Awards & Scholarships

1. Awards & Scholarships

2. Why apply? • Awards programs through the FFA help bring much deserved recognition, not only to your chapter but to the individual students who have outstanding SAEs

3. Chapter Awards • The National Chapter Award is given to chapters who have implemented an outstanding POA • Every chapter that applies will receive a rating • This is a great opportunity to get your chapter recognized and give your students a chance to see their chapter’s name on the big screen!

4. Chapter Awards, cont’d • The Golden Horizon award recognizes well-rounded chapter involvement that promotes maximum participation, in order to deliver all facets of the agricultural education program.

5. Student Awards • Proficiency Awards recognize students with outstanding SAEs • Can either be entrepreneur or placement • Star Awards • Recognize students in four areas at each degree level • Production • Placement • Agribusiness • Agriscience

6. Scholarships • The scholarship opportunities for students are numerous • National FFA scholarships are due earlier than state FFA scholarships • KNOW YOUR DUE DATES!! • Keep in mind that Houston has very unique scholarship requirements with regards to who they will award scholarships to • Be aware of these so you don’t put a student in a bind. • This includes Go Texan Scholarships

7. Tips for filling out applications • Follow the rubrics! • The applications and rubrics are available online either through state or national FFA • Pictures • Action photos are best • Make sure they are a true reflection of the student or chapter’s work • Don’t wait until the last minute • Staged pictures look staged

8. Keep in mind • There are so many award and scholarship opportunities both through the FFA and some of your community groups • Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to apply for everything • Visit with veteran teachers if you have questions about how to find or fill out applications • Always volunteer to judge to help learn what a successful application looks like!

9. Record Books • Student awards, such as Star and proficiency require the students record books to be up to date • The record books should be kept up throughout the student’s SAE • They should be a true reflection of their work

10. Record Book Tips • Have a record book day each week for students to update their books in class so you can help them • Have a record book workshop once a month after school • If the student is keeping up with them on their own, do spot checks on your own.

11. Record Book Tips • Don’t wait until the last minute to put record books together • Students should be maintaining their books throughout the year

12. Interviews • The Star Awards and scholarships will require interviews • They will require official dress • Practice interviewing skills with your students • They will be very nervous, so being prepared can ease their nerves • A good first question to always begin with is “Tell us about yourself.” • Answering this should highlight not only who they are but their FFA involvement, especially as it pertains to this award

13. Interviews, cont’d • Questions from judges • Scholarship questions rarely change much • Star award questions are SAE specific, so make sure that your student is adequately prepared to talk about their SAEs • Knowing key terms is essential • Some examples • Gestation for pregnancy • Lactation for milking

14. Interviews, cont’d • Sometimes students get questions they don’t understand • Train them that it’s okay to ask for clarification • Train them to deal with questions that they can’t answer • When a student gets a question that baffles them, it’s okay. • Never answer “I don’t know.” • Teach them to use their other knowledge to help address the question to the best of their ability to show that they still understand their SAE.

15. Example of answering a tough question… • Jacob’s SAE is a placement SAE working for a beef cattle operation. He’s worked there for two years. • The judge asks Jacob, “What types of dewormers do you use and how often do you administer them?” • Jacob knows that they worm every six months, but is nervous and forgets the name of the dewormer. • What can he do?

16. What to do… • It’s okay to take a minute to gather your thoughts. Kids should not feel pressured to answer right away! • Jacob can explain how they gather the cattle every six months, and offer details about cattle handling and his exact job during the deworming process. • By explaining the details of what he does during the process, he shows that he has knowledge of his SAE

17. What to do, cont’d • NEVER say, “I don’t know.” • The student may not be able to give them exactly what they want, but they can give them SOMETHING!

18. Summary • Award and scholarship opportunities are numerous • Don’t try to do it all • Take pictures throughout the year • Follow the rubrics • Have other people look over your applications for you to check for errors