Illinois Junior Academy of Science - Additional IJAS Contests

Additional IJAS Contests

President's Grant

2025 President's Research Grant

Many scientifically adventurous students can be hindered or restricted in pursuing research or design due to limited financial resources. The Board of Directors of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science and their generous donors support students' efforts by providing grants of up to $250 per year per project.

This grant is open to all students of IJAS member schools or individuals members who intend to participate in the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Exposition in Illinois. Any student with sponsor support can apply for reimbursement for purchased materials. The primary focus of this award is to increase the opportunity to buy the supplies required to conduct their experiment. The student may apply for funding for equipment and other materials. Consideration is given more heavily to projects with reusable equipment. All reusable equipment purchased and submitted under this grant will become the school's and the school sponsor's property.

2025 President's Grant Application

Artistic Design Contests

Do you have an eye for design? Do you have a way with words? IJAS offers something for every student!

All 7th - 12th grade students who are individual members or attend a current IJAS member school are eligible to participate in the contests below, in addition to the traditional poster and paper sessions. Students DO NOT need to compete in any local, regional, or state science fair to be eligible.

T-Shirt/Program Design Contest

T-Shirt/Program Design Contest Application Form

"Impossible to I'm Possible: Progress Bit by Bit"

Guidelines 2024-2025

Entry Deadline - March 1, 2025, 11:59 PM CST (NOW CLOSED)

Use black ink ONLY (no color or pencil).
8.5"x11" sheet of white paper for each entry.
The design must be dark enough to copy or reproduce. A simple design is best.
The design must be original and cannot be computerized.
The design must include the words "Impossible to I'm Possible: Progress Bit by Bit" and "Illinois Junior Academy of Science", as well as the year "2024-2025". The theme title should be large enough to be seen clearly and read easily.
The designer's name should NOT appear. Submit the designer's name on the entry form and the file name.

Questions may be directed to info@ijas.org

Decal Design Contest

Decal Design Contest Application Form

"Impossible to I'm Possible: Progress Bit by Bit"

Guidelines 2024-2025

Entry deadline - March 15, 2025, 11:59 PM CST (NOW CLOSED)

Use black ink ONLY (no color or pencil).
8.5"x11" sheet of white paper for each entry.
The design must be dark enough to copy or reproduce. A simple design is best.
The design must be original and cannot be computerized.
The design must include the words "Impossible to I'm Possible: Progress Bit by Bit" and "Illinois Junior Academy of Science", as well as the year "2024-2025". The theme title should be large enough to be seen clearly and read easily.
The designer's name should NOT appear. Submit the designer's name on the entry form and the file name.

Questions may be directed to info@ijas.org

Essay Contest

The IJAS Essay Contest allows students to explore a chosen topic in an essay related to the exposition theme. The contest is terrific for students who prefer to show their creativity through writing.

"Impossible to I'm Possible: Progress Bit by Bit"

Email essays to Mrs. Dawson at emily.dawson@ijas.org

Deadline extended to April 5 due to the form not working

Essay Contest Information & Rules

Middle School Prompts (Grades 7 and 8)

Prompt 1: Describe one major scientific innovation in your lifetime. Construct a well-researched argument on how this development has advanced societal understanding of science and impacted peoples' lives.

Prompt 2: In today's world, there are many global challenges and hardships. Explain one of these challenges in detail, scientific progress made in solving this issue, and what more is needed to solve this issue completely.

High School Prompts (Grades 9-12)

Prompt 1: Identify an emerging technology from the past five years, and explain the technology's impact at its inception, the current significance of this technology, and a prediction as to how it might shape the future.

Prompt 2: Investigate an innovation that bridges multiple scientific disciplines. How has this approach advanced societal understanding of scientific capabilities, and what future innovations could emerge from this collaboration?

IJAS Scholarships

2025 Applications are due May 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST

General Information

Applications

Students may apply for more than one scholarship for which they are eligible. However, selected

students will only be granted one scholarship.

Eligibility

Applicants must be high school seniors who attend an IJAS member school, or are individual

IJAS members.

