Preparing Portfolios
1. Each nominee’s portfolio should be enclosed in an official Sterling Scholar Awards portfolio binder supplied to each student by the school. The cover will be created by the student who wins the Visual Art Category for Sterling Scholar.
2. Nominees are to type their full name on all Sterling Scholar forms just as they wish it to appear in the newspaper and program. For example, please don’t list Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones, instead use Bob and Sue Jones. Organizers will be sensitive to situations involving divorced or single parents and step-parents. Please make intentions clear.
3. Portfolios may not contain more than 18 single sheet pages. Clear sheet protectors must be used so that pertinent material may be displayed effectively on both sides. Therefore, if a portfolio contained the maximum number of pages, it would allow 36 ―exposures on the 18 sheets. Please note: English category nominees are allowed four additional single-sided sheets for a total of 40 ―exposures.
4. We ask nominees to use good judgment when filling out the forms. For example, we don’t want to see one-quarter inch margins and eight point type in order to fit as much on the page as possible. Your focus should be on quality not quantity when answering the questions.
5. Student transcripts submitted in the portfolio must include ACT scores and class ranking. If these are not present on the transcript, they must be added to the portfolio. Also, student social security numbers, birthdates, and addresses must be removed from the student’s transcript before it can be submitted.
6. Portfolios are not scrapbooks. Please be selective of material. Portfolios must NOT contain any of the following: heavy cardboard/cardstock, cloth pages, or more than two layers of paper used for design purposes. Please do not include originals of medals and award certificates, a photocopy or scanned copy of these items is recommended. A short narrative explaining what the award is and how it was earned is helpful to the judging process.
7. Exhibits are allowed in all categories for interviews. Nominees will be responsible for transporting exhibits to and from places for judging. Exhibits that cannot be accommodated in portfolios should be reserved for judging interviews. Remember, the number of exhibits taken to the interview is limited to what can be carried in the arms of the nominee in one trip without the help of others. The use of carts or similar devices is not allowed.
8. Students will be judged on their portfolios and personal interviews. The interview is important, and nominees should prepare for them. No provisions are made to schedule special interviews to suit individual needs or for a videotape or another individual to represent a nominee. All nominees must be present at the appropriate time and place for their personal interviews—no exceptions.
9. Please remember, nominees should be counseled to bring only pertinent exhibits to interviews. Any samples, demonstration presentations, keepsakes, or any offerings that could be interpreted as gifts for the judges are in extremely poor taste, are not allowed, and may result in disqualification.
10. Portfolios are to be handed in on the date specified. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS. Portfolios will not be accepted after the due date.
Organizing Portfolios Please organize your portfolio in this order:
Inside front cover: Student Sketch
Page 1. Nominee’s ID Page. This page should include a picture of the student, his/her name, school, and category.
Page 2 & 3. Student Entry Forms. Please make sure to use the Entry Form questions provided.
Page 4. Certified list of high school grades/transcript.
Page 5. Principal Report (yellow sheet).
Page 6. Standardized Test Data Form to be used only in the General Scholarship Category (blue sheet).
Page 7. One page letter of recommendation by any teacher.
Page 8. List of awards, honors, and achievements.
Other pages are to be used to display awards, honors, achievements, etc.
FOLLOW VERY CLOSELY THE GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING PORTFOLIOS!
10 Step Portfolio
1. Collect pictures and certificates that are relative to the three categories (Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship).
2. Divide the pictures and certificates into the three areas.
3. Scan all of the above.
4. Collect a letter of recommendation.
5. Start the pages. Each page should look similar and consistent within the portfolio. Make a template in a unique design that represents you. Each page
should have a picture or certificates or both with an explanation of 1 to 5 sentences. The judges don't have time to read pages that are too busy or too wordy. Edit yourself. Ask yourself what you want the judges to know about that activity or achievement.
6. Keep all deadlines. Show your rough draft to me (Mr. Bennett) early. I will look at it as often as you like but not if you wait until the last minute.
