2017-2018 Competition Calendar
| First week of August, 2017 |
Student & TA registration opens
Ambassador registration opens CyberGuide registration opens Virtual Judge registration opens |
| November 8, 2017 | Early registration ends (deadline to receive free STEM kit) |
| December 13, 2017 | Student & TA registration ends |
| March 5, 2018 |
CyberGuides' last day online
Virtual Judge registration ends CyberGuide registration ends Final day to submit Mission Folders |
| March 19 - April 3, 2018 | Virtual Judging |
| April 9, 2018 | Potential State Winners and Regional Finalists contacted for validation |
| April 13, 2018 11:59 PM ET | Potential winners' validation forms due |
| April 16 - 20, 2018 | Equipment testing for Regional Judging video conference |
| April 23 - 27, 2018 | Regional Judging |
| Early May 2018 | State Winners, Regional Finalists, and National Finalists Announced |
| June 17-22, 2018 | National Judging & Educational Event |
Notes regarding the timeline:
- Potential winner validation includes review of the team make-up and Mission Folder contents. Quick adjustments will need to be made if any State Winning Teams must be disqualified. Actions that could lead to disqualification:
- Students on one team are from different grades or states
- Students or their parents do not have a Social Security Number for savings bonds
- Team Advisor is unable to certify the start date of research as on or after April 1, 2017.
- Any competition rules are found to be violated.
- Regional Finalists will be determined by overall score from Virtual Judging. The top three scores in each grade in each region will advance to the regional judging.
- Regional Judges will be provided a copy of the team’s Mission Folder electronically for advance reviews.
- The Regional Judging Panel will be conducted via an online video conference with each Regional Finalist Team:
- Team presentation to Regional Judges (4 minutes)
- Regional Panel Q&A (3 minutes)
- All Regional Judging will take place during the week of April 23, 2018.