NE4H H CAREER PORTFOLIO

What is the 4-H Career Portfolio It is a record of a 4-H member’s 4-H career. It includes a listing of a 4-H member’s personal growth and leadership experiences related to the knowledge learned, skills gained and community service/volunteer activities experienced through 4-H.

Uses of the Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio: Developing Award Applications Documenting 4-H Experiences Recording Development of Life Skills Applying for National 4-H Youth Congress Applying for National 4-H Conference Completing Scholarship Applications Applying for College Entrance Building Resumes Applying for Jobs

Eight Curriculum Areas Animal Science Communication & Expressive Arts Consumer & Family Science Environmental Education & Earth Sciences Healthy Lifestyles Education Leadership & Citizenship Plant Science Science & Technology

Number of Entries Sent to State Competition Counties may send: 7 Animal Science 4 Communication & Expressive Arts 5 Consumer & Family Science 4 Environmental Education & Earth Sciences 5 Healthy Lifestyles 6 Leadership & Citizenship 4 Plant Science 4 Science & Technology

Number Selected for National 4-H Youth Congress At State Level, 15 applicants will be chosen for partial scholarships to attend National 4-H Youth Congress. Alternates may attend National 4-H Youth Congress at their own expense. A 4-H participant may attend National 4-H Congress one time during their 4-H career.

National 4-H Youth Congress National 4-H Congress provides recognition to 4-H youth for their outstanding performances and achievements in 4-H. The late November event provides youth high quality, relevant, educational and cross cultural experiences not otherwise obtainable within the state. A 4-H participant may attend National 4-H Congress one time during their 4-H career.

Selection & Eligibility: continued 4-H participants can: –only represent Nebraska in one curriculum area. –Must complete two years of a 4-H project to be eligible to apply. –Must be enrolled in a related project at the time of the application and remain enrolled through the time of the award event or program.

Selection & Eligibility: continued All state award applicants must: – become during the calendar year in which the incentive is actually received. –For competition beyond the county level a 4-H member may apply in two curriculum areas regardless of place of residence.

4-H Career Portfolio (NE4H9000) The 4-H Career Portfolio has been designed to be compatible with Word & Open Office Software. 4-H members can download Open Office Software from free of charge, or from the CD available at the local County Extension Office.

4-H Career Portfolio (NE4H9000) continued The 4-H Career Portfolio must be typed in True Type Font, Times New Roman, 12 point font with 1” margins on all sides. The 4-H Career Portfolio must be placed in an Acco-type fastener (a stiff 8 ½ x 11 inch binder). Do not use a loose-leaf ring binder.

4-H Career Portfolio (NE4H9000) continued Portfolio must be printed in landscape format. It is recommended to use the pre-printed tab dividers available from your County Extension Office.

Section 1: Project Accomplishments In this section, you will identify the project(s) you are taking. List what was done and/or what you accomplished and what you learned through each project. Any experience related to the projects you are taking such as workshop, judging contest, presentations, speeches, camps specific to the curriculum areas should be located in Section 2.

Section 2: 4-H Leadership, Community Service, Volunteer, Citizenship Educational Experiences In this section list each 4-H activity in the appropriate curriculum area. Activities can include but are not limited to camps, contests, workshops, county events, educational experiences, service projects, elected offices, committees, judging, presentations, speeches, etc. You do not have to be enrolled in a project that corresponds to the curriculum area. It is okay if you don’t have information for all sections. It is important to show a progression of learning activities and leadership responsibility as they grow year to year. See example in Section 2A.

Section 3: Non 4-H Experiences Directions: In this section, list your most meaningful participation in school, church and community organizations other than 4-H; include leadership roles and honors received. Do not include any items that pertain to 4-H in this section. Note: In this section, members should show a progression of learning activities and leadership responsibility as they grow year to year.

4-H Curriculum Story Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Describe Your Growth in Your Curriculum Area – in the area you are applying for an award Part 3: Other 4-H Projects and Experiences Part 4: Leadership/Community Service related to the Curriculum Area in which you are competing Part 5: Conclusion – summary of the impact of 4-H on you

Support Materials 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” X 8 1/2” landscaped page

Photo Pages No more than 4 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

Supporting Materials Pages 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 8 1/2” landscaped page Do not include letters of recommendation Do not use newspaper clippings or newspaper articles Photography projects can not include extra photo pages Do not include specific project record books

Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio Scorecard 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 Material 5% General