michigan 4-h awards by elizabeth c wells what, when and how
TRANSCRIPT
Michigan 4-H AwardsMichigan 4-H Awards
By Elizabeth C WellsBy Elizabeth C Wells
What, When and HowWhat, When and How
What they areWhat they are
Open to all 4-H members ages Open to all 4-H members ages 13 and up (January 113 and up (January 1stst))
28 project areas28 project areas Five regions in MichiganFive regions in Michigan Up to two delegates from each Up to two delegates from each
region plus two floaters for a region plus two floaters for a total of 12 members per project total of 12 members per project
What they areWhat they are
Highest level of recognition in Highest level of recognition in Michigan 4-HMichigan 4-H
State winner gets plaque and State winner gets plaque and small money awardsmall money award
Runner up gets honorable Runner up gets honorable mentionmention
All delegates get regional All delegates get regional certificatecertificate
How competitive is it?How competitive is it?
Some projects very competitiveSome projects very competitive Most winners have: several Most winners have: several
years of project experience, years of project experience, state level workshops or state level workshops or competitions, much community competitions, much community service and leadership service and leadership experience, multiple projectsexperience, multiple projects
DeadlinesDeadlines
Applications for regional Applications for regional competition is due March 1competition is due March 1stst
Book is returned and if you are Book is returned and if you are selected you have until May 1selected you have until May 1stst to make changes and to make changes and improvements improvements
Must enroll in Exploration Days Must enroll in Exploration Days Awards sessionAwards session
ProcessProcess
Regional level competition is by Regional level competition is by your “book” only (award your “book” only (award portfolio)portfolio)
Regional delegates then re-do Regional delegates then re-do the book for state competitionthe book for state competition
State competition takes place at State competition takes place at MSU during Exploration Days MSU during Exploration Days and includes an interview as and includes an interview as well as the portfolio well as the portfolio
ApplicationApplication
Acco type binderAcco type binder Cover letterCover letter Individual photoIndividual photo Award Report FormAward Report Form 4-H Story – 3 pages4-H Story – 3 pages Pictures – 3 pagesPictures – 3 pages
RequirementsRequirements
Must be typedMust be typed Use 12 pt Times New Roman Use 12 pt Times New Roman
fontfont Must select 1Must select 1stst, 2, 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd
choice for awardchoice for award Individual photo page with Individual photo page with
name, age, address, county and name, age, address, county and project (underneath) project (underneath)
RequirementsRequirements
Report form must be on white Report form must be on white paperpaper
No scented paper allowedNo scented paper allowed May not change format of form – May not change format of form –
no using back, adding pages etcno using back, adding pages etc Leader’s signature requiredLeader’s signature required Extra copy of 4-H story and Extra copy of 4-H story and
resume paper clipped to inside resume paper clipped to inside of book’s front coverof book’s front cover
RequirementsRequirements
No newspaper clipping, letters, No newspaper clipping, letters, or anything but required itemsor anything but required items
No plastic sleeves for pagesNo plastic sleeves for pages Signature required in three Signature required in three
places which are: cover letter, places which are: cover letter, report form and end of storyreport form and end of story
Do not delete instructions on Do not delete instructions on formform
SuggestionsSuggestions
Make it factual, detailed but Make it factual, detailed but concise. Concentrate on content concise. Concentrate on content not fancy formatnot fancy format
Limit underlining, bolding etc. Limit underlining, bolding etc. and use 1 ½ inch margin on left and use 1 ½ inch margin on left and 1 inch on all othersand 1 inch on all others
Enhancements are allowed if Enhancements are allowed if you follow rules (no photos, you follow rules (no photos, scented paper etc) scented paper etc)
SuggestionsSuggestions
Stationary may be used for Stationary may be used for resume and cover letter but is resume and cover letter but is not requirednot required
Photos should tell your story Photos should tell your story with action. NO layering with action. NO layering allowed. Use captions that give allowed. Use captions that give more informationmore information
SPELL CHECK and PROOF SPELL CHECK and PROOF READ MANY TIMES!!!!! READ MANY TIMES!!!!!
