Don't be left holding your entry when D-Day arrives.

Remember these tips, and your chapter will be well on its way to Hallmark success!

Make sure appropriate cover sheets are signed by the chapter advisor.

This signature is crucial because it assures the judge that the information included in the entry is an accurate account of the chapter's activities and that the work cited is primarily the work of the chapter members.Certainly advisors will be involved in chapter activities, but remember that Phi Theta Kappa is a student organization; therefore, the students should be ultimately responsible for writing and assembling entries for the competition.

Make sure that entries include all of the required elements.

Include two copies of each entry. This means two copies of every portion of the entry - the cover sheet, the essay, the chronological list, letters of recommendation...even optional materials such as photos, fliers, and newspaper clippings. Everything. To avoid accidentally omitting an item when the packages are assembled for mailing, make a list of each entry's contents. When the copies have been made, ask someone else to double-check your package against the list before mailing. Often a fresh eye can catch mistakes that you might ordinarily miss.

Entries should arrive at Headquarters on or before the deadline of March 19, 1999.

Unfortunately, some Hallmark Award entries continue to arrive after the deadline. These entries are late, and, therefore, are disqualified.

Please note that some mailing services do not guarantee delivery by a certain date. Check to make sure that the service is guaranteed before using it. Many chapters are located in rural areas that do not have access to overnight delivery options - sometimes the fastest service available is second-day delivery.

The best advice is to check shipping options before you are down to the wire and need to mail the package overnight.