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First Posted: 2/13/2014 Area middle school and high school students can test their science, physics, math, art and writing skills at several academic competitions scheduled this spring at The University of Scranton. Competitions include the Brain Bee for neuroscience, Women&#8217;s History Month Essay competition, Earth Day essay competition and art contest, Stock Market Game, Computer Science Programming Contest, Kane Competition for physics and engineering, and the Integration Bee for mathematics.
The contests are in addition to educational programs offered through the University&#8217;s theatre program, art gallery and performance music program, as well as educational tours of the Loyola Science Center and other enrichment programs.<ul><li>The University offers a Stock Market Game competition for students in grades four through 12 each spring and fall semester. The Stock Market Game is a ten-week simulation during which students invest an imaginary $100,000 by buying stocks listed on the major securities exchanges. Students learn how financial markets operate and hone their mathematics and decision making skills. For more information contact Edward Scahill, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and finance, at Edward.scahill@scranton.edu or 570-941-4187.</li><li>Lackawanna County students from grades seven to 12 are eligible to enter Women&#8217;s History Month Essay Contest, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the University&#8217;s Jane Kopas Women&#8217;s Center. By March 1, students entering the contest are required to write about how they are inspired by one or several American women in history. On Wednesday, March 26, the Women&#8217;s History Month Essay Celebration will begin at 7 p.m. in the DeNaples Center. The event will celebrate those who submitted work to the Women&#8217;s History Month Essay Contest. For information, contact Bonnie Oldham, associate professor, library, at 570-941-4000 or Bonnie.oldham@scranton.edu.</li><li>On Friday, March 28, the annual Computer Programming Contest will be held in the Loyola Science Center. Hosted by the Computing Sciences Department, the four-hour competition for high school students will involve using programming languages to solve six computer-programming problems. Immediately following the competition, an awards banquet will recognize the first, second and third place teams. Pre-registration is required. To register online, visit http://www.cs.uofs.edu/~contest/Registration/. For additional information, contact Robert McCloskey, Ph.D., assistant professor of computing sciences, at 570-941-7774 or Robert.mccloskey@scranton.edu.
</li><li>On Thursday, April 3, the University will host its annual Kane Competition, which begins at 8:30 a.m. The contest tests high school students&#8217; knowledge of physics and engineering through a series of hands-on games and challenges. It also serves as preparation for Advanced Placement tests. This year&#8217;s theme, &#8220;Invention Island,&#8221; plays off of the &#8220;Survivor&#8221; TV show. Challenges include designing and calibrating both a food catching device and an aqueduct. Challenges will test students on their knowledge of mechanics, waves, optics, electromagnetism and circuits. Students compete individually and as part of a team. The competition will be held in the Byron Recreation Complex and pre-registration is required. For additional information, contact Nancy Laffey at 570-941-7509 or Nancy.laffey@scranton.edu.</li><li>The University of Scranton and Pennsylvania American Water will sponsor an art contest for students in grades four to six, and an essay contest for students in grades seven to 12. Submissions are due March 28.From Tuesday, April 22, to Thursday, April 24, art and essay contest submissions will be on display in the Loyola Science Center. On Thursday, April 24, beginning at 7 p.m., the University&#8217;s Sustainability Club will host an Evening of Environmental Science for participants, their families and the general public. The event will include University student-run interactive science experiments, displays, astronomy observation, as well as the exhibit of The University of Scranton/Pennsylvania American Water Art and Essay Contest submissions. For additional information, visit http://www.scranton.edu/sustainability/index.shtml or call 570-941-7520.</li><li>On Wednesday, April 30, the annual Math Integration Bee will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the Mcllhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. The competition, which is hosted by the Mathematics Department, includes a college and high school division. The competition can help students improve their skills for Advanced Placement mathematics tests. The bee is offered free of charge. For more information, contact Stacey Muir, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, at 570-941-6580 or Stacey.muir@scranton.edu.</li><li>On Feb. 8, the University&#8217;s Neuroscience Program hosted the annual Northeast Pennsylvania Brain Bee in the Loyola Science Center. Daniel A. Shaykevich, Pocono Mountain East High School, came in first place. Jonna Ann Boyda, Riverside Junior Senior High School, placed second and &#8203;Brittany Thomas, Wyoming Area High School, came in third place. For more information about the University&#8217;s educational program for elementary, middle and high school students, visit http://www.scranton.edu/about/community-relations/k-12.shtml.</li></ul>

University of Scranton hosts competitions for middle school, high school students