Post level and advancing through district and state rounds, feeding into a national contest that awards a $35,000 top scholarship.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of South Carolina
Voice of Democracy - South Carolina
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students who record a patriotic-themed essay responding to an annual prompt, submitted through a local VFW Post, with South Carolina's state winner advancing toward national scholarships up to $35,000.
📍 Submitted through local VFW Posts statewide, South Carolina📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Indiana
Voice of Democracy — Indiana
A free audio-essay scholarship contest for students in grades 9-12 who write and record a 3-5 minute broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme, submitted through a local VFW post.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Oregon
Voice of Democracy (Oregon)
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 responding to a patriotic theme, with Oregon's top entrants receiving a minimum $1,000 scholarship and a shot at the $35,000 national first-place award.
📍 Statewide, OR📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay
Audio-essay scholarship competition with $35,000 top prize.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Hawaii
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Program (Hawaii)
Annual patriotic-themed audio-essay competition for grades 9-12, with entries judged at the Post, District, state, and national level for a share of over $2 million in scholarships.
📍 Statewide (entries submitted via local VFW Posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Pennsylvania
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Scholarship Contest (Pennsylvania)
An annual audio-essay competition for high schoolers on a patriotic theme (2026-27: 'What A Veteran Taught Me About America'), requiring a typed essay and an audio recording, judged at the post, district, and state levels with scholarship prizes.
📍 Statewide, Pennsylvania (state judging in State College)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of New Mexico
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Scholarship Program - New Mexico
Annual nationwide audio-essay scholarship contest inviting high school students to record a patriotic-themed essay (2026-27 theme: "What a Veteran Taught Me About America"), submitted through a local New Mexico VFW Post. The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, and every department (state) winner receives at least $1,000.
📍 New Mexico (submit recorded essay via a local VFW Post)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW Department of Maine / VFW Auxiliary
Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest (Maine)
Statewide audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 in which students write and record a 3-5 minute patriotic-themed essay, with winners advancing from local posts to state and national judging for scholarship prizes.
📍 Statewide, Maine📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of Massachusetts
Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program
A nationwide audio-essay scholarship contest on an annual patriotic theme; Massachusetts students submit recorded essays through local VFW posts, with hundreds of Massachusetts students competing each year for scholarships that can reach $35,000 nationally.
📍 Massachusetts (submitted through local VFW posts)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Voices in Science: Burke-ology (High School)
Free mentored STEM program for high school students in which participants work hands-on with UW mentors on one science topic per session and present findings at a public STEAM Spotlight Symposium at the Burke.
📍 Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The University of Kansas Health System
VolunTeen — Student Summer Volunteer Program
High-school students volunteer in clinical and nonclinical areas of an academic health system while learning about healthcare careers. Separate programs are offered for rising freshmen and rising sophomores through seniors.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
St. John's Health (Jackson)
Volunteens Program (St. John's Health)
Teen volunteer program open to students ages 14 to 17 at the Jackson hospital. Applicants submit an online VolunTEEN application with a signed parent or guardian release and can serve in hospital areas alongside staff.
📍 Jackson, WY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Volunteer for Regeneron ISEF
Sign up to support the Regeneron ISEF as interpreters and event volunteers.
📍 Phoenix, AZ (2026)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Portsmouth Regional Hospital (HCA Healthcare)
Volunteer Services Program
Hospital volunteer program for students 14 and up covering roles like information desk support, medical floor assistance, music therapy, pet visitation, and spiritual care support.
📍 Portsmouth, NH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kennedy Center
VSA Emerging Young Artists Program
Awards for young artists with disabilities; cash and exhibition at the Kennedy Center.
📍 Online📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP), UVM Larner College of Medicine
VT RAYS (Vermont Youth Health Advisory Group)
VT RAYS is Vermont's youth health advisory group, where young people represent the youth voice in statewide projects, present to clinicians, and build tools such as a youth-led clinic assessment walk-through.
📍 Vermont (statewide; based at UVM, Burlington)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rutgers University
Waksman Student Scholars Program
Authentic molecular-biology and bioinformatics research beginning with a summer institute and continuing during the school year through participating high schools. The 2026–27 research cycle is active.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Walters Art Museum Teen Advisory Council (WAMTAC)
Teens receive paid professional museum experience, collaborate with museum staff, advise on projects, and design programming for other teens.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DC College Access Program
Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship
Seniors attending public or charter high schools located in Wards 7 or 8 can receive renewable scholarship funding and intensive college-success coaching.
📍 DC🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Youngstown State University
Ward Beecher Planetarium High School Programs
A lineup of 40+ fulldome planetarium shows for grades 9-12 aligned to Ohio Science Standards, covering topics from black holes and stellar life cycles to the chemistry of the periodic table, with live constellation tours and educator guides.
📍 Youngstown, OH (Youngstown State University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education
Washington Economics Challenge
Online team economics exam in which teams of 3-4 high school students answer 30 questions in 35 minutes, with Adam Smith and David Ricardo divisions and advancement to the national semi-finals.
📍 Online (Washington teams)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Washington History Day
Washington's National History Day affiliate: students in middle and high school research historical topics and compete at eight regional contests and a state contest, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Washington (regional contests statewide; state contest each spring)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Washington region
Washington Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional symposium where Washington students in grades 9-12 present original STEM research to judges and peers, with top presenters advancing to the national JSHS.
📍 Washington State (host and dates to be posted fall 2026)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), University of Washington
Washington MESA High School Programs
Statewide pathway program run through the University of Washington offering academic support, hands-on STEM learning, career exploration, leadership development and competitions such as Washington MESA Day for high school students.
📍 MESA program centers across Washington📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Washington State Envirothon
Washington State Envirothon
A natural resources competition for teams of five high school students testing aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife and a current environmental issue, from regional events to a state competition and the NCF-Envirothon.
📍 Regional events and a state competition across Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) Baccalaureate Scholarship
Scholarship of up to $22,500 for Washington residents, including graduating high school seniors, who plan to earn a bachelor's degree in an eligible STEM or health care major; application includes a 150-500 word essay and no references.
📍 Washington State (online application)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) for the U.S. Senate Youth Program
Washington State United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)
Two Washington high school juniors or seniors in student government, education, public affairs or community service leadership roles are selected for an all-expenses-paid week in Washington, D.C. and a $12,500 college scholarship.
📍 Washington State selection; Washington Week in Washington, D.C.📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Civics Education Washington State
Washington State We the People Competition
A simulated congressional hearing competition on the U.S. Constitution held on the Capitol Campus in Olympia; the state winner advances to the national finals.
📍 Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Courts / YMCA Youth & Government
Washington State YMCA Mock Trial Competition
High school teams of student attorneys and witnesses prepare a fictional case and compete before real judges and attorney juries at district tournaments and a state championship.
