"Disney's Planet Challenge (DPC) is a project-based learning environmental competition for classrooms across the United States. DPC teaches kids about science and conservation while empowering them to make a positive impact on their communities and planet. Maximum award: teacher -- $6,000; classroom: $10,000.   Eligibility: any 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade classroom in a public or private school in the United States; 2nd Grade classes can participate if in combination with a 3rd grade classroom. Deadline: December 23, 2011."

"Inspired by President Obama's Educate to Innovate Campaign, the National STEM Video Game Challenge is designed to motivate interest in STEM learning among America's youth by tapping into students' natural passion for playing and making video games. The contest is open to middle and high school students, college students, and educators. Deadline March 12, 2012."

"The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is pleased to invite applications for the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards.

"I have another argument to advocate for arts education. Visual arts (as well as other arts) are an excellent discipline to build and utilize critical thinking skills. I don't think we often give credit to the deep conceptual and interpretational thinking that goes into the creation of a piece of art, and this is often because art is treated as something separate from the core content areas. School does not need to be this way.

"The combination of service-learning and afterschool offers benefits not only to students’ surrounding communities, but also to their own academic and social development. With the help of afterschool mentors, middle school students can take their volunteering to the next level. They can go from volunteers to active service learners. In the afterschool space, middle schoolers are afforded the guidance and flexibility to become true agents of change in their community while also becoming more socially conscious leaders for the future."