Career Portfolio/Annual Achievement Application (TWO OPTIONS)

Washington County's Career Portfolio program is an opportunity for 4-H members to submit a record of their involvement in not only 4-H, but in their schools and communities as well.
By participating in this program, youth are able to keep record of their involvement from year to year.  There are opportunities to compete at a county level and go on to compete at state, as well as national.  Take a look at the information and details below!

NEW in 2018 – TWO Options (Pick ONE)

  • Career Portfolio 
  • Nebraska 4-H Annual Achievement Application
    • The Nebraska 4-H State Member Recognition Committee (made up of 4-H faculty and staff from across the state) has proposed a NEW “Nebraska 4-H Annual Achievement Application” that will be piloted by counties in 2018 and will be replacing the current “Career Portfolio” in 2019. 

OPTION 1 - CAREER PORTFOLIO 

Career Portfolio

The Career Portfolio is an opportunity for 4-H members to submit a record of their involvement in not only 4-H, but in their schools and communities as well.

AGE DIVISIONS

  • Junior (age 8-10 as of 1/1)
  • Intermediate (age 11-13 as of 1/1)
  • Senior (age 14-18 as of 1/1)
  • Youth will move up divisions by age qualification or by receiving a gold in a curriculum area.

CURRICULUM AREAS

  • Animal Science
  • Communications & Expressive Arts
  • Consumer & Family Sciences
  • Environmental Education & Earth Science
  • Healthy Lifestyles Education
  • Leadership & Citizenship
  • Plant Science
  • Science & Technology

  • In Washington County, youth can apply in THREE curriculum areas each year.
  • If eligible for state (Senior Level and selected for state), only TWO curriculum areas are allowed per 4-H member. 
  • Youth are eligible to receive an award for each curriculum area applied for. 
  • Once youth receives gold in an area, they will automatically move up a division regardless of the age requirement. 
  • Youth can re-apply in any area that they have not received gold.

FORMS

RULES 

  • Applicants must use a 4-H Member's Record Book Cover (goo.gl/E4Y8ao or at Extension Office).
  • Refer to the State Website for other content and organization guidelines. https://4h.unl.edu/career-portfolio

OPTION 2 - ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT APPLICATION

Nebraska 4-H Annual Achievement Application

All Nebraska 4-H members, ages 8-18 are encouraged to complete this application for acknowledgment of their annual achievements in 4-H and to be eligible for any county and state level awards. 

  • Used for county and state awards and recognition.
  • Used for selection of delegates to the National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference.
  • National 4-H Conference (https://4h.unl.edu/conference) is a weeklong program held at the National 4-H Center, Chevy Chase, MD in March-April. It is a future-focused program that aims to build strong leaders through roundtable discussions, team-building activities, group assemblies, and visits with national legislators.
  • National 4-H Congress (https://4h.unl.edu/congress) is held in November in Atlanta, GA. The program provides opportunities to learn about community involvement, cultural diversity, and service to others.
  • Delegates for congress and conference must turn ages 15-19 during the calendar year in which the trip occurs.
  • Youth interested in being considered as a delegate for congress and/or conference must make that designation on their application.

 

AGE DIVISIONS

  • Junior (age 8-10 as of 1/1)
  • Intermediate (age 11-13 as of 1/1)
  • Senior (age 14-18 as of 1/1)

 

AREAS OF SELECTION - Based on the application sections

  • 4-H Experience 
  • Leadership
  • Community Involvement 
  • Career Spark

 RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES

  • Junior / Intermediate / Senior – 1st, 2nd, 3rd in 4-H Experience Section
  • Junior / Intermediate / Senior – 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Leadership Section
  • Junior / Intermediate / Senior – 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Community Involvement
  • Junior / Intermediate / Senior – 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Career Spark

 

  • 4-H members are allowed to submit only one form of record book - Career Portfolio OR Nebraska 4-H Annual Achievement Application.
  • Senior Level (or 4-H members turning ages 15-19 during the calendar year in which the national trip occurs) applications will advance to state level selection provided the county level judges choose to more forward.  
  • 4-H members will remain in their appropriate age division regardless of prior awards received. 

 

FORMS

For forms/applications, go to: https://4h.unl.edu/annual-achievement-application   (“INSTRUCTIONS”)

  • Applications must be completed electronically.
  • There are three choices of format. You choose!

ü  PDF Application Form

ü  Word Doc Application

ü  Google Doc Application Template - Read only. To edit, create a copy by selecting File – Make a Copy – Rename the document with your last name, first name, and county. Then finish editing the document for your awards application.

APPLICATION DETAILS 

  • “About Me” page
  • “My Experiences” (4-H experience, leadership, community involvement, career spark)
    • Limit responses to a maximum of three pages, single spaced, 12-point font.
    • In the selection process, significant accomplishments in your “My Experiences” are given more consideration than the number of 4-H projects completed.
    • Please do not send a list of your awards. You may include selected awards as part of the "My Experiences" section of the application.
    • Creativity is encouraged. Use bulleted lists, photos, infographics, etc. to help tell your 4-H story.
  • National Experience Applicants Only - A fourth page is allowed for those applying for the national experiences.