📍 Washington (district tournaments statewide; state championship each March)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Student Math Association (WSMA)
Washington Student Math Association (WSMA) Math Expos and Math Bowl
Statewide student-run math association offering free monthly Math Expos (group math lessons and tutoring for K-12 students), competitive-math practices led by the Washington ARML team and an annual team Math Bowl.
📍 Seattle area, Washington📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW PacTrans / Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington Transportation Camp
A six-day immersive camp with hands-on projects, university-led instruction, field trips and team transportation projects covering urban planning, traffic safety, supply chain logistics, innovative materials and connected and autonomous vehicles.
📍 Seattle and Pullman, WA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Washington Urban Debate League (WUDL)
Washington Urban Debate League
The only organization offering competitive policy debate to DC public and charter school students, with a focus on Title I schools, running after-school debate, travel teams, tournaments, and a summer debate institute.
📍 Washington, DC (partner schools across DC, MD, and VA)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington University in St. Louis
WashU Young Scientist Program
Paid biomedical research for St. Louis-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MO⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Wildlife Conservation Society
WCS Youth JIVE — Job, Internship & Volunteering Expo
Annual youth career expo connecting students directly with volunteer, internship and job hiring managers across NYC's zoos and aquarium. More than 500 youth attended the 2026 event; 2027 updates are planned.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Civic Education
We the People
Free national civics competition. Class teams compete in simulated congressional hearings on the Constitution.
📍 State + national⏱ School year📅 Dec-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California We the People / Center for Civic Education
We the People California
A constitutional-law curriculum culminating in simulated congressional hearings, where high school classes argue constitutional principles before panels of judges, with state winners advancing to national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 California (state competition in Sacramento)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Center for Civics Education (University of Delaware Biden School)
We the People Delaware
Delaware's coordination of the national We the People program, in which high school students study the Constitution and prepare testimony for simulated congressional hearings before panels of judges.
📍 University of Delaware, Newark, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Institute of the North
We the People of Alaska
A statewide civics competition in which Alaska Studies students form teams of three to five, research constitutional and Alaska governance topics, and present in simulated legislative hearings judged by community members.
📍 Statewide, with finals before the Alaska Legislature in Juneau📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education
We the People: Arizona Regional Competition
Constitutional law program where whole high school classes prepare and deliver testimony in a simulated congressional hearing before panels of community judges, competing at one of nine regional sites statewide.
📍 Statewide, AZ (9 regional sites)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
We the People: Indiana Competition
A constitutional-law simulated congressional hearing competition where student teams research constitutional principles and defend their positions before a panel of judges, reaching more than 10,000 Indiana students a year.
📍 Indianapolis, IN (Crowne Plaza Union Station) and regional sites statewide📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
McConnell Center, University of Louisville
We the People: Kentucky Competition
A constitutional-law competition hosted by the McConnell Center in which Kentucky high school teams prepare simulated congressional hearing testimony judged by UofL students, professionals, and McConnell Scholar alumni, with the state winner advancing to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 University of Louisville, Louisville, KY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Humanities North Dakota / The Study
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution (North Dakota)
North Dakota classroom teams study the Constitution and Bill of Rights in six units, then compete in simulated congressional hearings before judges including state Supreme Court justices and constitutional scholars.
📍 Bismarck, ND📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Bar Law Related Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution - South Carolina
A civics competition in which South Carolina high school teams prepare and deliver simulated congressional-hearing testimony on constitutional issues before a panel of judges, with the state champion advancing to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide hearings, South Carolina📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Center for Civic Engagement (NVCCE)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution — Nevada State Invitational
A year-long constitutional studies program culminating in a simulated congressional hearing where student teams present researched testimony on constitutional principles to panels of volunteer legal and civic judges.
📍 University of Nevada, Reno📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Civics for Colorado (formerly C3LE) / Center for Civic Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Colorado)
A constitutional-law curriculum culminating in a simulated congressional hearing where students demonstrate knowledge of constitutional issues before community-leader judges at the state competition and showcase.
📍 University of Denver (state competition)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Democracy Center
We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Connecticut)
Connecticut's affiliate of the national civics program has student teams research six units of constitutional curriculum, then present testimony before a simulated congressional committee at a statewide hearing competition held at Yale, with winners advancing to nationals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Yale University, New Haven, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Constitutional Democracy Project (Illinois coordinator, Center for Civic Education)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Illinois)
Constitutional-law curriculum and competition in which Illinois high school teams testify before panels of judges in simulated congressional hearings on constitutional principles, with state winners advancing to National Finals.
📍 Illinois (state hearings); Washington, D.C. (nationals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Iowa State Bar Association / Center for Civic Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Iowa)
A constitutional studies program where student teams prepare four-minute statements and 'testify' in a simulated congressional hearing before a panel of judges, with the top Iowa high school team advancing to nationals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Iowa (state competition held in December)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Center for Civic Education (MACCE)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Massachusetts)
A constitutional-law curriculum culminating in a simulated congressional hearing where student teams testify as expert witnesses before judges acting as legislators, then advance from a Massachusetts state competition toward the national finals.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, state final leads to Washington, D.C.)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Humanities Center / Center for Civic Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Minnesota)
Students study the Constitution and democratic institutions through inquiry-based lessons, then 'testify' in simulated congressional hearings before panels of judges, with top classes representing Minnesota at the national We the People showcase.
📍 Minnesota State Capitol and classrooms statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska State Bar Foundation
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Nebraska)
Rostered high school classes use a constitutional-democracy curriculum and compete in simulated congressional hearings before a panel of judges, with the state champion advancing to the national finals near Washington, D.C.
📍 Statewide Nebraska; State Finals at the State Capitol, Lincoln, NE📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Hampshire Bar Association Law-Related Education Program
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (New Hampshire)
A constitutional-democracy competition where high school classes split into units that prepare and deliver testimony in a simulated congressional hearing before a panel of judges.
📍 Statewide, NH (district hearings and state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
New Jersey Center for Civic Education (Rutgers)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (New Jersey)
A constitutional-law competition in which high school classes prepare testimony on the political philosophy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then compete in simulated congressional hearings before a panel of judges, with the state winner advancing to nationals.
📍 Rutgers University, Busch Campus Center, New Brunswick, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Civics Learning Project (formerly Classroom Law Project)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Oregon)
Oregon's constitutional-law competition where high school teams simulate congressional hearings, testifying before judge-panels on constitutional principles and advancing from regional to state to national finals.
📍 Portland, OR (regional/state rounds at Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Law Related Education / Utah Valley University Center for Constitutional Studies
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Utah)
Students prepare for and present a mock constitutional hearing before judges, building writing, collaboration and public speaking skills. The state winner advances to the national finals.
📍 Utah Valley University, Orem, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Museum of History & Culture / Virginia Civics
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Virginia Competitions)
Virginia's We the People program has high school classes study the Constitution and Bill of Rights and defend their answers in simulated congressional hearings at regional and state competitions; the winning high school class represents Virginia at the National Finals.
