5 Artificial Intelligence Competitions for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student with a budding interest in technology, participating in an artificial intelligence competition is a fantastic way to dive into the world of AI. These competitions are a unique opportunity for you to explore and understand the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, which is shaping our future. They allow you to learn about AI in theory while also gaining hands-on experience in applying AI concepts to real-world problems. It's a chance to see how AI can be used to create innovative solutions and improvements in various sectors like healthcare, education, and entertainment.
AI competitions are also an excellent way to enhance your academic profile for high school and college applications. Excelling in an AI competition can set you apart from your peers, showcasing your commitment to learning and your ability to think creatively and strategically.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 5 AI competitions for middle school students!
1. American Computing Science League Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: $150 team registration
Prize: At the end of the regular season, top-scoring participants receive a certificate.
For the ACSL Finals, the top-scoring students in each division will get a prize and a certificate.
Competition Dates: 4 contests available throughout the regular year:
Contest 1: available Nov. 1, 2023; closes Sunday January 14, 2024
Contest 2: available Jan. 2, 2024; closes Sunday March 3, 2024
Contest 3: available Feb. 5, 2024; closes Sunday April 7, 2024
Contest 4: available March 11, 2024; closes Sunday May 12, 2024
Registration Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: Middle school students who are enrolled in public, private, or home schools in the United States or abroad are eligible to participate in ACSL contests
If you're a middle school student interested in artificial intelligence and computing, the American Computer Science League (ACSL) competition is an excellent opportunity for you. ACSL organizes computer programming and computer science contests for K-12 schools, organizations, and local groups. Celebrating its 46th year of continuous operation in the 2023-2024 school year, ACSL saw around 8,000 students from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia participate in last year's regular season competitions. The competition offers multiple divisions, ensuring a suitable challenge for students with varying skills and experience levels. An unlimited number of students can compete in each contest, which means you have a great chance to showcase your abilities.
The season is split into four contests, each testing fundamental concepts in computer science, from number systems to boolean algebra and digital electronics. If you're in the upper divisions, you'll also tackle a programming problem using Python, C++, or Java. The contests are administered online, with team advisors facilitating your access to the platform. This platform not only corrects submissions but also reports scores back to ACSL.
At the season's end, the top students are invited to an online finals competition, offering a chance to compete at a higher level and gain recognition for their hard work and skills. There are abundant online resources to help you prepare, including a study materials page linked to detailed explanations on the ACSL Wiki. You can also check out this ultimate guide to ACSL!
2. Congressional App Challenge
Location: App submission is virtual, Winners are invited to a reception in Washington DC
Cost: Free
Prize: Winning apps are eligible to be displayed in the US Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives’ website, House.gov. Winning students are invited to #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C. Waived copyright registration application fees through the ARTS Act. Winning apps receive a press release on the Congressional App Challenge website.
Competition Dates: June 15 - November 1
Registration Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.
As a middle school student interested in artificial intelligence, the Congressional App Challenge offers an exciting opportunity for you to showcase your coding skills and creativity. This annual competition in the United States is designed to encourage middle and high school students to engage with computer science and coding by developing original applications from scratch.
Open to students from all congressional districts, you have the option to register either individually or as part of a team of up to four members. The challenge gives you complete freedom to choose any platform, programming language, or device, allowing you to express your unique app ideas in your preferred format.
To participate, start by identifying a real-world problem in your community or elsewhere that could benefit from a technological solution. Your project could be anything from an educational tool to an engaging game or a practical utility app. Leverage your AI knowledge to design and code an application that addresses the problem you've identified. Your entry will be judged based on criteria like creativity, originality, functionality, and the impact your app has.
As you prepare for the Congressional App Challenge, it's a great idea to get familiar with coding languages like Python and various app development platforms. Brainstorm your project ideas well in advance and make sure you have the tools and knowledge needed to bring your app concept to life. If you're just starting out with coding, take advantage of their partnerships with The Coding School and Swift by Apple education, which offer free coding resources to support your journey. You can also check out this guide on how to win the congressional app challenge!
