Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge
Posted on October 18th, 2018 by Mary Lord
High school students can win scholarships and other big prizes in this innovation and entrepreneurial competition created by the widow of astronaut Pete Conrad. Register teams by Nov. 2.
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Tags: Competitions for Students, Conrad Challenge, Contest, Engineering, entrepreneurship, Grades 9-12, patent, Spirit of Innovation
Middle school students learn about mineral properties and calculate the costs, benefits, and densities in this engineering-driven earth science unit based on the real-world design challenge of salvaging cargo following a train derailment. Students also will strengthen communication skills by creating a presentation to explain their process and justify their decisions to a “client.” 
As a high school sophomore, Tim Balz refurbished his first motorized wheelchair and gave it to a fellow student. Today, Freedom Chairs, the nonprofit he founded and continues to run as a mechanical engineering student at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, has distributed 130 wheelchairs worldwide while he has won awards as a wheelchair innovator and entrepreneur. 
The Allen Distinguished Educators award program recognizes innovative K-12 teachers who “break the mold” and help students become thinkers, makers, and creators through computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. Applications for the $25,000 award are due November 1, 2015.