The Award FormThe Award Form
Learning ExperiencesLearning Experiences – only – only list those directly related to main list those directly related to main project and include participation project and include participation in demonstrations, talks, in demonstrations, talks, exhibits, tours, workshops, field exhibits, tours, workshops, field trips etc. List chronologically trips etc. List chronologically with most recent last with most recent last
The Award FormThe Award Form
Knowledge and SkillsKnowledge and Skills – What – What you learned each year in your you learned each year in your main project. Be very specific main project. Be very specific and detailed and make them and detailed and make them increasing complex as the years increasing complex as the years go bygo by
The Award FormThe Award Form
Learning Experiences IILearning Experiences II is for is for other projects and should be other projects and should be similar to that used in the first similar to that used in the first section but only include other section but only include other projects (not main project) projects (not main project) Select 4 or 5 other projects to Select 4 or 5 other projects to concentrate on concentrate on
The Award FormThe Award Form
Knowledge and Skills II – Knowledge and Skills II – Summary of knowledge and Summary of knowledge and skills learned in other projects skills learned in other projects and group by project area and and group by project area and year year
The Award Form The Award Form
Volunteer LeadershipVolunteer Leadership - - Leadership means taking the Leadership means taking the lead by giving directions, lead by giving directions, planning and organizing an planning and organizing an activity. May be done with activity. May be done with others or individually. Put an others or individually. Put an asterisk (*) beside leadership asterisk (*) beside leadership activities directly related to your activities directly related to your main project main project
The Award FormThe Award Form
Citizenship and Community Citizenship and Community Service Service – Defined as acting with – Defined as acting with informed concern for yourself informed concern for yourself and for others either individually and for others either individually or as part of a group. Include or as part of a group. Include size and scope of what you did size and scope of what you did and again asterisks (*) those and again asterisks (*) those related to main projectrelated to main project
The Award FormThe Award Form
PromotionalPromotional – Where you have – Where you have taken leadership by telling taken leadership by telling others about 4-H. May be others about 4-H. May be displays, radio and television displays, radio and television shows, newspaper articles or shows, newspaper articles or talks given. List your specific talks given. List your specific responsibilities responsibilities
The Award FormThe Award Form
Awards and RecognitionAwards and Recognition – List – List significant awards you have significant awards you have received that indicate the quality received that indicate the quality of your work. Only put most of your work. Only put most important awards and DO NOT important awards and DO NOT go over 1/2 page go over 1/2 page
The Award FormThe Award Form
Non – 4-H Experiences – Non – 4-H Experiences – List List in order of importance other in order of importance other experiences outside of 4-H. experiences outside of 4-H. Include leadership roles and Include leadership roles and honors received. May not be honors received. May not be more than ½ page more than ½ page
PhotosPhotos
May use up to six photos per May use up to six photos per page if you edit wellpage if you edit well
Use action and leadership Use action and leadership photos – not standing with your photos – not standing with your ribbons, animal etcribbons, animal etc
Use captions to highlight your Use captions to highlight your experiencesexperiences
Cut carefully in either rectangle Cut carefully in either rectangle or oval shapeor oval shape
PhotosPhotos
If mounting real photos use card If mounting real photos use card stock for paper and rubber stock for paper and rubber cement for attaching. Captions cement for attaching. Captions should be embedded (not glued should be embedded (not glued on)on)
May also scan photos onto page May also scan photos onto page with captions – but MUST use with captions – but MUST use photo paper if using this optionphoto paper if using this option
Cover LetterCover Letter
A brief typed letter introducing A brief typed letter introducing yourself and expressing interest yourself and expressing interest in a particular opportunity. in a particular opportunity. Include date, name and address Include date, name and address of whom it is going to, two or of whom it is going to, two or three paragraphs, salutation and three paragraphs, salutation and signature as well as signature as well as “enclosures” “enclosures”
Your 4-H StoryYour 4-H Story
Very important to use all three Very important to use all three pages. Must be double spaced pages. Must be double spaced using 12 font. Be personal but using 12 font. Be personal but not “cutesy” Describe yourself, not “cutesy” Describe yourself, your project activities, other your project activities, other projects, how 4-H has helped projects, how 4-H has helped you grow and change and how it you grow and change and how it has influenced your school and has influenced your school and career goals and leisure timecareer goals and leisure time
Assembling the “Book”Assembling the “Book”
First PROOF read then have First PROOF read then have someone else proof it too!!!someone else proof it too!!!