3. World AI Competition for Youth (WAICY)
Location: The competition’s in-person option takes place at the Pennsylvania State University. There is a virtual option as well.
Cost: No cost.
Program Dates: Register for the in-person event by December 2, 2023 at the Penn State New Kensington Digital Foundry. For the virtual one, your online application must be submitted by November 25, 2023.
Eligibility: All K-12 students across the world can participate.
Prize: WAICY awards the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place submissions and recognizes two more for each track for each level of schooling (high school, middle school and elementary). There are also 3 unique awards in each track for each category of schooling – the AI Excellence award, the Impact Excellence award, and the Design Excellence award, all based on the judgment rubrics of the competition.
Eligibility: All K-12 students across the world can participate.
If you're a middle school student interested in artificial intelligence (AI), the World AI Competition for Youth (WAICY) is a great opportunity to explore!. WAICY, a global AI competition, invites you to explore the world of AI by challenging you to apply AI in problem-solving, generate AI-driven art, and explore the realm of AI Large Language Models.
The competition is structured around three tracks, each with distinct focuses and submission criteria, catering to various skill levels: AI Showcase, AI Generated Art, and AI LLM Prompt Engineering. Since its establishment in 2018, the WAICY has experienced remarkable growth, welcoming over 3,200 participants from 58 countries in its last edition and showcasing 600 projects.
By embracing cutting-edge AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Midjourney, you'll gain a solid understanding of AI. Whether you prefer to work individually or as part of a team—with teams comprising 3-5 students—WAICY is a great opportunity to explore and one that you can read more about here.
4. Botball Educational Robotics Program
Location: Workshops and tournaments are conducted at regional levels across many countries.
Cost: Registration costs – $2,750 (new team) | $1,550 (returning team). Scholarships are available.
Prize: Awards are offered, but the specifics on the awards are not provided at the moment.
Program Dates: Dates might differ based on your region. The final tournament is typically held in April. This calendar will be updated when the schedule is released!
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students. Teams should consist of a minimum of 3 people.
If you're a middle school student interested in robotics and artificial intelligence, the Botball Educational Robotics Program is something that you should look into. This is a team-oriented robotics competition that aligns with the common core standards. Botball offers an inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activity that starts with the Botball Educator Workshops in January, February, and March. Following a build period of about 7 weeks, you’ll get the chance to bring your robots to a regional tournament to compete in the current season’s game challenge against other students.
A distinctive feature of Botball is that the robots are always autonomous! This means you'll use artificial intelligence with embedded systems to develop sophisticated strategies. You’ll learn to program your robots in advance using programming languages such as C, C++, and Java, equipping you with coding and robotics skills. When it comes to engineering the actual robot for this competition, you will use the Botball game kit, which includes various parts and pieces. Learn more about this competition here!
Location: Online
Eligibility: Participants must fall into one of two age groups: 13 – 18 years old and 18+ years
Prize: $5,000, Intel-powered laptop, and mentorship opportunities are awarded to the global winners. Regional winners may get between $500 – $1,000.
Dates: September 13, 2023 – September 20, 2023
Cost: Free
Intel’s AI Impact Creators competition is a great opportunity for you to explore AI's potential and make a significant impact. To start, you should engage with AI through AI-powered games, get inspired by talks from Intel leaders, and view previous winners' projects showcasing AI innovations.
Next, learn and deepen your understanding by listening to global experts discuss innovative AI technologies and solutions. Dive into self-paced, immersive micro-learning series on emerging technologies, and earn Intel certificates to showcase your new skills.
Finally, compete and show the world your ideas. The AI Impact Creators competition invites students, including those in two age groups of 13-18 years and 18+ years, to submit innovative, social impact AI projects.
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Image Source - ACSL Logo