Thank you to Bayer, our founding STEM Stars partner.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is an important field in today’s growing society. STEM represents the innovation, creativity, and intelligence needed to improve the world. The Congressional Award commends any participant interested and involved in STEM-related activities, as the country needs more fresh, bright minds to learn from.

The Award wants to give special recognition to the participants who incorporate STEM-related activities when they earn their Award. The STEM Stars initiative encourages a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math in young people. This initiative exposes students to STEM-related topics and invites Congressional Award participants to incorporate at least one STEM activity into their Award goals/activities. STEM Stars receive an additional Award designation, a STEM Star pin, and are invited to STEM-focused events both virtually and in-person at the Gold Medal Ceremony each year.

STEM STAR RESOURCES

Activity Checker

Check if your activity follows the Award guidelines!

Voluntary Public Service:

This activity is allowed! Remember: while this activity checker can offer you a good idea of what is generally acceptable, please note the Award is unable to pre-approve any goals or activities - in the end, it all comes down to your record book submission and how you've answered the questions in the online record book. This activity checker simply serves as a guide to let you know what is generally acceptable or point out any potential red flags.

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity. Guidelines include: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. For Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offers a financial fee waiver.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. For Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offers a financial fee waiver.

Your activity is not listed above. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. If for Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offered a financial fee waiver. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Personal Development:

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to see the guidelines and requirements for activities. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. If for Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offered a financial fee waiver.

Physical Fitness:

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: you did not receive class credit for this activity. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Exploration: (traditional in-person trips)

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your exploration: you did not receive class credit for this activity; your trip has 6-8 hours of activity per day, you answered all 1-6 write-up questions; your trip was independently planned and not prepared by an organization. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Your exploration is not listed above. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your exploration: you did not receive class credit for this activity; your trip has 6-8 hours of activity per day, you answered all 1-6 write-up questions; your trip was independently planned and not prepared by an organization. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Thank you to Bayer, our founding STEM Stars partner.

STEM STAR RESOURCES

How to Earn a STEM Star

STEM Stars Toolkit

Submit Your STEM Story

Activity Checker

Quick Links