SMART Competition (IEEE Region 6)
An IEEE Region 6-sponsored engineering competition in which high school teams use professional design software (Bentley Systems) to redesign a fictional school gymnasium for structural integrity, energy efficiency, and renewable power generation. Teams submit engineering solutions that are judged by practicing engineers.
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NSLC Engineering Summer Program
The National Student Leadership Conference's Engineering program is a residential pre-college experience (offered at UC Berkeley among other U.S. campuses) where high schoolers explore civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering through hands-on projects such as drone design, aquatic robotics, and wind turbines.
ACE Mentor Program - San Francisco Bay Area
A free after-school mentorship program pairing Bay Area high school students (grades 9-12) with volunteer architects, engineers, and contractors. Teams work through mock building-design projects, visit real job sites and professional offices, and present their solutions at a year-end showcase.
California 4-H Presentation Program (Regional Presentation Events)
A public-speaking development program within California 4-H open to members ages 9-18, in which students give prepared demonstrations/illustrated talks or impromptu speeches on assigned topics (e.g. Democratic Process, Mindfulness, Inspiring Others). Students first qualify at county-level events (Jan-March) before advancing to regional competitions, including a Bay Area regional held in Sonoma.
Northern California Esports League (NCEL)
A scholastic esports league operated by the Butte County Office of Education in partnership with NASEF, serving predominantly rural and small Northern California schools with both middle school (NCEL-MS, the first middle-school esports league in the nation) and high school divisions. Students compete in titles such as League of Legends, Rocket League, Fortnite, NBA 2K, and Overwatch while building communication and teamwork skills.
Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl
The Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl, hosted by UC Santa Cruz's Center for Public Philosophy, brings Bay Area high school teams together to collaboratively deliberate on contemporary ethical and policy dilemmas rather than debate adversarially. The regional serves as an official qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl.
CIF Esports Initiative (NASEF California)
The California Interscholastic Federation's official statewide esports league, operated by the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF), in which high schools field varsity, JV, and exhibition teams competing in titles like League of Legends, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The season runs from January through a live Grand Finals Championship each April at CSU Dominguez Hills, with over 300 California high schools and 900+ teams participating.