In addition to awards given to projects by the NHSEE (trophies, medals, cash prizes), other Special Awards may be available. Companies or organizations that have specific interest in a field of study may give out an award for projects that are more directly aligned with their field of interest. The list below is the awards that were available for 2017. These and others may be available for 2018 as well.
Students, parents or teachers with questions about the Special Awards, or a specific award in the list may email us (be sure to select “Special Awards” as the Category). If you’re an organization who would like to offer a Special Award to students, we’d love to hear from you too!
| Award name | # available | Award description | Other information |
| American Meteorological Society | 2 | Awarded for outstanding achievement in scientific endeavor in the areas of atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrological sciences. | |
| American Psychological Association | 1 | Awarded for outstanding research in psychological science under the category of behavioral and social sciences or any category related to psychology. | |
| ASM Materials Education Foundation | 1 | Awarded for best materials engineering project at the fair. | |
| Association for Women Geoscientists | 1 | Awarded to female students whose projects exemplify high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences. | Must be female |
| ASU Sustainability Solutions | 2 | Awarded to inventors, social entrepreneurs, innovative designers and creative thinkers who develop solutions to sustainability challenges. | |
| Intel Excellence in Computer Science | 1 | Awarded to the top first place winner of the Computer Science category in grades 9-12. | $200 Award |
| Mu Alpha Theta Award | 1 | Awarded to the individual or group project, from grades 9-12, demonstrating the most challenging, original, thorough, and creative investigation of a problem involving mathematics accessible to a high school student. | |
| NASA Earth System Science Award | 1 | Awarded to the project that best demonstrates insight into Earth’s interconnected systems. The project should incorporate studies of the different components of Earth systems, their interactions, and their evolution over time. | |
| NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award | 1 | Awarded for research that emphasizes NOAA’s mission: “To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. To share knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.” | |
| Office of Naval Research | 2 | Supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and programs for our nation’s young people. | Must be an individual project. $75 gift card. |
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | No limit | Given to students that have completed individual, independent research and will be in 12th grade in November of the same year as the Expo and would like to enter the national competition. Top 300 students earn $2000. Top 40 finalists earn $25,000. Top award is $250,000. | Must be an individual project. National competition |
| RICOH Sustainable Development Award | 1 | Awarded for outstanding efforts in addressing issues of environmental responsibility and sustainable development in a science or engineering project. | |
| Society for In Vitro Biology | 1 | Awarded to the most outstanding 11th grade student exhibiting in the areas of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture. | 11th Grade Only |
| Stockholm Junior Water Prize | 3 | Awarded to outstanding water-related research projects at the high school level (grades 9-12, ages 15-20). | International competition |
| U.S. Air Force | 1 | Supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives for our nation’s youth. | |
| U.S. Metric Association Award | 1 | Awarded to the project demonstrating the best overall use of the metric system. | |
| Yale Science and Engineering Association | 1 | Awarded to the most outstanding 11th grade project exhibiting in the Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry categories. | Prefer 11th Grade, but 10th or 12th are OK. |
| Northeast Institute of Food Technologists | 1 | Awarded to the best food related project at the fair. | $300 Award |
