Judges' Tips for 2010
Mission Statement: The Hallmark Awards Program, which reflects the scholarly ideals of Phi Theta Kappa, serves to recognize superior individual and chapter achievement in Society programs. In this program, chapters compete against one another. Participation encourages excellence, reflects fairness, recognizes quality and leads to enhanced student, advisor and chapter development.
Scholarship Hallmark
Primary Focus: Honors Study Topic
Secondary Focus: Tutoring, Mentoring and Recognizing/Encouraging Scholarship
Leadership Hallmark
Primary Focus: Society or Non-Society Leadership Positions or Roles Assumed by the Chapter
Secondary Focus: Leadership Development for Members and Others
Service Hallmark
Primary Focus: International Service Program
Secondary Focus: Service Activities Unrelated to the International Service Program
Fellowship Hallmark
The Fellowship Hallmark is a key component of chapter programming in the other three Hallmarks. Elements of Fellowship include getting to know other members, reaching out to the college campus, and the opportunity to meet and work with those outside of the chapter and college when programs are expanded into the community, region or beyond.
Tips For Planning Quality Programs
Get Informed about the Hallmark Awards Program…
The Hallmark Awards website provides all the information your chapter needs to understand the program -
and to compete successfully. Visit www.ptk.org/hallmarks for Award Category Descriptions, Entry Forms,
Judging Rubrics, Tips for Winning Entries, Steps to Success and Sample Winning Entries.
Set Your Hallmark Goals…
Schedule a planning meeting to set goals in each Hallmark. What do you want to accomplish overall? Why did
you choose to focus on these goals?
Plan Projects to Reach Your Goals…
Plan activities that can address more than one Hallmark and include comprehensive projects that reach a wide
audience, including chapter members, the college campus, your community, other chapters in your region,
and/or other audiences, either within Phi Theta Kappa or not.
Take Advantage of Society Resources…
Not all chapter activities have to be based on official Phi Theta Kappa programs. While the primary focuses
of the Scholarship and Service Hallmarks require implementation of the Honors Study Topic and International
Service Program respectively, the secondary focuses of these Hallmarks are more flexible. However, Society
programs offer chapters a variety of resources to assist in planning and implementing effective projects.
Keep Detailed Records…
Make note of quantifying, numerical data regarding your projects, as well as anecdotal evidence of the
project's impact, such as quotes or survey comments/results. Be prepared to describe in specific detail
the outcome of your projects. What made this program a success? What did you achieve? How did you reach
your goals?
Tips For Preparing Quality Entries
Read the Entry Form Carefully…
Each award category has a separate Entry Form, which outlines eligibility criteria and entry submission
requirements. The Entry Form also lists the required Nominations for each award, and the questions that
must be answered by each Nomination writer.
Follow the Entry Submission Requirements Exactly…
Failure to follow the entry submission requirements on the Entry Form will result in entry disqualification.
Review the Judging Rubrics for each Category…
The Judging Rubrics posted on the Hallmark Awards website will be used by judges to evaluate entries. Review the
rubrics when planning programs and writing nominations, in order to provide the judges the information they need
to assign your entry the score it deserves.
Answer the Nomination Questions Specifically…
Read each Nomination Question carefully and answer fully. If a question allows your chapter to describe up to
four projects, do not describe five. Remember, however, that one project may consist of multiple events. For
example, implementing the four-part Honors Satellite Seminar speaker series will count as one project.
Focus on Your Best Projects…
The Nomination Questions limit the number of projects that can be discussed in each chapter entry. Be sure to
highlight the very best of your chapter's projects.
Provide Precise Details of Project Outcomes…
What impact did the activity have on individual members? On the campus? In the community? Use quotes from
people to emphasize the impact on their lives. Keep track of the numbers of people who attended an event or
that you reached with your activity.
Submit a Well-Written Entry…
Edit, revise, edit, revise, proofread, and proofread again. Don't just depend on spell check. Read the entry
aloud to someone else. Have a person outside of your chapter who doesn't know about your projects read the
entry. Is it clear to them? Do they have questions?
Review Your Entry Submission Packet…
Once the final drafts of all your chapter, individual & advisor award entries are ready, complete the Hallmark
Awards Entry Checklist & Media Information Form, available on the Hallmark Awards website. Entries submitted
without the checklist will not be accepted. Don't forget to have a chapter advisor and the chapter president
or another officer sign each award Entry Form. Include in your submission packet the Checklist and two copies
of each complete entry. No additional supporting materials may be accepted.
Ensure Submissions Arrive on Time…
The deadline for Hallmark Award entries is firm; all late entries are automatically disqualified with no
exceptions. All entries must be received (not postmarked) at International Headquarters no later than 5 p.m.
Central Time on the published deadline date. All award entries for the four Administrator Award entries must be received by
Tuesday, December 1, 2009; all other Hallmark Award entries must be received by Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." - Thomas Jefferson