📍 Alexandria and Ashland, VA (regionals); state finals at Randolph-Macon College📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming College of Education Civic Education Program
We the People: Wyoming State Competition
High school teams testify in simulated congressional hearings on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights before panels of judges; the winning team advances to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Cheyenne, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Weber State University Entrepreneurship
Weber State High School Jump Start Competition
Business idea competition open to all Utah high school students (grades 9-12), individually or in teams, entered by registration form and short video. 2026 prizes were $5,000 for first place, $1,300 for places 2-6 and $500 for every finalist.
📍 Weber State University, Ogden, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Weber State University
Weberbiz Free Summer Camp
A free business-education camp for ages 15-18 with hands-on classes taught by Weber State faculty and business professionals.
📍 Ogden, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wave Hill
WERM — Wave Hill–Riverdale Mental Health Association Ecology Research Mentorship
Fourteen-month urban-ecology research program combining three college courses with mentored research and an approximately $3,500 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Central Wyoming College
West Central Regional Science Fair (Central Wyoming College)
A regional science fair at Central Wyoming College in Riverton with a Senior Division for grades 9-12 and a Junior Division for grades 6-8; first, second and third place winners advance to the Wyoming State Science Fair.
📍 Riverton, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia Academic Showdown
A head-to-head academic quiz competition for four-student high school teams, played in regional tournaments at universities with the top two teams per region advancing to a state finale in Charleston.
📍 Regional tournaments at WV universities; finale at the WV Culture Center, Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
West Virginia Humanities Council
West Virginia Book Festival
A one-day statewide literary festival with panel discussions, readings, author signings and workshops at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, open to readers of all ages.
📍 Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Tourism / The Culture Center and State Museum
West Virginia Congressional Art Competition
A statewide high school art competition in which students submit original two-dimensional artwork; each congressional district winner's piece hangs at the U.S. Capitol for a year.
📍 The Culture Center, Charleston, WV📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, West Virginia region
West Virginia JSHS (Junior Science and Humanities Symposium)
High school students present original STEM research at a university-held regional symposium and can compete for scholarships and recognition.
📍 West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia / West Virginia State Bar Women in the Profession Committee
West Virginia Law Day Contest
Statewide contest where K-12 students submit posters, essays, digital art, poems or original songs on the annual Law Day theme, with winners honored at the Supreme Court.
📍 Charleston, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Legislature (Senate and House of Delegates)
West Virginia Legislature Page Program
Students in grades 6-12 serve as Pages for the Senate or House of Delegates during the regular legislative session, gaining firsthand exposure to state government.
📍 West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WVU School of Art and Design
West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival
An annual international competitive short film festival at West Virginia University with a Student Works (High School) category for films up to 15 minutes.
📍 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
West Virginia University / West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia National History Day
The West Virginia affiliate of National History Day, coordinated through WVU, where students build exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers or performances on an annual theme; top entries advance to the national contest.
📍 School, district and state contests across West Virginia (state contest at WVU, Morgantown)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History / WVDE
West Virginia Poetry Out Loud
Students in grades 9-12 memorize and recite poems in school and local contests leading to the state finals at the Culture Center in Charleston and the national finals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Charleston, WV📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC)
West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship
A merit-based state scholarship of up to $5,500 per year that West Virginia high school seniors apply for with the PROMISE application and FAFSA, based on ACT or SAT scores and eligibility rules.
📍 Online application; for use at eligible West Virginia colleges📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia Science and Engineering Fair
The state science and engineering fair, an entry point for West Virginia high school students to qualify for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NETL / WVU (DOE National Science Bowl regional)
West Virginia Science Bowl (High School Regional)
A team quiz competition in science and math for high school students; regional winners earn the chance to represent their school at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C.
📍 Morgantown, WV📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia State Math Field Day Organization
West Virginia State Mathematics Field Day
The annual state math competition for West Virginia students in grades 4-12; the grades 10-12 events (written exam, short answer, team power question, team questions and relays) are patterned on ARML and select the WV ARML team.
📍 Rotating West Virginia college campus (2026: Buckhannon, WV)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia State Social Studies Fair
A school-to-county-to-regional-to-state project fair where Division III (grades 9-12) students present individual or small-group projects in categories such as Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography and US or World History.
📍 School, county and regional fairs; state fair at Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Charleston, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WVU Department of English
West Virginia Writers' Workshop
A summer writing workshop at WVU with craft talks, writing exercises and readings in fiction, poetry and nonfiction that welcomes high school writers.
📍 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Central West Virginia Writing Project at Marshall University / WV Department of Education
West Virginia Young Writers Contest and Young Writers Day
A statewide prose-writing contest (fiction, nonfiction, narrative, memoir or essay) judged at school, county and state levels, with state winners honored at Young Writers Day at the University of Charleston.
📍 Entries through county schools; Young Writers Day at University of Charleston, Charleston, WV📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
West Virginia Youth Environmental Program (YEP)
A DEP program that enrolls school and community youth groups in litter cleanups, recycling drives and tree plantings, with awards, a college scholarship and an annual Youth Environmental Day and conference for members.
📍 Projects in local communities across West Virginia; Youth Environmental Day events in WV📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Western Washington University
Western Washington University in the High School (WWUHS)
College-level WWU courses (such as biology, chemistry, calculus, Spanish and literature) taught at partner high schools by high school instructors under WWU faculty oversight for college credit.
📍 Partner high schools in Washington State📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Global Youth Program (Online Course Series)
Wharton offers specific online modules and case study challenges for high schoolers to learn finance and investment management.
📍 Online⏱ Varies📅 Self-paced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Sports Business Academy (WSBA)
WSBA provides an opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors to study the business of sports through a Wharton lens.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wheeling Symphony Society
Wheeling Symphony Rachael Worby Scholarship
A $1,000 annual scholarship for one graduating high school senior in the Upper Ohio Valley who plans to study music in college, selected by recorded performance, essay, recommendations and a finalist audition.
📍 Wheeling, WV📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Whitney Museum
Whitney Museum Youth Insights
Paid teen programs and internships at the Whitney.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)
WIAA State Speech & Debate Championship
State championship for high school speech and debate events run by the WIAA, in which students qualify through district competition and compete in debate formats and individual speech events.
📍 University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Boston Globe
Will McDonough Sports Writing Contest
A free nonfiction sports-writing contest for grades 9-12 students in Maine and New England, judged on writing quality, reporting, and use of journalism practices, with entries capped at 700 words.
📍 Open to Maine residents (New England-wide contest)📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mass Audubon, Boston Nature Center
Willow Tree Youth Leaders Internship Program
A paid, multi-year internship introducing Boston teens to nature and environmental science through public programming, camp counseling, land stewardship, and climate action projects at the Boston Nature Center.
