COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
December 7, 2010
TO: Principals
FROM: Linda M. Wallinger, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Now in its 15th year, the Christopher Columbus Awards program announces the Call for Entries for the 2010-2011 school year. The program challenges middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities. Teams of three or four students and a coach identify a community issue, and use the scientific process to solve it. Coaches may be teachers, parents, community leaders or mentors. Teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter.
Finalist teams win an all-expense-paid trip to National Championship Week in Orlando, Florida, where final judging takes place, and the teams compete for Gold Medals, U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant. The grant is seed money to help implement the winning innovation in the team's hometown. The teams also attend the Christopher Columbus Academy, a tailored experience for the finalist teams exploring science, technology and engineering through teamwork as they work behind the scenes at Walt Disney World® .
The Christopher Columbus Awards program is free to enter. For more information and competition guidelines call: (800) 291-6020 X3154 or visit: www.christophercolumbusawards.com. The deadline for receipt of entries is Monday, February 7, 2011.
LMW/oml