Presentation Guidelines

Students will be asked to select their category of competition when they register. These self-selected categories are not guaranteed. These selections will be reviewed by the National Judging Committee for alignment with the categories of competition and the expertise of the judging panels. The National JSHS staff will notify students of their final category assignment prior to the National Symposium.

Extra 4

Poster Presentation Guidelines

Student delegates not presenting research in the oral session will present their projects in the poster session to compete for cash awards. Poster presentations will be separated into categories of competition and awards will be given in each category.

All students presenting research in the poster session at the National symposium must prepare the following:

  • Abstract
  • Statement of Outside Assistance Form

Students will present their research in a poster session to a group of judges.

The judges evaluate the poster and presentation on a set of criteria and rank them accordingly. There will be a separate viewing for peers and guests during the National symposium.

Poster presentations must meet the Poster Presentation Guidelines. Poster presentations at both the Regional and National level will be judged using the National Judging Rubric for Poster Competition.

Oral Presentation Guidelines

The top two finalists from each regional symposium will present their research in the oral session to compete for military-sponsored undergraduate tuition scholarships. Presentations will be separated into categories of competition and awards will be given in each category.

All students presenting research in the oral session at the National symposium must prepare the following:

  • Research paper
  • Abstract
  • Timed Oral Presentation
  • Statement of Outside Assistance

Students will present their research in oral sessions to a panel of judges, their peers and other guests. The judges evaluate the presentations on a set of criteria and rank them accordingly. Oral presentations must meet the Oral Presentation Guidelines. Oral presentations at both the Regional and National level will be judged using the National Judging Rubric for Oral Competition.

Extra 6

Oral Presentation Session Timing

  • The research presentation may not exceed 12 minutes, followed by a maximum 6-minute question period.
  • A session moderator will aid the student speaker in maintaining this schedule and in fielding questions from the judging panel.
  • The procedure for maintaining the time includes a 10-minute signal for the student, and finally a 12-minute signal. At the 12-minute point, the student speaker must stop the presentation even if he or she has not finished.
  • Following the presentation, the session moderator will ask questions from the judging panel.
  • Questions from the audience are not allowed.
  • The speaker should repeat a question before answering so the audience may understand the entire dialogue.

Use of Audio Visuals - Available Equipment

  • Available audio-visual equipment in each session at National includes: 1) LCD projector, 2) projection screen, and 3) a laser pointer.
  • PC-based computers will be in each session room configured with Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Students are not allowed to bring anything to the presentation such as proof of design, prototypes, handouts, or other materials
  • Equipment operators will not be available in each session.
  • For a complete list of requirements and guidelines, please refer to the Core Rules of Competition.