Student Essay & Video Contest
Students, tell us your story or share your perspective!
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) envisions widespread, inclusive, and equitable environments in engineering, academia, and industry that embrace individual differences and leverage diversity for a better engineered tomorrow. The Board of Directors established the 2016-2017 year as the year to Commit to P12: When Engineering Begins. In response to this celebration and focus of P12 education, the ASEE Diversity Committee wants students from all walks of life and grade levels (graduate, undergraduate, and P12) to share their community story by submitting an entry into the essay and/or video contests. Each entry should clearly answer the prompt provided below and follow all rules.
Prompt & Requirements
Essay:
- Prompt - The increasing demand for STEM graduates with skills to work and innovate in a global market demands a pipeline of talent from all walks of life. Describe a time in your life where you organized or participated in an effort to encourage P12 students to go into a STEM field, specifically engineering. Be sure to discuss why you participated, what you did, and how the event impacted the students.
- 300 to 500 words
- By submitting a written essay, contestants are agreeing for it to be reviewed by editors and to slight editorial changes, mainly for clarity, made by the ASEE Prism staff. These edits will be provided to the submitter prior to publication. Publication can be anonymous, but contact information is required for authentication and approval of edits.
Video:
- Prompt - The increasing demand for STEM graduates with skills to work and innovate in a global market demands a pipeline of talent from all walks of life. Create a video that describes a time in your life where you organized or participated in an effort to encourage P12 students to go into a STEM field, specifically engineering. Be sure to show why you participated, what you did, and how the event impacted the students. This should not be an advertisement for your organization’s outreach.
- 3-5 minutes
- By submitting a video, contestants are agreeing for ASEE and its committees to use the video in any means they deem positive.
Eligibility Requirements & Contest Rules
- Open to Preschool to 12th grade students and students enrolled in a college of engineering or engineering technology (or similarly named program) at the undergraduate or graduate levels
- All videos and essays had to be submitted by the submission deadline
- All submissions had to be original and entries previously published elsewhere not be submitted
- By submitting an entry to the contest, each entrant gave ASEE all rights, including copyright, to the entry and express permission to edit and publish the entry in all media without limitation and without any other notice
- By submitting a written essay, contestants are agreeing for it to be reviewed by editors and to slight editorial changes, mainly for clarity, made by the ASEE Prism staff. Publication can be anonymous, but contact information is required for authentication and approval of edits
- By submitting a video, contestants are agreeing for ASEE and its committees to use the video in any means they deem positive
Prizes
Winners are selected by a group of reviewers from the ASEE Diversity Committee. Up to 3 awards will be given as prizes for the top submissions from all categories.
- 1st Place: $275
- 2nd Place: $150
- 3rd Place: $70
Submission
Timeline:
September 1: Contest submission open
February 1: Submission deadline
March 1: Submission review deadline
April 1: Winner notification deadline
Essay:
- 300 to 500 words maximum
- By submitting a written essay, contestants are agreeing for it to be reviewed by editors and to slight editorial changes, mainly for clarity, made by the ASEE Prism staff. These edits will be provided to the submitter prior to publication. Publication can be anonymous, but contact information is required for authentication and approval of edits.
Video:
- 3-5 minutes maximum
- By submitting a video, contestants are agreeing for ASEE and its committees to use the video in any means they deem positive.
Please click the button below to complete the essay and video submission form.
2015-2016 Winners
Click on the names of our winners to listen to, watch, or read their entries.
