Florida 4-H Portfolio System

“I want to win a 4-H scholarship or national trip”

Who is eligible?

National Events can be applied for when a youth is 14 years old and up.

Once you win a trip you can not apply again for the same trip.

Graduating seniors (only) are eligible for state 4-H scholarships.

Some scholarships are available for freshman and sophomores in college.

*See current scholarship summary for details

Portfolio Resources

What you will need to get started: Past 4-H Project Books or Project Reports Florida 4-H Portfolio and Cover Page What Are My Skills worksheet Marketing YOU! Guidelines for Completing a

Florida 4-H Portfolio www.florida4h.org

National Trips

National 4-H Congress is held each November in Atlanta, Georgia. Florida can have thirty youth delegates attend.

National 4-H Conference is held each March in Washington, D.C. Florida can have four youth delegates attend this event.

How can I apply?

Learn about the Florida 4-H Portfolio System.

Participate in as many county, district and state 4-H projects, programs and events as possible.

Document your involvement in 4-H!!!

Awards Portfolio You must choose a 4-H Project Area

Animal Science

Environmental Education

Individual & Family Resources

Citizenship & Career Development

Leadership & Communications

Science & Technology

General/Overall Achievement

*For descriptions see page 12 “Marketing You”

4 Sections to the Awards Portfolio

1. Florida 4-H Portfolio & An Awards Cover Page (10-12 point font)

2. Resume (1 to 2 pages, 10-12 point font)

3. Narrative (2 to 3 page, 10-12 point font double spaced)

4. Current Year’s Major Project Report

Application

Starting from this day forth, document all of your 4-H participation!!!

NO section should be left blank!!! Make sure you assign yourself a program

area! Do not add additional pages. Include the most pertinent 4-H experiences in

the portfolio.

Let’s Complete and Application!

Start with the Portfolio and Cover Page

Florida 4-H Portfolio

Section 1: Cumulative 4-H Experiences Major Project Accomplishments 4-H Awards and Honors 4-H Activities, Experiences, and Events 4-H Offices and Leadership Experiences 4-H Citizenship and Community Service

Project Accomplishment Examples

Years Enrolled 4-H Project Area Major Accomplishments

2002-2006 BEEF Showed 10 heifers and 5 steers at 15 shows; exhibited grand, reserve grand and first place animals (12); member of 8 club, 4 county and 1 state livestock judging team

Years Enrolled 4-H Project Area Major Accomplishments

2002-2006 BEEF Began with one project heifer at age 9 and now have a herd of 15 cows. Annual calf sale profits have provided me with $3550 in savings for my education.

Good

Even Better

Awards and Honors

Year Award Honor Award Description Level

98-02 Trips Won trips to state and national S(5)N(2)

judging events

98-02 Trophies 23 trophies in 4-H Livestock C(12)S(3)

shows including 4 grand and A(10)

9 reserve grand champion

• Group awards in categories showing significant improvement whenever possible. The categories of awards might include trips, trophies, ribbons,

county medals, etc.

• List the most important awards and those most relevant to the other information you have include in your awards application.

Activities, Experiences, and Events

•List experiences by year(s) combining information where possible

•Items should reflect participation in demonstrations, talks, workshops, clinics, judging events, field trips or other learning experiences.

Year Project Competitions/Exhibits Your Involvement Level

03-06 Exhibits Created and exhibited 15 photo C,D,S

exhibits (C), and 2 poster art

(D, S) exhibits

Year Presentations/Demonstrations Your Involvement Level

02-06 Demonstrations Created and presented 5 county, C, D, S

5 district, and 3 state demos

Year Other 4-H Events and Activities Your Involvement Level

05-06 Florida 4-H Legislature Lobbyist S

Offices and Leadership Examples

Year Leadership Activity Your Responsibilities Level

01-06 Club officer and President, V.P, treasurer, (L) committee member recreation leader and telephone committee

04-06 State Executive Board District Representative (S)

Congress Planning Committee

05-06 State Council Officer Vice President (S)

•Indicate at what level you participated: (L)Local, (C) County, (D) District, (S) State, (N) National or (I) International.