Funding

Annual budget and special grants or donations

Amount

To be determined by the Board of Directors and/or the selection committee

Selection Committee

President, President-Elect, and Past President of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Most Senior Board Member-at-Large of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Student Advisor of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science

Schroeder Wetzel Scholarship

Purpose:

To allow the Illinois Junior Academy of Science an opportunity to recognize outstanding scholarship, leadership, and character as well as interest and ability for research in high school students.

Criteria and Eligibility:

Senior in high school (must attend an IJAS member school, or be an individual IJAS member)
Notice of acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college or similar program (e.g. nursing school)
Honor Roll ("B" average or better) for at least two of the last three semesters in high school
Silver Awards or better in projects at the State Exposition in grades 9, 10, 11

Application:

In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student's name, scholarship, and student’s school. Deadline for submission of all the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor (jann.hawkins@ijas.org)

Two letters of recommendation, one from a science or mathematics teacher and one from a regional officer, state student advisor, or an adult mentor of the student's choice (excluding parents). Letters must comment on scholarship, leadership, character, and on interest and ability for scientific research. Please attach these digital letters in the form of a Google or Word document in an email sent to the email above: jann.hawkins@ijas.org
Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_TypeOfRecommender (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_ScienceTeacher, ex2.SWS_Jane_Doe_AdultMentor).
Transcript of high school record, including current courses as well as grades and classes through the seventh semester. Please send this from a counselor to jann.hawkins@ijas.org via email.
Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_Transcript (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_Transcript).

A listing of project titles and years in the Illinois Junior Academy of Science regional fairs and State Expositions. Please list this information in the personal letter of application email explained below.
A personal letter of application. This letter may include such items as: how the scholarship will be used, interest and commitment to science, plans for higher education, and a personal resume to include accomplishments, hobbies, family or personal travel, interests, and so forth (not to exceed two pages). Please attach this personal letter of application in the form of a Google or Word document in an email sent to the email above: jann.hawkins@ijas.org
Note - subject of the email as InitialOfScholarshipName_StudentFirstName_StudentLastName_PersonalLetterOfApplication (ex.SWS_Jane_Doe_PersonalLetterOfApplication).

Ethel M. and Lyell J. Thomas Scholarship

Selection Basis:

Merit based on the following criteria and requirements

Criteria and Eligibility:

Any student who has served responsibly as a State Student Officer for at least two years, with at least one of those years being at the eleventh or twelfth grade (must attend an IJAS member school or be an individual IJAS member)
Awards at the state level as a high school student must be at least gold or silver in grades 9, 10, & 11
Composite Enhanced ACT score of 24, or comparable SAT score
GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point system at the midyear of their graduating year
Confirmed acceptance at a college, university, or technical institution
All things being equal, not a recipient of a Schroeder Wetzel Scholarship

Application:

In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student’s name, scholarship, and school. Deadline for submission of the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor (jann.hawkins@ijas.org)

Transcript
ACT or SAT scores
Copy of acceptance letter
Copies of award certificates (or complete project information-year, title, region number, school, and so forth)
Two letters of recommendation from current science, mathematics, or English teachers
Recipients must provide verification of college enrollment in order to receive the award.

Susan Moy Memorial Scholarship

Background:

Susan Moy was an IJAS Board Member for many years serving as the Advisor to the Student Board and as the Zoology Category Chair. She graduated from Mundelein College in 1982 with degrees in biology and chemistry. Susan began her career as an animal keeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1982 and being an animal keeper was her life’s work until her death in 2019.

Criteria and Eligibility:

Senior in high school (must attend an IJAS member school or be an individual IJAS member)
Served responsibly as a State Student Officer for at least two years
Notice of acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college or similar program (e.g., nursing school)
Honor Roll (“B” average or better) for at least two of the last three semesters in high school

Application:

In the subject line of the respondent’s email, please list the student's name, scholarship, and student’s school. Deadline date for postmark of the following materials is May 1, 2025 to: Jann Hawkins, IJAS Student Board Advisor (jann.hawkins@ijas.org)

Transcript
ACT or SAT scores
Copy of acceptance letter
Copies of award certificates (or complete project information-year, title, region number, school, and so forth)
Two letters of recommendation from current science, mathematics, or English teachers
Recipients must provide verification of college enrollment in order to receive the award.