The Imagine Engineering Coloring Contest is a statewide, youth education program for second graders. It was established in 1999 and is sponsored by the Engineers Foundation of Ohio. This education program allows second grade teachers to download and present an educational video and schedule a classroom visit from a local member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE).

OSPE member volunteers then visit classrooms through the early winter to talk with the children about what engineers do for a living. The volunteer's presentation may also include:

• talking at a fundamental level about local engineering projects,
• answering student questions about engineering,
• engaging the students in an engineering experiment using everyday items like notebook paper, drinking straws and cellophane tape.

At the end of the presentation, the OSPE volunteer distributes a small gift to each student and explains how to enter the Imagine Engineering Coloring Contest.

A student may enter the coloring contest by drawing and coloring a picture of an engineer at work or their own engineering idea. Contest winners will be selected in the spring and announced at an annual Awards Luncheon in June. The students who submit the top three entries in the state will receive educational toys as prizes. In addition, OSPE chapters may choose to offer additional prizes for local winners.

OSPE volunteers present the Imagine Engineering program to approximately 7,500 students each winter. 

2ND Grade Educators:

• REGISTER YOUR CLASS/SCHOOL:  Call the Engineers Foundation of Ohio at 614-223-1177 to request a link to the online registration form.
• DOWNLOAD our Teacher's Kit for the current program season.
• WATCH THE VIDEO WITH YOUR CLASS:  Registered schools will receive a link to this year's program materials, including the exciting and educational "Imagine Engineering" video resource!
• CONTACT AN ENGINEER TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR STUDENTS:  Use the contact list in the Teacher's Kit to contact a local engineer who will be happy to engage in discussions about engineering with your students!

OSPE Chapter Volunteers:

Linked is the Chapter Kit for Imagine Engineering.  Please forward copies to all chapter volunteers who are scheduled to make in-class presentations. 

Contact EFO for the list of Registered Elementary Schools for the Imagine Engineering Coloring Contest.  These schools will expect an in-class presentation from your chapters.  Please touch base with the schools in your chapter area at your earliest possible convenience.  If you are prepared to schedule dates and times for the in-class presentations, please do so.  But at least acknowledge that they've registered and exchange contact information.  (Your volunteers can follow up with these teachers later to finalize dates and times for in-class presentations.)

Should your chapter run low on bookmarks, you will need to contact OSPE via phone (614-223-1144) or via e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to reorder.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: 

• In-class presentations run through the end of the academic year. 
• Return your chapter's top THREE entries to OSPE by April 15.
• Winners will be selected in the spring and announced in at an annual Awards Luncheon in June.

Please call us at 614-223-1177 with any questions.