Citizenship and Community Service

Remember, this category is to document what you do for others within your community…individually or as a group.

HELPING to do for others is the key…leadership for these events is good, also helping as a member is good, too!

Year Community Service/Citizenship Activity Your Responsibilities Level

05-06 Trails 4-H Club Coordinated project, (G) Community Pride Project completed Community Pride

application and report.

Florida 4-H Portfolio

Section 2:Experiences in other organizations, hobbies, and special interests.

List in order of importance your most meaningful experiences in school, church, and community organizations.

Resume

Use examples and “Marketing You” to assist you

Resume: Describe the skills, knowledge and abilities you have gained through 4-H.

This section should describe just how awesome you are.

Reference “What are My Skills Worksheet”

Resume Objective

Your objective is what you hope to accomplish by submitting the resume. In this case an objective would be to secure funds for college or to be awarded an award trip.

Skills and AccomplishmentsUse skills you have identified by using the “What Are My Skills” worksheet to complete this section.

EducationWhen you will receive your diploma. Also list your strongest area of focus, i.e. science, literature, etc. Also list school related honors and activities in this section.

EmployersIf you have been employed, use this section to document those positions. Include the employers name, dates of employment (mm/yy), and a brief description of your responsibilities. You may also list the city and state of employment.

Narrative ( 2 pages) should answer 5 questions:

How have you benefited from 4-H?

What skills have you learned in 4-H? How will they benefit you in the future?

Select an experience in which you were a part of a group and explain your contributions to that effort.

Narrativeshould answer 5 questions:

How will you share your experiences in 4-H?

What impact will you be able to make as a result of your 4-H experience?

DO NOT re-state everything from the application. This should provide the reader how 4-H has helped you in such a way that the reader has an overall view of your 4-H experience and development.

Florida 4-H Senior Project Report

Must be a Project that relates to the Program Area in which you are applying.

This is the Best Way to exhibit relevant project experiences.

This should be updated as you work through your project experience.

DO NOT include pictures and the project story with this report when it is submitted to state.

Questions to this Point???

Let’s review the parts of an awards portfolio.

5 Sections to the Scholarship Portfolio

1. Florida 4-H Portfolio & An Scholarship Cover Page (10-12 point font)

2. Resume (1 to 2 pages, 10-12 point font)3. Narrative (2 to 3 pages, 10-12 point font double

spaced) with Optional Statement on financial need.4. Letters of Recommendation: (1 from Agent, 1 from an

employer, school counselor, instructor or academic advisor)

5. Official Transcripts: (high school/college grades)

*Horse Scholarships require current year’s horse record book (i.e. Osborne & Horseman of the Year)

Florida 4-H Scholarships

Barber Cox PlattWilliamson Floyd BassettGreenawalt Milton Reeves Dr. Johnson Hilliker Brown

UF College of Agricultural and Life SciencesTampa Bay Kennel Club

Osbourne Horsemanship ScholarshipHorseman of the Year

*See the Florida 4-H Scholarship Summary for all requirements.

Submission Process

Make sure you meet your County’s portfolio deadline!

Award Trips Applications: submit the original and two additional copies.

Scholarship Applications: submit the original and one additional copy for each scholarship.

Always keep a copy for yourself!

All are due in the State Office by June 1st by 4:30 pm.

Now What?

Those getting an interview will be notified in mid to late June by mail. Interviews will take place at State Congress.

Award recipients will be announced during the banquet at State 4-H Congress.

“Cashin’ N” the Scholarships

Must Submit within 1 year:

1. College Name, with contact name and address

2. Official Enrollment Verification (Class Schedule or Transcript)

3. 2 Copies of a Thank You Letter to Donor

4. Social Security Number

5. Student ID at the University

QUESTIONS???

Prepared by Robert Strong, 4-H Agent, Marion County Extension and Daniel Meyers, State 4-H Events Coordinator, Florida 4-H Youth Development Program.