📍 Mattapan, MA (Boston Nature Center)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wilmington International Film Festival
Wilmington International Film Festival Student Film Competition
A seven-week filmmaking workshop and competition for Delaware high school students led by Wilmington University instructors and local filmmakers, culminating at the festival.
📍 Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Emory University School of Medicine
Winship Cancer Institute Summer Program (Winship Win)
Program at Emory focusing on cancer research, providing hands-on laboratory experience and professional development.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UNC-Chapel Hill (WinSPIRE)
WinSPIRE Summer Research Program
Paid six-week immersive mentorship program pairing high school students who identify as a historically marginalized gender in STEM with women/non-binary research mentors in UNC labs, including hands-on research, career development, and college-prep workshops.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
WIRED
Wired Next Generation
Periodic youth innovator showcases run by WIRED magazine.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council
A council of up to 15 Wisconsin high school seniors who meet virtually each month of the school year to hear from agriculture professionals and learn about ag careers, farm resources and agricultural policy.
📍 Wisconsin (virtual)📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
American Legion Department of Wisconsin
Wisconsin American Legion Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest in which high school students present a prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution through district, regional and department rounds, with scholarships at each level.
📍 Ripon College, Ripon, WI (regional and department finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Universities of Wisconsin / Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation
Wisconsin Civics Games
A team civics competition for Wisconsin high school students covering the U.S. Constitution, Wisconsin and U.S. history, elections and public policy, with regional playoffs at UW campuses and a state final at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
📍 Madison, WI (state final at the Capitol)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar of Wisconsin
Wisconsin High School Mock Trial
Teams of 6-12 high school students with a teacher and attorney coach argue a hypothetical case in real courtrooms at regional and state tournaments run by the State Bar of Wisconsin.
📍 Wisconsin (regional courthouses; state tournament)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Labor History Society
Wisconsin Labor History Society Kenneth A. Germanson High School Essay Contest
An annual essay contest for Wisconsin students in grades 9-12 who write about 750 words on how unions have been important to their family, community and nation, using interviews or independent research on labor history.
📍 Wisconsin (email submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Madison Department of Mathematics
Wisconsin Math Talent Search
Problem-solving competition in which high school and middle school students work five sets of challenging problems at their own pace and mail or upload solutions; top scorers are invited to Honors Day in Madison.
📍 Wisconsin (online submission)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin National History Day
Students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic and compete in school, regional and state contests leading to the National History Day finals.
📍 Madison, WI (state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Arts Board
Wisconsin Poetry Out Loud
A poetry recitation contest for Wisconsin high school students who memorize and perform poems from an anthology through classroom, school, regional and state rounds, with the state champion advancing to the National Finals.
📍 Wisconsin (state final in Madison)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EconomicsWisconsin (Wisconsin Council on Economic Education)
Wisconsin State EconChallenge
An online economics competition open to every Wisconsin high school student: teams compete in a beginner (David Ricardo) or veteran (Adam Smith) division, with top teams advancing to the national semifinal and final.
📍 Wisconsin (online)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Towns Association, Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Scott Construction
Wisconsin Towns Association Scholarship Essay Contest
An annual essay contest for graduating Wisconsin high school seniors planning to attend a Wisconsin college, who answer a question about local government and civic life for one of ten scholarships.
📍 Wisconsin (email submission)📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship
One- or two-year state program for high school juniors and seniors that combines paid employment in a chosen career pathway with related coursework and leads to a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency.
📍 Wisconsin📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, Dane County Youth Environmental Committee and UNA Dane
Wisconsin Youth Climate Conference
An annual student-led conference for Wisconsin high school and college students with a keynote, tabling and presentations by youth environmental groups, and workshops on practical climate solutions.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Madison CALS and The World Food Prize Foundation
Wisconsin Youth Institute (World Food Prize)
Grade 9-12 students write a research paper on a country and a food security topic and present their recommendations in speeches and small-group discussions with agriculture experts at UW-Madison; participants earn Borlaug Scholar recognition.
📍 Madison, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WI-BPDD)
Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum
A week-long overnight leadership and self-advocacy training and career-awareness program at Edgewood College for Wisconsin high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with disabilities, including meeting a state legislator.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (NSTA / U.S. Armed Forces; regional host UW-La Crosse)
Wisconsin/Upper Peninsula Michigan Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional research symposium where grade 9-12 students present original research in oral or poster format in STEM fields; top presenters earn scholarships and a trip to the national JSHS.
📍 Tomahawk, WI (recent years)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Journalism Education Association (WisJEA)
WisJEA Journalist of the Year and All-State Journalism Team
An annual application program recognizing Wisconsin high school student journalists: seniors can apply for Journalist of the Year, and students in grades 9-12 can apply for the All-State Journalism Team using a resume, a work sample and a short explanation of their media work.
📍 Wisconsin (online application)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan
Wolverine Pathways (University of Michigan)
Free, year-round pre-college program for students in Detroit Public Schools, Southfield Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools, beginning in 6th or 9th grade, with college prep, workshops and summer coursework; scholars who complete it and are admitted to U-M Ann Arbor or Dearborn receive a four-year tuition scholarship plus need-based aid. The next application window opens December 2026 (minimum GPA applies).
📍 Ann Arbor, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
Women in STEM Teen Conference
Girls participate in hands-on STEM activities and a career expo with women working as scientists, engineers, physicians, and other STEM professionals.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program
Summer program for high school students entering grades 10-12 who volunteer in Zoomazium and at habitats, learn about animal care and conservation careers, and meet weekly as a teen cohort.
📍 Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Jones Valley Teaching Farm
Woodlawn High School Internship
Selected Woodlawn High School students receive pay and course credit while helping manage a two-acre urban farm and selling food to the surrounding community.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of New Orleans Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program / UNO / SUNO
Work & Learn
Youth ages 16–18 combine paid summer employment with pre-college support delivered with the University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans. Participants earned $15 per hour in 2026.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
The Success Foundation with Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
Workforce Discovery Lab
Two-week summer program for Highline Public Schools and Tukwila School District high school students with career tours, masterclasses and networking with local employers across the Seattle Southside cities.
📍 Seattle Southside region (Highline and Tukwila), WA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Kirkwood Community College
Workplace Learning Connection High School Internships
Students complete worksite internships with regional employers, earn dual high-school/college credit, and develop career and professional skills. Participation is free; winter/spring 2027 applications run September 28–October 23, 2026, and summer 2027 applications December 21, 2026–February 5, 2027.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Philadelphia Youth Network
WorkReady Philadelphia
Free paid summer work experience for Philadelphia youth ages 12-24.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Telling Room
Works in Progress
Students ages 12–18 developing longer writing projects meet regularly for structured peer workshop, feedback, revision, and creative development.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama A&M University
Workshop on Nanoscience & Technology
Students complete four days of faculty-guided, hands-on nanoscience and technology activities and receive a participation stipend.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Center for World Affairs / Bezos Academy
World Affairs Challenge
Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Denver, CO⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
World Affairs Council of Seattle (Global Classroom)
World Citizen Essay Contest (World Affairs Council of Seattle)
An annual spring essay contest for Washington students in grades 3-12, with a separate 9-12 award division; essays of 1,000 words or less respond to a prompt on global issues and democracy.
