Shining Stars Contests

Topics and Contest Guidelines

Everything you need to prepare for each contest category.

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

GUIDELINES

  • •There is NO topic for this contest. Pick and present your own Project or Idea related to Technology and Engineering.
  • •You may bring your project or artifacts
  • •If you want to present something on screen, we can help you. Bring it on a thumb drive or use your own laptop/iPad
  • •Save a minute or two for questions from Judges or audience
  • •Duration: 5-7 Minutes including your introduction and closing remarks

PUBLIC SPEAKING

TOPICS

  • ★Elementary: 'The act of Kindness - with an example or personal experience'
  • ★Middle: 'How AI will impact our day-to-day life in near future'
  • ★High: 'Western Medicine vs Eastern Medicine (Ex: Allopathy vs. Ayurveda)'

GUIDELINES

  • •Duration: 5-7 Minutes including your introduction and closing remarks
  • •Introduce yourself - name, school, hobbies, etc.
  • •Speak slowly
  • •Pan and look at all the audience
  • •Give the overview of the topic first
  • •Get into the details
  • •Save 1-2 minutes for questions, if any
  • •Dress appropriately
  • •Use of flashcards allowed
  • •Reading out from a sheet of paper will disqualify you

DRAWING AND PAINTING

TOPICS

  • ★Elementary: 'My Beautiful Family'
  • ★Middle: 'How I see all four seasons...'
  • ★High: 'Life when Robots come into our homes'

GUIDELINES

  • •You may pick either drawing or painting; you need not do both
  • •Bring your own supplies and lego blocks
  • •We will have pastel enough for few kids
  • •We will provide the drawing and painting sheets
  • •Take a photograph of the painting or drawing
  • •We will return your work
  • •Judges will look at a) The core Idea b) Use of Colors c) Neatness/Perfection d) How you explain your work to the Judges, if asked

LEGOS

TOPIC

  • ★One common topic for all school categories
  • ★'Let your imagination go wild' — Build what you want or can. No constraints. Should be creative and impressive

GUIDELINES

  • •Use baseboard if you can. Easy to take it home
  • •Minimum size is Height 6", Width 4" and Depth 4"
  • •Judges will look at a) The core Idea b) Use of Colors c) Neatness/Perfection d) How you explain your work to the Judges, if asked