Lexus Eco Challenge

Ages:Middle School, High School

Type:Submission

Categories:Environment, STEM

Scope:National

Contact


ecochallenge@scholastic.com

The Lexus Eco Challenge is a STEM-focused contest for grades 6–12 that gets students involved in an environmental issue that affects their community, to use their critical-thinking and research skills to come up with a solution, and to report on the results by way of an Action Plan.

The contest is broken into three main parts:

  • The Land & Water Challenge: 8/1/19–10/16/19
  • The Air & Climate Challenge: 10/18/19–12/4/19
  • The Final Challenge (by invitation only, open to winners of the previous two challenges): 1/28/20–3/16/20

Land & Water Challenge—Registration for the Land & Water Challenge is now closed.

Air & Climate Challenge—Registration Opens: 10/18/19; Entries Due By: 12/4/19

Teams may choose to enter one or both of two initial challenges: Land & Water or Air & Climate. Winners of the first two challenges will receive an invitation to compete in the Final Challenge.

Students must develop a solution to an environmental issue affecting their community. The students report on the problem and their proposed solution through an "action plan" that is submitted online.

Potential middle school and high school prize winners will be selected from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion based on a numerical point system within the following categories: Land & Water Challenge | Air & Climate Challenge: 1. Action Plan (50 points) 2. Overall Team Effort (30 points) 3. Quality of Writing (10 points) 4. Project Gallery (10 points) In the event of a tie, an additional "tie-breaking" judge will determine the winner based on the same criteria set forth above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding. The Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of qualified and eligible entries. Final Challenge Potential first place and grand prize winners will be selected from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion based on a numerical point system within the following categories: 1. Innovative Action Plan Ideas (20 points) 2. Action Plan (PowerPoint) Presentation (30 points) 3. Overall Team Effort (20 points) 4. Effectiveness of Spreading the Word (15 points) 5. Quality of Writing (15 points) In the event of a tie, an additional “tie-breaking” judge will determine the winner based on the same criteria set forth above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding. The Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of qualified and eligible entries.

Website: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sponsored-content/lexus/home/

Managing Organization: Scholastic

Contact:

ecochallenge@scholastic.com

Eligibility:
The “Lexus Eco Challenge” Contest (“Contest”) is open to students in grades 6–8 and 9–12 who are enrolled in a public or accredited private school or who are schooled at home in compliance with the laws of the students’ primary state of residence and who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (hereinafter referred to as “Student” or “Students”). Students must enter the Contest in a team consisting of at least five (5) but no more than ten (10) Students (each a “Team”) and up to two (2) teacher advisors (“Teacher Advisor”).

Registration Opens: October 18, 2019

Registration Closes: December 4, 2019

Overview

The Lexus Eco Challenge is a STEM-focused contest for grades 6–12 that gets students involved in an environmental issue that affects their community, to use their critical-thinking and research skills to come up with a solution, and to report on the results by way of an Action Plan.

The contest is broken into three main parts:

  • The Land & Water Challenge: 8/1/19–10/16/19
  • The Air & Climate Challenge: 10/18/19–12/4/19
  • The Final Challenge (by invitation only, open to winners of the previous two challenges): 1/28/20–3/16/20

Land & Water Challenge—Registration for the Land & Water Challenge is now closed.

Air & Climate Challenge—Registration Opens: 10/18/19; Entries Due By: 12/4/19

Teams may choose to enter one or both of two initial challenges: Land & Water or Air & Climate. Winners of the first two challenges will receive an invitation to compete in the Final Challenge.

Process

Students must develop a solution to an environmental issue affecting their community. The students report on the problem and their proposed solution through an "action plan" that is submitted online.

Criteria

Potential middle school and high school prize winners will be selected from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion based on a numerical point system within the following categories: Land & Water Challenge | Air & Climate Challenge: 1. Action Plan (50 points) 2. Overall Team Effort (30 points) 3. Quality of Writing (10 points) 4. Project Gallery (10 points) In the event of a tie, an additional "tie-breaking" judge will determine the winner based on the same criteria set forth above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding. The Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of qualified and eligible entries. Final Challenge Potential first place and grand prize winners will be selected from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion based on a numerical point system within the following categories: 1. Innovative Action Plan Ideas (20 points) 2. Action Plan (PowerPoint) Presentation (30 points) 3. Overall Team Effort (20 points) 4. Effectiveness of Spreading the Word (15 points) 5. Quality of Writing (15 points) In the event of a tie, an additional “tie-breaking” judge will determine the winner based on the same criteria set forth above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding. The Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of qualified and eligible entries.

Participate

Website: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sponsored-content/lexus/home/

Managing Organization: Scholastic

Contact:

ecochallenge@scholastic.com

Eligibility:
The “Lexus Eco Challenge” Contest (“Contest”) is open to students in grades 6–8 and 9–12 who are enrolled in a public or accredited private school or who are schooled at home in compliance with the laws of the students’ primary state of residence and who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (hereinafter referred to as “Student” or “Students”). Students must enter the Contest in a team consisting of at least five (5) but no more than ten (10) Students (each a “Team”) and up to two (2) teacher advisors (“Teacher Advisor”).

Deadlines

Registration Opens: October 18, 2019

Registration Closes: December 4, 2019