📍 Washington (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
World Food Prize Foundation
World Food Prize Global Youth Institute
Research and conference program on global food security for high schoolers.
📍 Des Moines, IA⏱ 3 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan State University, College of Arts & Letters
World Languages Day
A free, one-day statewide conference for high school students, teachers, and parents featuring roughly 75 sessions on world languages and cultures taught by MSU faculty, graduate students, and community members, alongside language-program and study-abroad exhibitor booths.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Population Connection
World of 8 Billion Student Video Contest
Students create short videos highlighting solutions to global issues like population growth and sustainability.
📍 Global⏱ One-time📅 May 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WRO Association
World Robot Olympiad
Global robotics competition with regional, national, and international finals.
📍 International (national finals worldwide)📅 National rounds Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Idaho College of Engineering
World-Changers in Engineering (WIE) Day
A free one-day engineering workshop on U of I's Moscow campus where 5th-12th grade students do hands-on engineering, computer science, and design activities, tour labs, and meet current students and faculty.
📍 Moscow, ID (ICCU Arena, University of Idaho)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
School One / Write Rhode Island
Write Rhode Island Fiction Contest
An annual short fiction competition, founded in 2016, that invites Rhode Island students to write original prose (under 2,500 words) weaving in the state's people, places, history, or spirit, with free accompanying writing workshops.
📍 Rhode Island (statewide; awards ceremony at Newport Art Museum)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
WSOS Career & Technical Scholarship
Scholarship of up to $1,500 per quarter for Washington residents, including students who earn a high school credential by June, entering eligible certificate, apprenticeship or associate degree programs in health care, STEM or trades.
📍 Washington State (online application)📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Education Alliance
WV Ready Summer Internships
A four-week paid summer internship in which West Virginia businesses give rising high school juniors and seniors hands-on work, with the Education Alliance handling recruitment, onboarding, payroll and coordination.
📍 West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
West Virginia Department of Transportation
WVDOT Bridge Design & Build Contest
A free statewide engineering contest where students in grades 6-12 design the lowest-cost bridge in software, with the top designs invited to build and test a balsa wood bridge at the finals.
📍 Online qualifying round; finals at WVU Institute of Technology, Beckley, WV📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WV Robotics Alliance / WVSSAC
WVSSAC Robotics (West Virginia High School Robotics)
A co-curricular high school robotics activity recognized by the WVSSAC in which teams play a modified RECF Achieve game, ending in a state championship coordinated by the WV Robotics Alliance.
📍 West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia University
WVU Health Sciences Summer Camp
Free health-sciences exposure for West Virginia students from rural communities.
📍 WV⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center
WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center Junior Volunteer Program
A summer volunteer program for high school students ages 14 to 18 at the Martinsburg hospital, with an online application, interview and mandatory orientation.
📍 Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WVU Hospitals Volunteer Services (Ruby Memorial Hospital)
WVU Medicine Health Careers Academy and Junior Volunteer Program
High school students can apply to volunteer at WVU's Ruby Memorial Hospital through the Junior Volunteer Program, or to the one-week Health Careers Academy with hands-on exposure to healthcare professions.
📍 Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
WVU Medicine
WVU Medicine MedEd Program
Juniors and seniors choose an ambulatory care assistant or sterile processing technician path, take two courses, and complete a paid internship at WVU Medicine in the second semester of senior year.
📍 Morgantown, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
WVU Mining Engineering Experience
A three-day camp exploring the essential minerals that power our lives and mining engineering, held at WVU's Evansdale Campus.
📍 Morgantown, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Office of Rep. Harriet Hageman / Congressional App Challenge
Wyoming Congressional App Challenge
Wyoming middle and high school students, alone or in teams of up to four, build an original app on any platform or theme and submit it to the House of Representatives' official computer science competition. The Wyoming winner is chosen by a panel of judges and featured by Congress.
📍 Wyoming (online submission)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming High School Mock Trial (supported by the Wyoming State Bar)
Wyoming High School Mock Trial
Students analyze an original case and compete as attorneys and witnesses in a team mock trial tournament; the state winner represents Wyoming at the national championship.
📍 Cheyenne, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Historical Society
Wyoming Historical Society Young Essay Awards
Annual essay awards on Wyoming history with a separate high school division (grades 9-12, 1,200-2,500 words); winning essays are published in The Wyoming Historian. First place receives $150 and runner-up $100 per age group.
📍 Wyoming (submitted online)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
Wyoming History Day
Wyoming's National History Day affiliate: students complete year-long research projects (papers, documentaries, exhibits, performances, websites) on an annual theme and advance from regional contests to a state contest at UW.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Student Media Association
Wyoming Journalist of the Year (JOY) Scholarship
A state portfolio contest for high school journalism students who build a website covering 11 journalism categories; the winner receives a scholarship and advances to the national JEA Journalist of the Year competition.
📍 Wyoming (online submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming Life Sciences Program
Wyoming Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional JSHS symposium for Wyoming and Northern Colorado in which high school students submit an abstract and research paper and present original STEM research to judges. Top presenters win scholarships and expenses-paid trips to the National JSHS.
📍 Online (Wyoming and Northern Colorado region)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Department of Health, Wyoming Cancer Program
Wyoming Radon Video Contest
Students in grades 9-12 produce a 30-second public service announcement video about radon risks and home testing. Winners receive gift cards and the first-place video goes to the National Radon Video Contest.
📍 Wyoming (online submission)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Student Conservation Stamp Art Competition
Wyoming K-12 students draw or paint the featured species (the western tiger salamander for the 2028 stamp) in a Wyoming habitat, judged on biological accuracy, composition and technical skill. Cash awards go to first through third place in each grade group, including grades 9-12.
📍 Wyoming (online or mailed submission)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Arts Council
Wyoming Youth Arts Council
A statewide leadership program for high school students ages 15-19 interested in the arts. Members meet monthly, attend workshops on grant writing and advocacy and lead a youth-driven statewide arts project.
📍 Wyoming (virtual meetings)📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources
Wyoming Youth Energy Leadership Program
A year-long series of workshops and mentorship sessions for Wyoming high school students focused on leadership in energy and natural resources.
📍 Laramie, WY⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NextGen InterArts Foundation (listed via Idaho Commission on the Arts)
XC Creative Art Contest
An international, cross-disciplinary art competition for students in grades 6-12, promoted to Idaho students through the state arts commission, celebrating originality across a range of visual art mediums.
