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General
Eligibility Rules For National 4-H Youth Congress Using the Nebraska
4-H Career Portfolio
4-H Career Portfolio Grandfather Clause - By the end of the 2007-2008
4-H year,
all 4-H youth must be using the Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio.
What is National 4-H Youth Congress?
National 4-H Youth Congress is an award program which provides recognition
to 4-H youth for their outstanding performances and achievements in 4-H.
The late November event is conducted by a committee of 4-H staff and teens
from several states across the country, with support from national and
state donors. It is designed to:
Provide youth a high quality, relevant educational and cross
cultural experiences not otherwise obtainable within the state.
Provide an experience focused on current themes of high interest
to youth.
Respond to the diversity of needs and program priorities from state
to state.
Create a learning environment comfortable for youth coming from diverse
backgrounds and program experiences.
Involve youth as full partners in planning, implementing and leading
the program.
"Salute" the contributions that youth currently do and make in their
communities now and in the future.
Enhance visibility for the 4-H youth development program and Extension.
Who can apply?
Any 4-H participant, completing two years of a 4-H project, is eligible
to apply for incentives offered. A 4-H participant is anyone enrolled in
4-H.
What are the age requirements?
From age 8 to 19 county awards program may vary depending on the county.
All state award applicants must become 15-19 during the calendar year in
which the incentive is actually received. The last year of 4-H eligibility
is the calendar year the member becomes 19. Any 4-H member receiving an
award resulting in an event/trip must meet the age requirements of the
event/trip.
At what point in my 4-H career can I apply?
A 4-H youth must complete a minimum of two years of a 4-H project to be
eligible to apply for a National 4-H Youth Congress Award in a curriculum
area. When applying for an award, based on eight curriculum area(s), the
applicant must be enrolled in a related project at the time of the application
and remain enrolled through the time of the event or program provided as
recognition.
How many applications can be submitted?
Counties may set their own limitations on the number of incentives an individual
may apply for at the county level. For competition beyond the county level,
an individual 4-H member:
At the county level a 4-H participant may be selected for
district/state competition in two curriculum areas resulting in a
trip to National 4-H Youth Congress.
May apply in two curriculum areas for National 4-H Youth Congress
regardless of place of residence. (For example: an individual belonging
to two clubs in different counties may only submit two books for
National 4-H Youth Congress consideration, not two books per county
of membership.)
Each County may submit the following quotas to district/state competition:
Animal Science - 7
Communication & Expressive Arts - 4
Consumer & Family Science - 5
Environmental Education & Earth Science - 4
Healthy Lifestyles - 5
Leadership & Citizenship - 6
Plant Science - 4
Science & Technology - 4
How many awards can I receive?
4-H participants can only represent Nebraska in one curriculum
area. If a 4-H member is fortunate enough to win in two areas, they
must choose which curriculum area they want to be recognized in. Make sure
first and second choices are marked on the curriculum area on the 4-H Career
Portfolio entry sheet.
15 applicants will be chosen for partial scholarships to attend National
4-H Congress. Alternates may attend National 4-H Congress at their
own expense.
A 4-H member may only attend National 4-H Youth Congress one time
and National 4-H Conference one time. (Please refer to
the state 4-H web page www.4h.unl.edu to
understand the difference between these two programs).
4-H members who win an award to attend National 4-H Youth Congress
or National 4-H Conference and decline the award are eligible to
compete for the same incentive in future years. There is no guarantee
they will be selected in subsequent years
State 4-H Career Portfolio Guidelines
Application Deadline: Due January 15 to the District Research
and Extension Center.
Required Materials: The following materials are required in the
4-H Career Portfolio and should be assembled in the order listed. A separate
book must be submitted for each application.
Organizing the 4-H Career Portfolio
1. COVER
Use a standard Acco-type fastener binder for paper size
8½ x 11 inches. Do not use a loose-leaf ring binder.