7. Proofread.
8. Have someone else proofread.
9. Make changes.
10. Put book together and turn it in to Mr. Bennett
1. Each nominee’s portfolio should be enclosed in an official Sterling Scholar Awards portfolio binder supplied to each student by the school. The cover will be created by the student who wins the Visual Art Category for Sterling Scholar.
2. Nominees are to type their full name on all Sterling Scholar forms just as they wish it to appear in the newspaper and program. For example, please don’t list Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones, instead use Bob and Sue Jones. Organizers will be sensitive to situations involving divorced or single parents and step-parents. Please make intentions clear.
3. Portfolios may not contain more than 18 single sheet pages. Clear sheet protectors must be used so that pertinent material may be displayed effectively on both sides. Therefore, if a portfolio contained the maximum number of pages, it would allow 36 ―exposures on the 18 sheets. Please note: English category nominees are allowed four additional single-sided sheets for a total of 40 ―exposures.
4. We ask nominees to use good judgment when filling out the forms. For example, we don’t want to see one-quarter inch margins and eight point type in order to fit as much on the page as possible. Your focus should be on quality not quantity when answering the questions.
5. Student transcripts submitted in the portfolio must include ACT scores and class ranking. If these are not present on the transcript, they must be added to the portfolio. Also, student social security numbers, birthdates, and addresses must be removed from the student’s transcript before it can be submitted.
6. Portfolios are not scrapbooks. Please be selective of material. Portfolios must NOT contain any of the following: heavy cardboard/cardstock, cloth pages, or more than two layers of paper used for design purposes. Please do not include originals of medals and award certificates, a photocopy or scanned copy of these items is recommended. A short narrative explaining what the award is and how it was earned is helpful to the judging process.
7. Exhibits are allowed in all categories for interviews. Nominees will be responsible for transporting exhibits to and from places for judging. Exhibits that cannot be accommodated in portfolios should be reserved for judging interviews. Remember, the number of exhibits taken to the interview is limited to what can be carried in the arms of the nominee in one trip without the help of others. The use of carts or similar devices is not allowed.
8. Students will be judged on their portfolios and personal interviews. The interview is important, and nominees should prepare for them. No provisions are made to schedule special interviews to suit individual needs or for a videotape or another individual to represent a nominee. All nominees must be present at the appropriate time and place for their personal interviews—no exceptions.
9. Please remember, nominees should be counseled to bring only pertinent exhibits to interviews. Any samples, demonstration presentations, keepsakes, or any offerings that could be interpreted as gifts for the judges are in extremely poor taste, are not allowed, and may result in disqualification.
10. Portfolios are to be handed in on the date specified. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS. Portfolios will not be accepted after the due date.
Organizing Portfolios Please organize your portfolio in this order:
Inside front cover: Student Sketch
Page 1. Nominee’s ID Page. This page should include a picture of the student, his/her name, school, and category.
Page 2 & 3. Student Entry Forms. Please make sure to use the Entry Form questions provided.
Page 4. Certified list of high school grades/transcript.
Page 5. Principal Report (yellow sheet).
Page 6. Standardized Test Data Form to be used only in the General Scholarship Category (blue sheet).
Page 7. One page letter of recommendation by any teacher.
Page 8. List of awards, honors, and achievements.
Other pages are to be used to display awards, honors, achievements, etc.
FOLLOW VERY CLOSELY THE GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING PORTFOLIOS!
10 Step Portfolio
1. Collect pictures and certificates that are relative to the three categories (Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship).
2. Divide the pictures and certificates into the three areas.
3. Scan all of the above.
4. Collect a letter of recommendation.
5. Start the pages. Each page should look similar and consistent within the portfolio. Make a template in a unique design that represents you. Each page
should have a picture or certificates or both with an explanation of 1 to 5 sentences. The judges don't have time to read pages that are too busy or too wordy. Edit yourself. Ask yourself what you want the judges to know about that activity or achievement.
6. Keep all deadlines. Show your rough draft to me (Mr. Bennett) early. I will look at it as often as you like but not if you wait until the last minute.
7. Proofread.
8. Have someone else proofread.
9. Make changes.
10. Put book together and turn it in to Mr. Bennett