📍 Online submission (exhibition in Manhattan, NY for winners)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale School of Medicine
Yale Discovery to Cure High School Internship
A competitive program where students engage in biomedical research with world-class investigators at Yale.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 7 weeks📅 February 28🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Yale School of Medicine
Yale Neuroscience Summer Scholars
Eight-week program providing New Haven public-high-school students with neuroscience coursework, laboratory-technique training and a supervised research project.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale University
Yale Pathways to Science Summer Scholars
Local Pathways Scholars spend two weeks completing intensive Yale workshops in areas such as physics, biology, robotics, neuroscience and engineering.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale University Department of Physics
Yale Physics Olympics
Teams of four complete five original physics challenges involving experimental measurement, engineering, optimization and estimation plus a Fermi-problem quiz.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale YRIS
Yale Review of International Studies
Undergraduate IR journal that publishes select high school work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Film at Yale / Yale Student Film Festival
Yale Student Film Festival — Connecticut High School Category
A dedicated Connecticut high school competition category within the Yale Student Film Festival, open free of charge to filmmakers 18 or under currently enrolled in a CT high school, for films under 10 minutes, with winners recognized alongside college entries.
📍 Yale University, New Haven, CT (submissions via FilmFreeway)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale Center for Clinical Investigation
YCCI Exposures Program
Four-week virtual internship introducing high-school students to healthcare, medicine, clinical research and data science through Yale faculty and research staff.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yellowstone Film Festival (Cody)
Yellowstone Film Festival Student Film Categories
Dedicated short-film categories for high school and college students from Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, screened at the Cody film festival alongside student panels, workshops and mentorship with filmmakers.
📍 Cody, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Park Service - Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
A month-long residential work program for ages 15-18 doing trail maintenance, fence building and wildlife habitat work in Yellowstone, with resource education and NPS career sessions.
📍 Yellowstone National Park, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Peking University
Yenching Academy Scholars Program
Master's fellowship at Peking University in China Studies for outstanding international graduates.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1-2 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Peking University
Yenching Global Symposium
Annual student-organized symposium bringing global youth together on Asia-facing issues.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1 week📅 November🎓 Grade 12
Selective
U.S. State Department
YES Abroad
Fully-funded year-long high school exchange to countries with significant Muslim populations.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Academic year📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YMCA of the USA (Mississippi affiliate)
YMCA Youth and Government Mississippi
A civic leadership program for Mississippi high schoolers offering multiple tracks, including a Youth Advocate Program with a funded trip to Washington, D.C., Changemakers community-action projects, and a mock-legislature Conference on National Affairs.
📍 Mississippi (statewide), with a Washington, D.C. trip📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Trailhead Boise / Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA)
You Lead Idaho
A free entrepreneurship competition for rural Idaho high school students in which teams of 2-4 from the same school pick a real community problem, develop a business solution, and submit a pitch video for a chance at scholarship funding and a fully-funded Boise pitch trip.
📍 Rural Idaho (statewide), with finale in Boise, ID📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Naptown Philharmonic
Young Artists Concerto Competition
A competition for Maryland resident high schoolers (grades 9-12, under 19) who perform a memorized concerto movement in piano, strings, or brass/winds/percussion categories, with winners performing as soloists at the orchestra's season finale.
📍 Annapolis, MD📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
Young Dawgs Program
High-achieving juniors and seniors complete at least 110 hours in internships across UGA laboratories, departments and community organizations.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Young Diplomats Society
Young Diplomats Forum
Global essay and forum program engaging teens with foreign policy questions.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UNLV International Gaming Institute
Young Executive Scholars Hospitality & Tourism Program
Under-resourced high-school students study hospitality and tourism management through applied learning, teamwork, mentoring and case analysis while exploring executive-level careers and college pathways.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Foster School of Business with EY
Young Executives in our Community (YEOC) at UW Foster
A free nine-session Saturday program on the UW Seattle campus for Washington high school students, with business lectures, career exposure, college admissions and scholarship preparation, mentorship from professionals and competitions.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Young Founders Lab (YOFO)
Young Founders Lab
A Maryland nonprofit's fully virtual accelerator for middle and high schoolers covering venture building, financial literacy, AI coding and digital prototyping, and pitch coaching, culminating in a Demo Day.
📍 Odenton, MD (serves multiple MD counties)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ICCA
Young ICCA Skills Training
International commercial arbitration training and mentorship for students entering law.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Leadership Institute of Nevada
Young Leader Academy
A professional learning experience for high school students in grades 10-12 covering policy analysis, advocacy, and leadership development through internships, workshops, mentorship, advocacy campaigns, and a capstone project.
📍 Las Vegas, NV📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northeastern University Center for STEM Education
Young Scholars Program
Rising seniors from the Greater Boston area spend six weeks working in Northeastern research labs with faculty and graduate mentors and finish with posters and presentations.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UC Davis
Young Scholars Program (YSP)
A high-level research internship where students work in labs at UC Davis on environmental and biological projects.
📍 Davis, CA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Young Scientist Research Workshop
Free, selective week-long biomedical-research workshop teaching hypothesis formation, experimental design, data analysis and laboratory techniques through insect physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology experiments. Only five high-school places were available in 2026.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Young Scientists Journal
Young Scientists Journal
Peer-reviewed journal written, edited, and reviewed by 12–20 year-old scientists worldwide.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Frist Art Museum
Young Tennessee Artists Exhibition
An annual juried exhibition showcasing artwork by Tennessee high school students in AP and IB studio art programs; jurors reviewed nearly 600 entries and selected works by 33 student artists for the 2026 show.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton Global Youth
Young Tycoons Business Challenge
Team competition run by Wharton for high schoolers worldwide — investment, comparative marketing, and business tracks.
📍 Global📅 Varies by track🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Telling Room
Young Writers & Leaders
A selective nine-month program for high-school students with international and multicultural backgrounds featuring writing instruction, one-on-one coaching, public readings, publication, and paid participation.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Young Writers Project
Young Writers Project
Free online community based in Burlington where teen writers and visual artists post work, answer weekly challenges and are published in The Voice and local media.
📍 Online (Burlington, VT)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts
Free national arts competition. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship, and the chance to perform at YoungArts Week in Miami.
📍 Miami + regional⏱ 1 week📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts Awards
National competition in writing, visual arts, design, music, theater, film for 15-18 year olds.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Year-round📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists
YoungArts National Arts Competition
One of the nation's most prestigious honors for high school students in the visual, literary, and performing arts.
📍 Miami, FL / Nationwide📅 December 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts Theater
National recognition program for theater artists 15-18.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs
NJ high-school students write and perform original music and lyrics about preventing substance misuse and impaired driving; the statewide winner receives a performance contract/prize.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rehoboth Beach Film Society
YOUR WORLD Youth Environmental Film Festival
Youth film festival inviting Sussex County middle and high school students to submit short films made on a smartphone exploring environmental and global issues, with no filmmaking experience required.
