Princeton Legal Journal High School Essay Contest
The Princeton Legal Journal's High School Essay Contest invites students worldwide to write a 1,500-3,000 word analytical essay on an assigned constitutional law topic (2026: religious liberty in American law and public life), with the top three essays published in the journal.
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G4C Student Challenge
An international game design competition from Games for Change inviting students ages 10-25 to build original digital games addressing a UN Sustainable Development Goals theme (recent themes include hunger, road safety, and biodiversity). The program supports entrants with in-school and after-school game-making courses, student game jams, and mentorship from game industry experts before the final submission and awards, which include scholarships and industry opportunities.
National YoungArts Foundation - Photography
National YoungArts Foundation's Photography discipline is part of its prestigious national arts competition for 15-18 year olds (grades 10-12), spanning documentary, conceptual, portrait, environmental, color, black-and-white, alternative process, digital, and mixed-media photography. Winners named with distinction are invited to National YoungArts Week for masterclasses and critical support, joining the foundation's broader alumni network.
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution – California
We the People is a national civics curriculum and competition in which student teams simulate congressional hearings, testifying as constitutional experts before panels of judges. California's state finals draw 200+ students to the Sacramento area each February, with the winning team advancing to national finals in Washington, D.C.
American Legion Oratorical Contest – California
The American Legion's High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is a constitutional speech contest requiring students to deliver original orations on the U.S. Constitution and citizens' duties to government. California students compete through post, district, and area rounds before an annual Department (state) final, with winners advancing toward national competition for college scholarships.
International Psychology Olympiad (IPsyO)
A global competition in which high school students demonstrate psychology knowledge and research skills through a qualification test, a reading-based exam module, and a team-based research proposal presentation. Students from around 80 countries, including the US, have participated since its 2021 founding.
IRIS Seismographs in Schools Program
An NSF-funded program (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) that places real educational seismometers in classrooms so students can access and analyze real-time seismic data from around the world. Several Northern California schools, including in the Sacramento area, participate by hosting a seismometer and using it in coursework.