NE4H9000

4-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 forNational 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 15-19 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 http://openoffice.org 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