📍 Cinema Art Theater, Lewes, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wyoming Wilderness Association
Youth Ambassadors for Wilderness (YAW)
A summer program for high school students interested in becoming conservation leaders, with place-based education on Wyoming's wild places, advocacy and stewardship work alongside US Forest Service Wilderness Rangers, and a multi-day backpacking trip into the Gros Ventre Wilderness.
📍 Jackson, WY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arts Ed NJ / Teen Arts New Jersey partners
Youth Arts Initiative Workshops
Teen Arts New Jersey's Youth Arts Initiative: the free TANJ Youth Arts Festival on Oct 18, 2026 (10am-4pm, Asbury Park), plus Arts High courses for grades 9-12 and the annual Creative Change Makers open call.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Various
Youth Climate Leaders
Free youth climate summits and competitions. Project-based environmental advocacy.
📍 Online + regional⏱ Self-paced📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mass Audubon
Youth Climate Leadership Program
A free, statewide network of nine regional chapters where teens in grades 8-12 lead community-based Climate Action Projects and attend regional summits, developing public speaking, organizing, and advocacy skills.
📍 Springfield, Worcester, Lincoln, Topsfield, Mattapan, Milton, Dartmouth, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard, MA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
MassEnergize
Youth Climate Solutions Challenge
A nine-month, community-based after-school challenge in which teams of Massachusetts high schoolers design and lead clean-energy and climate outreach campaigns, receiving a $500 seed grant and competing for regional prize money at a final Awards Night.
📍 Massachusetts (Eastern and Western MA regions)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwest Youth Corps
Youth Community Program
A five-week, non-residential conservation corps for 15-18 year olds who complete local service projects each day -- tree planting, invasive species removal, trail construction, and fuels reduction -- earning a stipend and possible high school credit.
📍 Portland, OR📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Conservation Congress
Youth Conservation Congress (Wisconsin DNR)
A statewide youth extension of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress for students interested in the outdoors, with a county mentor, training in how natural resource policy is set, service-learning, job shadowing and mentored outdoor activities.
📍 Wisconsin (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
King County Parks
Youth Conservation Corps (King County Parks)
A paid summer internship for teens interested in public lands, environmental justice and environmental careers, with hands-on ecological restoration in a King County park, field trips and an independent creative project.
📍 White Center and Skyway, WA (King County)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Park Service, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Youth Conservation Corps at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Paid summer work program for ages 15-18 at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising: 40 hours per week of outdoor conservation work at $16 per hour (no housing provided). The 2026 session ran June 15 - August 7 with a May 1 application deadline; applicants need a work permit and SSN.
📍 Munising, MI📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association
Youth Conservation Jobs
Exciting opportunities for teens and young adults who want to make a real impact on our environment while gaining valuable skills and experiencing the beauty of the outdoors.
📍 Various US locations📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Conservation Corps
Youth Corps
Eight-week paid conservation program specifically for Montana residents ages 17–18. Participants complete real conservation projects and receive a $1,200 biweekly living allowance plus an AmeriCorps education award.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Polk County Conservation / Great Outdoors Foundation
Youth Corps Scholarship
High-school seniors who previously completed Polk County Conservation Youth Corps and plan an environmentally related major may compete for one of two $2,500 scholarships.
📍 IA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
League of Women Voters of Maine / Maine Students Vote
Youth Council Internship
Paid internship for Maine high schoolers who design self-directed civic engagement projects (events, PSAs, social media campaigns) around issues like voting rights, immigration, and equity. Interns work 5 hours a week for a semester and don't need prior experience.
📍 Statewide, ME (virtual + in-person events)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
San Francisco Public Library / SF YouthWorks
Youth Engaged in Library Leadership (YELL)
Older teens work with librarians, develop team projects, support STEM and literacy activities, and receive workforce-development training over the summer.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Pacific Education Institute
Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS)
A career-connected program in which high school students join paid natural resource crews through participating school districts in restoration ecology, aquaculture, urban forestry, forest management and water resources.
📍 Quinault, Onalaska, Spokane, Tumwater, Yakima and Riverview (King County), WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Miami-Dade County
Youth Engagement Program
Two-week civic program giving students hands-on exposure to local government, public policy, community leadership, site visits and the legislative process.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Youth Entrepreneurs CT
Youth Entrepreneurs CT Programs
A Hamden-based nonprofit offering in-school and after-school entrepreneurship programming for Connecticut students in grades 7-12, including single workshops, semester-long Entrepreneurship Labs, a year-long College & Career Pathways cohort, and the Money Moves personal-finance module.
📍 Hamden, CT and partner schools statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Network Kansas / Kansas State University Research and Extension
Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series
Students develop business concepts, compete in local entrepreneurship contests, receive feedback from business mentors, and can qualify for the statewide championship and cash awards.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont 4-H, UVM Extension
Youth Environmental Science (YES!) Summit
A free, annual, youth-led day for high school students to explore science, career options and their connection to the natural world through hands-on workshops and networking with environmental professionals.
📍 Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, Montpelier, VT📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Discovery Foundation
Youth Forest Monitoring Program
Six-week summer internship in which students train with scientists and then conduct field monitoring, stewardship, data collection and a culminating research presentation on national-forest lands. The 2026 cohort received a $1,200 stipend.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale Peabody Museum
Youth Gallery Educator
EVOLUTIONS participants can earn paid museum work teaching visitors through interactive science carts and gallery activities while developing communication and workforce skills.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Youth Heritage Project (YHP)
Free overnight field school for high school students exploring the history, culture and nature of Washington's special places through hikes, museum tours and site visits, plus a real-world community project.
📍 Rotating Washington location (2026: Ellensburg)📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Youth in Focus
Youth in Focus Creative Career Cohort
17-week in-person photography and career-readiness program in Seattle for BIPOC students ages 15-19 (sophomores through seniors) with technical photo skills, commercial projects, mock interviews and a portfolio.
📍 Youth in Focus office, Seattle, WA📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension / Weed District
Youth in Restoration
High-school students work on real land-management projects including aquatic monitoring, invasive-species control, revegetation, natural-resource mapping and ecological data collection with public-land partners. The 2026 program ran for roughly eight to nine weeks as paid summer employment.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi for a Just World
Youth Internship Program
An 8-week summer internship (June-July) where Mississippi high school and early college students work directly with MSJW staff on organizing, campaign strategy, and movement history focused on international policy, human rights, and social justice.
📍 Jackson, MS📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Humane Society
Youth Leaders Volunteer Program (Wisconsin Humane Society)
A volunteer program for teens ages 13-17 who support the Humane Society's youth activities by setting up activities, assisting with crafts and acting as mentors to children ages 6-12 during Girl Scout Nights and Kids Night Out.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 November🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Leadership Oklahoma City
Youth Leadership Exchange (YLX)
A free year-long leadership program for OKC-metro high school students with three tracks — Leadership Skills, Youth in Action (student-run mini-foundation funding a nonprofit), and Youth Council of OKC — pairing teens with the city's civic, business, and nonprofit leaders through monthly sessions.
