ThinkQuest '98 Offers Three New Awards

The third annual ThinkQuest competition begins this month, with three new awards up for grabs. Operated by Advanced Network & Services, the contest challenges students to build educational materials that will be posted online for others to see.

First through fifth place awards will be offered in five categories: science and mathematics; arts and literature; social sciences; sports and health; and interdisciplinary. One team will earn the distinction of Best of Contest.

The new awards are: The Collaboration Award, a bonus prize for teams with participants from schools with large differences in technology resources; The Gem Award, reserved for teams who previously entered the contest but did not win; and The Java Award, sponsored by Microsoft, to be given to three teams that have made novel use of Java and/or Java applets.

ThinkQuest is open to students worldwide between the ages of 12 and 19. Written proposals must be submitted by February 28, 1998, with final entries due August 31. Awards, presented in late 1998, will total more than $1 million.

ThinkQuest Junior, a separate competition launched at NECC, will award cash and computer network resources to teachers and students in grades 4-6.

The ThinkQuest Web site contains complete rules and sample entries as well as information on related workshops to be held in cooperation with The Global SchoolNet Foundation. Advanced Network & Services, Inc., Armonk, NY, (914) 273-1700, www.advanced.org/thinkquest.

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