1. National Proficiency Award Applications Helpful Hints

2. Key Elements of Proficiency Award Evaluation at the District, State and National Level

3. General Overview Make sure each section of the award application meets the criteria for full points on the rubric. Make sure the resume addresses the categories given within the application on page 9. Make sure the Employer/Instructor’s emphasizes the student’s accomplishments that have been made in their SAE award (review rubric for this letter).

4. General Overview Photographs should be of the highest quality that adds value to the application. Make sure student’s face is visible and captions are an extension of the photograph. Personal Page should support the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for success in the award area. Grammar and spelling mistakes eliminated. Make sure technical terminology is used within application.

5. General Overview Print on high quality paper (not cardstock) with a high quality printer. Do not bind the application.

6. Placement Proficiency Award Application Page 4 – Scope, Income and Expense Summary – Activities should be listed for every year the student is employed with an increase in number of activities and depth of activity from the beginning to ending year. – Beginning year should consist of a minimum of three activities.

7. Placement Proficiency Award Application Page 5 – Balance Sheet – Formula: Total Earnings (Line 13)-Change in Net Worth = x X should be close the number that ends up on line 15 – For example: Total Earnings: $26,122 (Line 13) Change in Net Worth: $19,257 (Line 8: Beginning – Ending) Use of Funds: $4, 359 (Line 15) Amount not accounted for: $2506

8. Placement Proficiency Award Application Make sure hours on page 6 and 7 do not exceed total hours on page 4. Make sure skill statements are well written. – Word choice – Content Standards document

9. Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award Application Page 4 – Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge – Make sure skill statements are well written. Word choice Content Standards document – Contribution to success should support decisions made and improvement in financial and/or production efficiencies consistent with those in industry. Use raw data to support statements.

10. Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award Application Page 6a-6b- Income and Expense Summary Related to SAE Page 7 – Efficiencies Attained – Make sure efficiency factors relate to national standards (bu/acre, avg, etc.) – Compare to industry data – https://www.ffa.org/documents/prof_handbook.p df Starting on Page 44 of Proficiency Handbook

11. Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award Application Page 8 – Accounting for Change in Owner’s Equity – Line 7 and 8 should be close to equal Make sure a student documents expenses in Line 6 if line 7 and 8 are not equal