Use ACCO binder with dividersUse ACCO binder with dividers Divide by individual photo, Divide by individual photo,
report form, story, photos report form, story, photos Paper clip extra story and Paper clip extra story and
resume to inside cover resume to inside cover
Assembling the “Book”Assembling the “Book”
Make sure your “book” is clean Make sure your “book” is clean and neatand neat
Add label to front with name, Add label to front with name, project and county (do NOT project and county (do NOT hand write this)hand write this)
Get signatures from your Get signatures from your parents and leader parents and leader
Exploration Days Exploration Days
You must attend as an award You must attend as an award delegate. delegate.
Award delegates go to Award delegates go to workshops, a rehearsal at the workshops, a rehearsal at the Wharton Center and often do Wharton Center and often do community service projectscommunity service projects
Small fee to participateSmall fee to participate If you do “Awards Only” you go If you do “Awards Only” you go
home Thursday nighthome Thursday night
Exploration DaysExploration Days
OR you may do a second half OR you may do a second half class at Exploration Days like all class at Exploration Days like all other youthother youth
Thursday night awards Thursday night awards celebration is for you and your celebration is for you and your parents and leaders and is parents and leaders and is formal – most delegates dress in formal – most delegates dress in long formal gowns long formal gowns
Exploration DaysExploration Days
June 18 - 20June 18 - 20 At Michigan State UniversityAt Michigan State University You stay in dorm room with the You stay in dorm room with the
Michigan delegationMichigan delegation Lots of walking to eventsLots of walking to events About 2,300 4-H members from About 2,300 4-H members from
all over Michigan will be thereall over Michigan will be there
InterviewInterview
Counts as 1/3 of your score Counts as 1/3 of your score toward the state awardtoward the state award
May have group interview firstMay have group interview first Usually several people at once Usually several people at once
interview youinterview you First impressions count a LOT!First impressions count a LOT! Wear what you would to a job Wear what you would to a job
interviewinterview
InterviewInterview
Practice questions and answers Practice questions and answers ahead of time with your parents, ahead of time with your parents, 4-H leaders or friends posing as 4-H leaders or friends posing as interviewers interviewers
Consider taping yourself to see Consider taping yourself to see how you look as you answerhow you look as you answer
Try to anticipate what questions Try to anticipate what questions will be asked and have answers will be asked and have answers preparedprepared
InterviewInterview
Relax and have fun but don’t Relax and have fun but don’t come across as “silly”come across as “silly”
Take your interview seriously Take your interview seriously and also have a sincere interest and also have a sincere interest in othersin others
Think deeply about what 4-H Think deeply about what 4-H means to you and how it has means to you and how it has impacted your life impacted your life
Additional HelpAdditional Help
Go on line for rules, forms and Go on line for rules, forms and lists of hints etc at:lists of hints etc at:MichiganMichigan 4-H Youth Development: Award 4-H Youth Development: Awards & Recognitions & Recognition
See examples of past award See examples of past award winning bookswinning books
StressStress
Yes it can be stressful!!!Yes it can be stressful!!! You are not the first one to have You are not the first one to have
done this and yes everyone else done this and yes everyone else sometimes wanted to quit and sometimes wanted to quit and sometimes wanted to cry!sometimes wanted to cry!
The first year is the hardest!!!The first year is the hardest!!! Is it worth it?Is it worth it?
