Winter Contests
2026
Welcome to the 4th AoAA Wikipedia speedrun!
PURPOSE: to train your sleuthing and logical thinking skills and have fun. We will provide a list of starting and ending articles from Wikipedia. For a particular set of starting and ending articles, you must try to navigate from the start to the end using only the hyperlinks found in the articles. Whoever uses the least number of articles to reach the end will win.
PARTICIPANTS: there will be two groups based on grade level:
Group 1: 4-5 grade
Group 2: 6-7 grade
RULES AND GUIDELINES:
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Starting from the start article, try to navigate to the end article using the hyperlinks (blue text) in each article.
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Record each article you visit in your solution in a separate column of the provided spreadsheets.
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You may choose to submit solutions for however many of the 5 article sets provided. Each article set will have one winner, so it is recommended to participate in more article sets to increase your chances.
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In case of a tie, the participants will be provided 3 tiebreaker sets to decide the winner.
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DO use these links:
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Links in the main article
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Links in image captions
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Links in tables in the main article
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DON’T use these links:
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Links in “See also” sections
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Links in a list of articles in a series:
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Links at the top of the page before the article:
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Feb. 20th, 2026 11:59 pm in your local time zone (to avoid time zone clashes)
AWARD SYSTEM: for each group, each set will have one winner: that is, for group 1 (4-5th grade), a winner will be decided for EACH of the 5 sets, and similarly for group 2. Each winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.
EXAMPLE: question: find a path from Albert Einstein to Minecraft
Possible solution: Albert Einstein → Nobel Prize in Physics → Stockholm → Minecraft
Please make a copy of each set that you wish to solve and share your set link with: Drew Wang (dwang2@imsa.edu) and Ryan Chen (ryan.bohan.chen@gmail.com) when submitting.
SETS (for main competition; tiebreakers not included):
Set 1: Start: Six Seven End: New Year
2026 Wikipedia speedrun set 1: Six Seven to New Years
Set 2: Start: Voltaire End: Stereochemistry
2026 Wikipedia speedrun set 2: Voltaire to Stereochemistry
Set 3: Start: Mochi End: Stranger Things
2026 Wikipedia speedrun set 3: Mochi to Stranger Things
Set 4: Start: Industrial Revolution End: IShowSpeed
2026 Wikipedia speedrun set 4: Industrial Revolution to IShowSpeed
Set 5: Start: Avatar End: Jet2holidays
2026 Wikipedia speedrun set 5: Avatar to Jet2holidays
We look forward to seeing your creative solutions!
AoAA is hosting the 4th annual short stories contest for 3rd-7th grade students to show off their writing talents.
Original non-published stories on any subject will be accepted, and it must be fewer than 3,000 words in length and it must be submitted in a PDF.
One 1st Prize, 2nd Prize and 3rd Prize will be chosen by judges based on originality, organization and story development, writing style and voice, and grammar and mechanics.
Winners will receive Amazon e-gift cards and winning stories will be published on AoAA website with winners’ consent. The entry’s closing date is February 5, 2026. Happy writing!
Please submit your story by clicking the following cartoon
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The theme for this year is: Reading Takes Me Anywhere!
This can be completely up to your interpretation!
We are looking for the following:
1. Creativity
2. Originality
3. Effort
Your bookmark MUST:
- have the dimensions 2:8 (Bookmark Template)
- should be of ONLY the participant's work- NO COPYING ONLINE OR ANY
ASSISTANCE! We expect your highest integrity!
- include the AoAA logo (please use the AoAA logo below by downloading it)
**If you are hand-drawing your bookmark, please take a picture of it when you
are finished, download it on your computer, and then upload the AoAA logo
onto your bookmark! You may hand-draw the AoAA logo as well.**
Your bookmark MAY:
- be either horizontal OR vertical (it is your choice!)
Each person may only submit ONCE.
Prizes:
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Printed Design
There will be two divisions: grades 1-3 and grades 4-5.
Each division will have one first-place overall winner. The two winners will each have his/her bookmark design printed and sent back to them!
2.Amazon Gift Card
Each division will also have some top submissions. Depending on the number of participants, the top participants will each receive an $10 Amazon gift card. The 1st place winner will also receive a gift card.
Submission Instructions:
1. Create your bookmark! Please use the blank bookmark template. The bookmark may be hand-drawn or digitally created. Your artwork must be original. Make sure to refer to the given "Rules" above.
2. If you choose to hand-draw the bookmark, please take a clear (preferably the highest quality you can) picture of the bookmark, and download the picture. If you choose to digitally create the bookmark, please download it. Don't forget about the AoAA logo!
3. You're close to finishing! Fill out THIS FORM with the correct information and upload your bookmark submission!
Remember: the deadline for submissions is strictly set to January 31, 2026 at midnight ACCORDING TO YOUR TIME ZONE. New submissions after the deadline will not be considered!
