Dean’s Awards – Portfolio Judging Overview

Understanding the Dean’s Award Scoring

The Dean’s Award portfolio is a cumulative record of a 4-H’er’s entire career, from elementary school through high school. While every student’s journey is different, successful portfolios clearly demonstrate a “building block” effect, showing how knowledge and leadership have grown more complex and impactful over the years.

The 5 Core Scoring Criteria

To succeed, your portfolio should address these five key areas:

1. Clear Description of 4-H’er (8 points)

Judges look at your Cover Letter and the overall tone of your portfolio to understand who you are.

• What to show: A clear sense of your personality, your current standing in your 4-H career, and a summary of your primary achievements in your chosen project area.

2. The 4-H’er’s Experience (15 points)

This section focuses on your personal journey and future trajectory.

• What to show: How 4-H has guided your path, impacted your life, and shaped your future decisions. You may also include experiences from other organizations that have contributed to your expertise in your 4-H project area.

3. Project Work (37 points) – Highest Weight

This is the most critical section, primarily found in your two pages of accomplishments.

• What to show: Evidence that you have become an “expert” in your project area. Focus on learning activities such as workshops, judging events, tours, awards, and hands-on experiences where you developed specific technical skills.

4. Sharing and Helping (25 points) – Second-Highest Weight

Judges look for how you have used your expertise to benefit others.

• What to show: Clear documentation of teaching and leading. Examples include facilitating workshops, writing for newsletters, leading a project club, giving presentations, or creating exhibits. Sharing can be direct (teaching a class) or indirect (improving the lives of others through your project work).

 

5. Reliability, Layout, and Accuracy (15 points):

This score is based on the professionalism and honesty of your presentation.

• What to show: * Reliability: Your letters of support should affirm your honors and awards.
– Accuracy: Ensure you are honest about your specific role in group projects and the actual impact of your work.
– Layout: The portfolio should be visually appealing, easy to follow, and clearly highlight your top priorities without making the judge search for them

What Makes a “Strong” Portfolio?

Beyond the points, the highest-ranking portfolios consistently demonstrate these four qualities:
• Quality: Work that is meaningful and well-executed.
• Quantity & Impact: A high volume of activity is good, but showing a “big impact” is even better. Don’t just list numbers; show how those numbers changed things.
• Personal Growth: Examples of how your activities helped you learn and develop as a person.
• Variety and Progression: Evidence that your work has evolved. What you did in 5th grade should look different from what you are doing in 12th grade, showing a clear increase in knowledge and responsibility.

A Note on the Judging Process

Think of your portfolio like a professional resume. Judges review portfolios to find the candidate best suited for the “position” of a Dean’s Award winner. They look for consistency, growth, and a professional presentation that makes your achievements stand out immediately.