eCYBERMISSION—7 Reasons Why You Should Participate

Participating in competitions during middle school can be a valuable way to build a strong academic profile. Not only do these experiences look great on your resume, they also provide you with a rewarding educational experience. Competitions like eCYBERMISSION, the subject of our blog today, can make you stand out from the crowd, giving you skills and experiences that will be helpful in high school and beyond.

What is eCYBERMISSION?

eCYBERMISSION is a virtual STEM competition for middle schoolers to address a community problem through science and engineering. Launched in 2002 by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), the competition aims to ignite interest in STEM among students at an early age. You and your team will select a problem within your community, conduct research, and propose a solution using scientific practices. 

Past participants have addressed issues as diverse as car seat safety, traumatic brain injury, climate change, and cyberbullying. eCYBERMISSION students have gone on to turn their projects into businesses, receive patents, and become Time Magazine’s Kid of the Year. 

The competition is designed to develop your critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while giving you the chance to make a tangible impact on your community. It is a way to gain hands-on experience in applying the scientific method. Whether you win or not, the skills and confidence you gain from participating in eCYBERMISSION can open doors for future academic and career opportunities.

Is eCYBERMISSION prestigious?

eCYBERMISSION is a highly regarded competition in the field of STEM. Each year, thousands of students from across the United States and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools worldwide participate in this competition. The contest is known for its rigorous selection process and the deep level of engagement it requires from participants. 

Because the competition has no entry cost and it offers savings bonds as prizes, it draws a large number of competitors. Participating in eCYBERMISSION gives you the chance to be recognized on a national stage, which can be a huge advantage when applying to future academic opportunities and scholarships.

Who is eligible to participate?

To participate in eCYBERMISSION, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a student in grades 6 through 9

• Reside in the United States, a U.S. territory, or be enrolled in a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school or Department of Defense Dependents School (DoDDS)

• Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident

After meeting eligibility requirements, you must register as a team of two, three or four students with an adult Team Advisor. Your team can only compete in one state. See the detailed rules here to check which state you have to register in. 

You must have a Team Advisor who is at least 21 years of age. This person can be a teacher, coach, counselor, leader in a youth organization, or parent or guardian. They also need an active email address and access to the Internet as they are the primary point of contact with eCYBERMISSION staff.

How is eCYBERMISSION structured?

Registration is currently open. eCYBERMISSION will follow the timeline below for the 2024-2025 iteration:

• August 15, 2024 – Registration opens.

• February 26, 2025 – Registration closes.

• March 5, 2025 – Mission Folder submission deadline. The Mission Folder is the final submission you and your team will submit as your competition entry. It can address one of two kinds of problems:

  1. Scientific Inquiry: If your team is trying to answer a question about a community problem and all its aspects 

  2. Engineering Design: If your team is designing a solution to solve a problem being faced by your community

• March 12 – March 26, 2025 – Virtual judging. This is the first round of judging, and the top three teams from each grade in each region will advance to the next round. The judgment criteria are as follows:

  1. Team collaboration – 10%

  2. Community benefit – 20%

  3. Application of scientific inquiry or engineering design – 70%

• April 21 – April 25, 2025 – Regional judging. In this round, submissions will be judged by U.S. Army scientists and engineers. You will make a 4-minute oral presentation to them and participate in a 4-minute Q&A session. The top 20 teams from this round will advance to the next event.

• June 23 – June 27, 2025 – National Judging & Educational Event. The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) invites the 20 finalists to an all-expenses-paid STEM event to deliver their project proposal in person. You will make a 5-minute presentation and participate in a 10-minute Q&A. You will also have the chance to attend a host of STEM activities and interact with Army scientists and engineers in person.

  
  

What are the prizes on offer at eCYBERMISSION?

Here’s what you stand to win for outstanding performance at eCYBERMISSION:

State Awards:

• First-Place State Winners - U.S. Series EE Savings Bond worth $500 on the purchase date and $1,000 at maturity.

• Second-Place State Winners - U.S. Series EE Savings Bond worth $250 on the purchase date and $500 at maturity.

Regional Awards:

• Regional Finalists - The first-place state winner award plus an additional $500 on the purchase date ($1,000 at maturity).

• Regional Winners - TOTAL Regional Finalist award plus an additional $1,000 on the purchase date ($2,000 at maturity). All Regional Winners also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Judging & Educational Event to compete for the National Winner Award.

National Awards:

• National Winners - TOTAL Regional Winner award plus an additional $3,000 on the purchase date ($6,000 at maturity).

  
  

7 reasons why you should participate

1. You will engage in real-world problem solving: eCYBERMISSION challenges you to tackle real-world issues, giving you a sense of purpose and the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in your community.

2. You will develop STEM skills: This competition allows you to apply what you've learned in science and math classes to real situations, helping you develop practical skills that are highly valued in both academic and professional settings.

3. You will learn teamwork and collaboration: Working in a team teaches you how to collaborate effectively, manage different perspectives, and divide tasks based on individual strengths.

4. You have the chance to win prizes: Winning or even participating in eCYBERMISSION can earn you recognition at the state, regional, or national levels, which can be a great addition to your academic resume. The monetary prizes can help fund future endeavors.

5. You can boost your academic profile: Participation in a prestigious competition like eCYBERMISSION can prepare you for a successful high school career by building your STEM skills.  

6. You get networking opportunities: The competition provides opportunities to connect with STEM professionals, educators, and peers who share your interests, which can be valuable as you pursue future studies.

7. You don’t have to pay any fees: Since eCYBERMISSION doesn’t require any fees to participate, it’s an excellent opportunity for everyone, regardless of financial background, to get involved in STEM.

Participating in eCYBERMISSION is a great way to gain experience, build skills, and prepare yourself for a future in STEM. If you participate in eCYBERMISSION as a ninth-grader, it can be a great extracurricular activity for college admissions too. The challenge allows you to hone and demonstrate your passion for STEM as you contribute towards solving community challenges.

One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.