2021 Writing Contest: A Salute to Engineering

The 2021 EngineerGirl Writing Contest invited students to submit a piece of writing that salutes engineering’s role in meeting and defeating the challenges presented by COVID-19.

Read all the winning entries!

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed how we work, learn, and play. Making these changes were – and continue to be – an immense challenge.

Fortunately, this is the kind of challenge that engineers are made for.

Since COVID-19 began raging across the globe, engineers have been working with public health officials, medical workers, business owners, and research scientists to implement solutions to problems posed by the pandemic. They have contributed essential insights and expertise to address issues like:

• protecting essential workers in different environments
• helping people work from home
• retooling factories to make medical or protective equipment
• mass producing and distributing medicines and vaccines
• maintaining supply chains when businesses are closed
• making schools safer for students and their families
• helping people stay connected

To Enter the Contest

You should submit a piece of writing that salutes engineering’s role in meeting and defeating the challenges presented by COVID-19. Your submission must also follow the specific guidelines and limits for your competition category – based on your grade level.

Elementary School (grades 3-5)

Write a letter to the editor of a local paper or community website that pays tribute to the contributions of engineers responding to the pandemic. You may include an original artwork or graphic along with your letter.  Limit: 600 words.

Middle School (grades 6-8)

Write a news story or blog post that illustrates the contribution of engineers in responding to the pandemic. You may include one original image or graphic and up to five references in an annotated bibliography that will help support your story. Limit: 650 words.

High School (grades 9-12)

Write an essay that examines the vital contribution of engineers in responding to the pandemic. You must include at least 3, but no more than 10 references in an annotated bibliography to support your essay. You may also include one image or graphic that will help the reader understand your ideas.  Limit: 700 words.

More tips on how to write a winning entry can be found in the complete rules & regulations.

Entries can be submitted via the
Online Submission Form*

by February 1, 2021 at 11:59pm EST.

 

* Those with unreliable or slow internet connections may request a fill-in PDF Form that can be completed offline and submitted via email.  These forms must also be received via email prior to the deadline above.