Zoe was always that kid building jaw-dropping creations out of Legos, but how do you put 'Lego genius' on a college app?
Then she found a bridge-building competition. With guidance from a Curious Cardinals mentor, Zoe poured her heart into the project, and suddenly “Lego genius” became an “award-winning young engineer” when she placed second nationally.
It got me thinking: How do we really show what kids can do? How do we measure their talents in a way that matters?
That’s where academic competitions and scholarships come in. They're secret weapons for helping ambitious students shine—real deadlines, real recognition, and the kind of external validation that counts.
So what are you waiting for? Whether your child is ready to tackle a competition on their own or could benefit from a Curious Cardinals mentor to guide them, why not try? There’s a competition out there for every passion—here are a few great options.
We're Here to Help
These competitions are about more than winning—they’re about accountability, setting a clear goal, and sharing your work with the world. At Curious Cardinals we believe wholeheartedly in the value of putting yourself out there and trying your best. No matter the outcome, your student will learn to take ownership, manage projects, build critical skills, and embrace the challenge—without a teacher assigning the work, but by taking initiative themselves.
Ready to get started? Schedule a call with Ian, our Harvard and Stanford Graduate School of Education alum, to chart a course for your student’s success.
Stay Curious,
On behalf of the Curious Cardinals team
This is a pic from my senior year after winning the Al Davis Scholar-Athlete Award - I was so honored!
