Sponsor a Science Fair Award

Why sponsor a Science Fair award?

Award sponsors provide invaluable recognition for students’ hard work, creativity, and scientific achievements. Through state-level awards, your organization will encourage the next generation of problem-solvers to stick with STEM.

What types of awards can I give?

While students always greatly appreciate monetary prizes, cash awards are only one option! Your award does not actually have to cost anything to make an impact on a student’s life. We encourage award sponsors to find creative ways to recognize and encourage students.

Award options include:

Certificates, trophies, and medals
Cash awards and college scholarships
Mentorships and internships
Other prize packages

To see previous award examples, visit our 2023 SSEF Awards Page.

Contact Program Manager Liz Buhmann (lizbuhmann@mnmas.org) to discuss award options. View the awards sponsorship form to see the kind of information we will need to know about your award — and complete the form when you are ready!

Why are awards important to Science Fair participants?

Awards are a critical part of a student’s Science Fair experience. Awards recognize hard work and excellence—and encourage students to continue in STEM fields. Educators say, “Awards are a way to showcase students’ work to other students in the school who do not participate in Science Fair” and “Kids get excited about specific awards each year, especially the big or unique awards.”

How are the awards actually given to students?

Gone are the days of sitting through lengthy in-person awards ceremonies at the conclusion of a long event — and our participating families are glad. But students still care very much about the awards! We announce many awards virtually after all the judging results are in via an evening Zoom webinar. We then unveil ALL the awards on a content-rich awards webpage immediately following the virtual ceremony. Both our virtual awards ceremony and our awards page are popular with students and their families — as well as volunteers and other interested members of the public. We then mail out any awards and awards checks (not sent directly by sponsors) to students within a few weeks of the event.