Student Competition

Write down your vision and identify student learning goals for the competition. Use the RWL Activity Planning Worksheet

Contact your administration to schedule the event and be prepared to discuss details about your vision for the event, budget, location and potential judge(s) outside of class hours

Enlist 2-3 colleagues or volunteers to support competition planning and day of implementation

Create an easily shareable project plan for the event with tasks due dates, status and assigned owners (see Competition Project Plan Template)

Train your team on your systems-spreadsheets, project plans and tools so they know how to access and share information

Reach outreach to personal contacts, organizations and colleges to identify potential sponsors, space for your event and/or judges

Identify potentials partner judges, collect their contact information and create a spreadsheet with this information

Create a list of potential emcees keynote/guest speakers for your competition, if applicable. Depending on your event you may choose students, your principal and/or local organizational leaders.

Send invitations to potential competition judges (see Competition Judge Invitation Email)

Conduct outreach for your emcee and guest speaker with a description of the event

Confirm your partner judges and send details and any pertinent information about the event (see Competition Judge Confirmation Email)

Collect bios for partner judges, emcee and keynote speaker. Save in your spreadsheet to use in your program

Create a press release for the competition and share with media to promote your students and school

Confirm event space details and set-up requirements (e.g. number of tables, chairs, stage set up)

Identify needs for A/V and ensure there are enough outlets in the space

Create a budget (if needed)

Confirm judge deliberation room

Coordinate and confirm catering for the day of the event

Identify a colleague or hire a professional photographer and/or video to capture moments at the event

Create a materials checklist to take with the day of the event (see Materials Checklist)

Promote the event on social media and school website to build buzz and excitement starting two weeks before the event. Include information about partners/presenters to spur interest

Create a judges’ rubric to share with students as they prepare and judges to use during the competition (see CCSS-aligned Presentation Rubric)

Prepare student competitors with 3-4 after-school workshops focused on expectations, presentation skills, 30-second pitches and networking (see Sample Presentation Skills Lesson)

The week of the event conduct a dry run with students at competition venue

Create signage for the event

Create a program book with a list of partners, descriptions/bio of their organizations and the name of the representative(s)

Order small gifts for judges

Order student awards for students who place and print certificates for all student participants

Print program books for students, partners and guests

Identify a student ambassador to thank the judges, keynote speaker and emcee

Ensure students know the dress code, timeline, and logistics of the event the day before the event

Collect all student and partner media waivers

Get to the competition venue as early as you can and bring a small team to help set up (registration desk, programs, prep students)

Have students arrive an hour before the event starts to do a dry run and make sure they are prepared and relaxed

Have a greeter at the registration desk meet and escort judges to their briefing room

Assign a team member to manage the emcee and keynote speaker needs

Conduct a 30-minute judges briefing by reviewing any rubrics, going over the role and answering any open questions. Invite your principal to meet and thank the judges

Stay “backstage” to support and help students and emcee

Assign a team member to serve as timer for the competition

Have the keynote speaker address the group while judges deliberate (10-15 minutes)

Manage any media representatives at the event

Have a district leader and sponsor(s) give student awards

Make sure that judges are photographed with the competition winners

Thank your team for their support and acknowledge them publicly at the event

Send thank you notes and emails to your support team

Reconcile any budget spending

Write personal thank you notes to the keynote speaker, emcee and your administrators

Review professional email writing with students and discuss the importance of follow up

Have students write a follow-up and thank email to at least one person they connected with at the event

Provide a feedback survey to student participants, staff and partners (see Sample Survey Questions)

Reflect on the event with your students (see Student Reflection)

Hold a debrief meeting with your support team to discuss the event and lessons learned. Write these down to share with your administration

Reflect on the event yourself (see Teacher Reflection)

Create a blog post or write up about the activity to share with your district