2. PRE-PRINTED TAB DIVIDERS
3. APPLICATION AND CURRICULUM FORMS
4. 4-H CAREER PORTFOLIO (Sections 1-3) - a composite of all 4-H
and non 4-H projects/activities throughout the individual's 4-H career.
The 4-H Career Portfolio has been designed for use with Microsoft
Word or Open Office. It is not required to be typed.
Additional pages may be added to the form as indicated.
The 4-H Career Portfolio information should be printed using True
Type Font, Times New Roman, 12 point and in Landscape format.
5. THE 4-H CURRICULUM STORY (Section 4)
Directions: A maximum of six pages on one side, double-spaced
with 1 ½ inches on the top and 1 inch on the side and bottom margins,
True Type Font, Times New Roman, 12 point font printed in the Landscape
format.
Suggested Story Format: (The following outline may help in the development
of your story; however, do not identify these parts in your story.)
Part 1: Introduction
Introduce yourself, you may wish to include information about your
family and personal interest. Include when and why you joined 4-H, etc.
You may want to tell why 4-H is important to you.
Part 2: Describe Your Growth in Your Curriculum Area - in the area you
are applying for an award
Relate some of the experiences and activities while you were completing
your 4-H project(s). Share how 4-H and your project(s) helped you learn
new knowledge and skills. You may want to include ideas you tried that
were successful or unsuccessful.
Part 3: Other 4-H Projects and Experiences
Share highlights of other 4-H projects, activities, or experiences
not mentioned in Part 2 (see above), include any major learning experiences,
items of special interest, and/or unusual situation you encountered.
Part 4: Leadership/Community Service related to the Curriculum Area
in which you are competing.
Explain how 4-H has helped you become a better leader and citizen.
How has 4-H increased your interest and participation in community affairs,
and what you have learned from team efforts?
Part 5: Conclusion - summary of the impact of 4-H on you.
Describe how 4-H participation has helped you develop personally and
professionally. Share your future goals and discuss the career you want
to pursue and why.
Remember:
Your story should be written in first person, check for typographical
errors and avoid gimmicks such as a calf telling your story. Stories should
be specific to the curriculum area you are applying - do not write a general
story and do not include county annual story.
6. Support Material (Section 5)
Directions: These materials must provide documentation to support your
4-H Career Portfolio.
No more than 4 pages of photos.
Up to 2 additional pages of supporting materials other than photos.
A maximum of 6 pages.
All materials must fit within the confines of an 11 by 8½
inches landscaped page.
Photo pages:
No more than four pages of photos.
Include a brief caption explaining the picture.
Make sure to select photos that compliment the curriculum area.
Action photos provide more impressive documentation of 4-H activities.
Photos showing year-to-year progress or leadership activities provide
excellent documentation of growth.
Color photocopies, and/or digital photos are acceptable.
Photocopies of newspaper print pictures are not acceptable.
Do not overlap photos where one photo must be lifted to see another.
Two Optional Pages of Supporting Material:
Up to 2 additional pages of supporting materials other than
photos.
Material should relate specifically to 4-H curriculum area.
Items must fit on 11 x 8½ inches landscaped page.
Do not include letters of recommendation.
Do not use newspaper clippings or newspaper articles.
Photography projects cannot include extra photo pages.
Do not include specific project record books.
Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio Scorecard
This document can be found on the Nebraska State 4-H website at
4h.unl.edu
or on the 4-H Career Portfolio CD available at your local County Extension
Office.
The 4-H Career Portfolio is scored in the following categories:
35% Project Accomplishments
35% 4-H Leadership, Community Service, Volunteer, Citizenship &
Educational Experiences
5% Non 4-H Experiences
15% 4-H Career Story
5% 4-H Support Materials
5% General
8/19/2005
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources at the University of NebraskaLincoln cooperating with the Counties
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the non-discrimination
policies of the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the United States
Department of Agriculture.
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