📍 Oklahoma City, OK📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Carolina General Assembly
Youth Legislative Assembly
Statewide mock legislature where high-school students debate and vote on local, state and national policy issues while learning legislative procedure.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle Aquarium
Youth Ocean Advocates (Seattle Aquarium)
The Seattle Aquarium's high school volunteer program in marine conservation and advocacy, with Tides, Currents and Breakers levels covering interpretation, beach cleanups, community science and advocacy projects.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
YOCS
Youth Ocean Conservation Summit
Free annual marine-conservation training summit.
📍 Sarasota, FL📅 Rolling, space-limited registration — no fixed deadline🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Education Justice Coalition of Vermont (with Outright Vermont)
Youth Organizer Training Program (Education Justice Coalition of Vermont)
A paid training program for Vermont students interested in social justice organizing, with five daylong retreats, an overnight coalition retreat and monthly Zoom meetings.
📍 Benson and Burlington, VT📅 June🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Idaho Conservation League
Youth Salmon Protectors
A decentralized, student-led environmental advocacy program for high school and college students across the Pacific Northwest dedicated to breaching the four lower Snake River dams to protect wild salmon and steelhead, with students able to start chapters at their own schools.
📍 Boise, ID (chapters statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Governor's Office of Community Service / Reach Higher Montana / Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement
Youth Serve Montana Scholarship
Scholarship for graduating Montana seniors with substantial volunteer service who will attend a participating Montana institution. Up to 90 scholarships were offered in the 2026 cycle.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Historic Fourth Ward School Museum
Youth Summer Camp in Digital Storytelling
A free filmmaking camp in Virginia City where youth ages 10-18 learn storyboarding, scriptwriting, shooting, and professional editing to create a short film based on Comstock history.
📍 Virginia City, NV📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Botanic Gardens
Youth Summer Internship at the UW Botanic Gardens
A paid summer cohort that prepares teens for environmental careers, with visits with environmental professionals across the Puget Sound region, outdoor education work with children and a team project in the Arboretum.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Youth Tree Team
Students age 14+ complete a seven-week paid summer job caring for Indianapolis trees while collecting environmental data and building leadership and professional skills. The 2026 position paid $13 per hour.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northwest Youth Corps
Youth Urban and Community Forestry Crews - Tacoma (Northwest Youth Corps)
A five-week paid day program for ages 15-18 in which crews of eight youth and two adult leaders work on urban forestry projects in Tacoma city parks, public lands and community gardens, with training in conservation, hand tools and wildfire prevention.
📍 Tacoma, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Youth Voice Research Liaison Program (Seattle Children's)
A hybrid, paid program in which high school students learn research methods, ethics and data analysis, then consult with Seattle Children's research teams on study design, outreach and recruitment for youth-relevant projects.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Conner Prairie
Youth Volunteer Program
Youth ages 10–18 participate in historical interpretation, guest engagement, camps, and special events, often in period or modern roles. High-school volunteers can build substantial year-round service experience.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Detroit Historical Society
Youth Volunteer Program (Detroit Historical Society)
Formal youth volunteer program for under-18 volunteers at the Detroit Historical Society and its museums, created to give young people a way to engage with community organizations. Apply via Volgistics with a parental consent form; the society covers the cost of the background check.
📍 Detroit, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Park Service
Youth-Serving Organizations Programs
Participate in service-learning opportunities, like camps, field trips, and scouting.
📍 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Citizens' Committee for Children of New York (CCC New York)
YouthAction NYC Internship
A year-long civic engagement internship in which NYC teens learn fact-based advocacy in the fall, then run campaigns, meet legislators, and take an Albany lobbying trip in the spring.
📍 New York, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wing Luke Museum
YouthCAN (Wing Luke Museum)
The museum's free afterschool arts program for high school students, where teens work with teaching artists to explore identity and culture and produce creative work for a group exhibit in the Frank Fujii Youth Gallery.
📍 Wing Luke Museum, Chinatown-International District, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Salt Lake City Youth & Family Division (YouthCity)
YouthCity City Department Internships
Eight-week paid internships placing teens ages 16-18 in Salt Lake City departments, part of the YouthCity Teen Internship Program that also offers unpaid government and child development internships.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NMSU Young Women in Computing
YWiC High School Summer Camp
Two-week computing camp using Java, game development, cryptography, cybersecurity, AI, neural networks, chatbots, 3D printing and related projects.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Zell Miller Scholarship
Higher-level merit scholarship providing greater tuition assistance for Georgia students meeting rigorous GPA and testing requirements.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Detroit Zoo
Zoo Corps
Teens ages 14–17 complete at least 60 summer service hours engaging visitors in conservation, science, animal information, and environmental-stewardship activities, with optional year-round continuation.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Zoo Corps Teen Volunteers
A teen volunteer program where participants share animal and habitat information with zoo visitors while learning about animal care, conservation, and zoo careers.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Blank Park Zoo
Zoo Crew
Teens ages 13–17 volunteer with zoo camps, visitor education, events, and other operations while developing job skills and learning about animal science and conservation. Summer 2027 applications run January 1–March 1.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Zoo Guide High School Volunteer Program (Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)
Teens in grades 9-12 train as Zoo Guides who talk with guests about animals, conservation and environmental topics during the summer season at the Tacoma zoo.
📍 Tacoma, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Zoo
Zoo Teen Volunteer Program
Teens ages 14–17 complete a week of training and then volunteer at least four shifts monthly for one year, beginning as Zoo Guides and later accessing conservation, research, and education opportunities.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Zooniverse
Zooniverse Citizen Science
Free crowdsourced research platform. Contribute to active university research projects in any field from your laptop.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Adler Planetarium / Zooniverse
Zooniverse Citizen Scientist Volunteer
Research and tag images for academic science projects. High schoolers can contribute to NASA or university data sets from home.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
ZooTeen Volunteer Program
A competitive volunteer program for Evansville-area teens ages 14-18 currently enrolled in high school, who train to lead guest education, wildlife outreach, and event support at the zoo.
📍 Evansville, IN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Saint Louis Zoo
ZooTeens
Summer volunteer program for ages 15–18 in which students serve as junior ambassadors, junior docents or other Zoo volunteers while learning about animals and conservation. At least 30 service hours are expected.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
ZooTeens Conservation Team
A year-round youth volunteer program for high schoolers age 14+ who assist with zoo camps and education events, take part in conservation projects and field studies, and build job-readiness and public-speaking skills.
📍 Columbia, SC📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

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Free summer programs for high school students Free summer programs for high school juniors Summer programs for high school sophomores Paid internships for high school students Research programs for high school students Online and virtual programs for high school students STEM programs for high school students Programs for underrepresented and under-resourced students

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