This contest is open to all students from the 5th through 10th grades in any Chicagoland area schools.
The contestants are divided into three groups:
- 5th and 6th grade
- 7th and 8th grade
- 9th and 10th grade
Students may enter individually, or up to a two-person team per entry. Students should submit an essay and a poster about an engineer who made a significant contribution to society.
There will be at least three winning entries (one from each group). The purpose of the contest is to stimulate students to consider careers in STEM/engineering by fostering interest in engineering through research, essay writing, creating a poster and interacting with engineers.
The essay should:
- Explain who the engineer is and why the student admires him/her.
- Explain the contribution of the engineer.
- Include a bibliography, utilizing at least one book source, and up to two web sites.
- Between 250 and 500 words, typed (double-spaced) on white 8.5” X 11” paper.
The poster should:
- Depict some aspects of the engineering accomplishment.
- Be creative and neat. It is encouraged to include moving parts and/or 3D objects, if applicable
- The minimum size is around 22” X 28”. Smaller size posters will not be accepted, but any larger size will be
accepted.
The selected engineer must have received an Engineering Degree. The student must include the type of Engineering degree and the name of the university as part of the Essay and Contest Entry Form.
Contestants should submit the following three items:
- Poster
- Essay, and
- Contest Entry Form
Entries should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2020. Winners will be notified by phone and/or e-mail no later than Friday, February 21, 2020.
The winners from each group will receive the following:
- First prize for each group: $100.
- Second prize for each group: $50.
- The winners and their teacher/parent will be invited to attend the Washington Award Banquet on Friday,
February 28, 2020 - The E-Week Committee provides a plaque to all winners
- Engineering companies and/or book publishing companies normally sponsor tangible gifts to the winners,
- which will be given to the students at the Washington Award Banquet
- The winning essay/poster will be displayed during Washington Award Banquet, and also during the DuPage Area E-Week Expo at IIT-Rice Campus on Saturday, February 22, 2020
AAAEA-IL Essay & Poster Contest Rules & Forms
Email any questions to Mr. Jamal Grainawi, PE, SE, at Jamal.Grainawi@wsp.com Office: (312) 803-6516, or Dr. Soliman Khudeira, PE, SE at Soliman.Khudeira@iit.edu Office: (312) 744-9605.