Category Archives: Other Events & Contests

2025-26 Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest-Event Closed

Events & Contests, Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Reading Enrichment

Website: https://omahalibrary.org/virginia-frank-memorial-writing-contest/

Create your own original fiction featuring a character from a book you read on your own.

Deadline: The deadline for 2026 entries is February 20, 2026. 

Check out the website for more details and read the winning entries from last year’s contest.

 

The Friends of Omaha Public Library are currently accepting submissions for the Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest.  The contest is for students in 5-8th grade.  First prize in each grade is $100.

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing contest is held each year in the spring to recognize the creative writing talent of area students. This contest, sponsored by the Friends of Omaha Public Library, recognizes the top three winners from each grade. Each winner receives a cash prize and certificate, is recognized in a ceremony at the library, and has their story published on the library website. The school libraries of each winning student are also recognized with a matching cash prize.

Eligibility Requirements

    • Stories must be submitted with an entry form to be considered. Complete all fields either online or on a printed entry form and submit with your story.
    • Students must be in 5th to 8th grade and live in Douglas or Sarpy counties.
    • Students may be enrolled in public, private, parochial or home school.
    • Stories must be typed and no longer than 750 words.
    • Entries must be original fiction featuring a character from a book you have enjoyed and read on your own. Identify the book and author from which your character originated in the title or subtitle of your story.
    • Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.
    • The decision of the judges is final.
    • All entries become the property of Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) and may be featured by Omaha Public Library on its website or social media.
    • Deadline for entries is February 28, 2020.

    Prizes

    • First ($100), second ($75) and third place ($50)
    • Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners from each grade.
    • The school library of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes.

 

About Virginia Frank

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest began in 2003 and is named in honor of a longtime Friends of Omaha Public Library volunteer. Virginia Frank was a Central High and UNO graduate. She acquired a master’s degree from Brown University and taught English literature and creative writing at UNO for many years. Her passion for students and young people inspired everyone around her, and her enthusiasm encouraged many students to explore their creative writing talents. Frank volunteered thousands of hours with the Friends of OPL to help ensuring a bright future for our public libraries.

Mission Patch Design Contest-Send your art to space! Contest Closed

Other Events & Contests

 

See Bhavya’s art on the News! https://www.wowt.com/2026/03/04/metropolitan-community-college-announces-winners-mission-patch-contest/

You are invited to design a mission patch that could be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) in summer 2026! Each community participating in SSEP can fly up to two Mission Patches to the International Space Station.

What is a real mission patch?: A NASA mission patch is a special badge that astronauts wear to show their spaceflight mission. These patches have symbols that tell the story of the mission, include the crew’s names, and show important parts like the mission’s goal or where they’re going.

What: On paper, design a 3.5 x 3.5 mission patch for Mission #21

When: Patch designs due Feb. 1, 2026.

Who: K-12 students in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge and Washington counties, including students taking dual enrollment classes with MCC and MCC students

Details: Through a partnership with the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, MCC is participating in the Student Spaceflights Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 21, which will send a microgravity experiment to the ISS. Microgravity sounds very technical but an experiment in microgravity is an experiment in a weightless environment, and in the case of SSEP, the experiment is operated by the astronauts in the weightless environment aboard ISS.
The winning patch design could accompany the MCC student experiment to the ISS.

Examples of patches selected: Visit this website to see a collection of patches that were chosen for mission 17 to the Space Station.

Before you get started: Read more about the project that was chosen for ISS mission 20.

Interested in participating?

Reach out to your EY coordinator to help with submissions.

Teachers and Parents: Patch designs must be accompanied by a completed submission form. For patch design questions and to get more information about submissions, email LaunchToLearn@mccneb.edu

 

 

Name a Snowplow-Contest Closed

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

This contest is closed but the  winners were announced. They had over 4500 submission from 219 schools. Westside didn’t have any winners this year, but start thinking of creative names for next year! ! For now, check out the winning names for 2025.

We need help naming 16 snowplows in the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s fleet. Now through October 3, students in grades K–6 can submit their most imaginative, silly, or clever names for a chance to see their idea featured on one of NDOT’s 600 snowplows—trackable in real time at 511.nebraska.gov. Two winners will be selected from each of NDOT’s eight Districts. View the district map here.

Contest Details

  • Who can enter: Nebraska students in grades K–6
  • Deadline: Entries due by 11:59 p.m. Friday, October 3
  • Privacy: Student and teacher names will not be shared publicly — only winning plow names and their schools will appear in NDOT promotions.
  • How to submit:

LInk to Contest Information

Reach out to your teacher or EY coordinator if you would like help with your submission.

 

Central Honors Institute Camp 2026

Other Events & Contests
The Central Honors Institute (CHI) is a five-day residential academic camp for middle school students who have completed the 6th or 7th grade and who have demonstrated academic accomplishments, leadership and maturity among their peers.

Join our mailing list for CHI Camp 2026: 

https://forms.gle/EBYFM8iZctnZDmnR7

Students attend classes during the day (see below) and socialize with peers in the evenings while experiencing life on a community college campus.

  • CHI Stream Team: During this biology based track, Stream Team campers will investigate living and non-living objects, food web, and biodiversity in a nearby aquatic ecosystem.
  • FLY CHI Track:  This track will focus on the fascinating aspect of flight from archery to ornithology, rockets, gliders, combustion and beyond!
  • CSI at CHI Track: Campers in this track will investigate and solve a number of puzzling cases throughout the week.
  • CHI Creativity Track: Campers will explore their creative potential through teamwork and cooperation.

To learn more, visit: https://www.cccneb.edu/chi/