The following summary of standards are in effect for the Merit Award Program. The Merit Award Program Guidelines are available from DECA Images, product # MAP001.
1. All chapter advisors, with a student entering a written event or Merit Award Project, are strongly encouraged to attend and assist with the written event screening on Saturday, February 24. Advisors assisting on the 24th may bring their events to the screening. Advisors with written events who are unable to attend the screening, or who arrive after 10:30 a.m. will be required to pay a $50.00 screening fee. The screening will be held at Eastern Michigan University.
2. All entries must be completed and received by 10:00 a.m. on February 24. Entries will not be accepted after 10:30 a.m. If you are mailing the entries, they must be received by Friday, February 23 (There is no delivery service to Eastern Michigan University on Saturday). We recommend mailing with a return receipt or using a tracking method.
3. The cover page is the one-page check list for all activities at each level. Events must be in the order of the check list.
4. Each level must have its own table of contents with page numbers.
5. Each level must have it’s own bibliography in a recognized format.
6. All 22 activities submitted must be typed.
7. All activities must be documented by an average of:
2 typed or original student work pages - Bronze level
3 typed or original student work pages - Silver level
4 typed or original student work pages - Gold level
8. New: All 22 activities must fit within a binder [DECA Images catalog # DSBND-1]. Only the original project needs to be submitted.
9. Tabs must be used for the different levels, and are optional for the different areas.
10. Headings of each activity must consist of and be in the following order:
1. Award level
2. Instructional level
3. Name of the suggested activity
4. Student name
11. Special consideration during the evaluation will be given for special needs students that are unable to complete the above guidelines. Such a request needs to be communicated by the chapter advisor to the Michigan DECA State Director.
12. Awards will be given to the outstanding projects and will be evaluated using the Outstanding Gold Project Evaluation e-form that can be downloaded from Michigan DECA’s website at www.mideca.org
13. Attachments such as video and/or audio cassettes may not be included. Merit Award Program Gold Evaluation Procedures
1. Projects are to be submitted to Michigan DECA by the annual deadline. Only one copy in a 2” DECA binder needs to be submitted.
2. A group of advisors will review the projects to ensure that they meet the minimum standards.
3. Projects not meeting the minimum standards will be returned and the student will not be allowed to attend the state conference as a Gold Merit Award Participant.
4. Participants will be interviewed about their projects at the State Career Development Conference. Participants must have a minimum score of 60, after any penalty points have been assessed, to advance to the International Career Development Conference.
5. The student may use as visual aids only display material mounted on not more than three (3) standard-sized posters not to exceed 22 inches by 30 inches each and/or one (1) standardsized presentation display board not to exceed 36 inches by 48 inches to be placed on chairs or freestanding easels. Only visual aids that can be easily carried to the presentation by the actual participants will be permitted, and the participants themselves must set up the visuals. Participants are allowed to make use of a desktop flip chart presentation easel not to exceed 12 inches by 10 inches. Chapter representatives are also allowed to make use of a personal laptop computer and/or a hand-held digital organizer they provide. No set-up time will be allowed. No sound may be used. If chapter representatives use a personal computer, they must bring their own battery power pack, as electrical power will NOT be supplied. No other materials may be brought to or used during the presentation by the student.
6. Projects meeting the minimum standards will receive recognition at the State Conference and be allowed to compete at the International Conference in the Merit Award Program.
7. If a delegate qualifies in a competitive event or as a State Officer and the Merit Award Program, they will not be allowed to compete in the Merit Award Program at the International Conference.
1. Two copies of only the gold level activities are to be submitted in a 1” DECA binder, [DECA Images Catalog # DSBND-1] at the specified meeting.
2. Same as number five above.
3. No material of any kind may be passed to the judge.
4. Two advisors will evaluate each project and interview each participant. Two separate interviews will be conducted. Participants must wear a DECA blazer.
5. The top participants will be recognized as an outstanding project at Michigan DECA’s State Recognition Session at the International Career Development Conference.
6. The decision of the judges is final. Students are not to ask judges for justification of their scores.
