FAQ & Support

Eligibility

Our organization has units of operations in two states. Which state will we participate in?

Club staff should verify state participation with their CEO or the YOY Team. Under most circumstances, organizations may not be allowed to advance two candidates in state events.

Is there a minimum grade point average required?

No, there is no minimum GPA required, but candidates should consistently be working toward maintaining or improving their current academic performance.
 

Completing the Application
 

Who is responsible for completing the application?

A Youth of the Year advisor should be assigned to work with the YOY candidate to prepare the application and gather supporting documentation. 

How should letters of recommendation be handled?

Ask caring adults who can directly comment on the YOY candidate's experiences and abilities to write the recommendations. Individuals submitting letters of recommendation should write the recommendation on official letterhead and include their contact information.

Is there a page or word limit for the essays?

Each essay must be no longer than 5000 characters, including spaces and punctuation.

Is a photo required as part of the YOY application?

Yes, a professional headshot of the candidate must be submitted with the below specifications. A school photo is a great example. Click here to access a printable help guide.
 

Technical Specifications:

• JPEG format

• Color: CMYK

• 300 dpi

• Size: 2400x3000 pixels or 8x10 inches

• Provide the digital files directly from a digital camera

• No scanned photos will be accepted

Composition Specifications:

• Photos should be a headshot taken from the torso up (no full body shots or "selfie-style" pictures)

• Candidate should be groomed and dressed in business attire.

• Photos should not be taken in direct sunlight or in deep shadows, and the sun should not be behind or directly overhead to avoid harsh shadowing.

• Photos should have a pleasing background without distractions.

Submitting the Application
 

Where can I find the application submission deadlines?

Application deadlines and state event dates are posted in the YOY Event Dates menu bar above. If your state’s application deadline and/or event date is not listed, it has not yet been determined by the host organization. BGCA does not determine state event dates. 

Do I have to mail any components of my application?

No. The online portal is designed to accept all elements of the application. 

May I fax or email my application?

No. Your application must be sumbitted via the online portal.

Should I submit all of my unit-level Youth of the Year applications, or just the organizational Youth of the Year application?

Only the application for your organizational-level Youth of the Year will be accepted by BGCA. If more than one application is submitted, you will receive an error message. Note: Specific states may be instructed otherwise. If you have any questions please check with your CEO.

How will I know whether an application was received?

You will receive an instant confirmation that your application has been submitted followed by an email notification to the organization's CEO and advisors acknowledging that BGCA has received your application. If changes need to be made to a YOY application after submission, please contact us at yoy@bgca.org.

Can I print my application once I've submitted it?

Yes, you will have the option to print a copy of the application. 

The Speech
 

How long should the speech be? May candidates use notes or electronic devices while delivering it? Can the speech be different from the essays?

Speeches must be no more than three minutes long. Candidates are strictly prohibited from using any notes or electronic devices at the state, regional and national levels. Speeches can deviate from the candidate’s essays, but should address content found in the application and describe the candidate’s experience in the Club.

What are the judges looking for a in a good speech?

Judges are instructed to rate candidates based on their presentation and poise. Candidates should avoid a mechanical, overly rehearsed style. Members should speak from the heart and be themselves.

The Interview
 

How long are the interviews? What is the format?

Each candidate will have a 15-minute interview with a panel of judges at state level events. 

Will each candidate be asked the same questions?

Yes, judges will ask each candidate the same questions. However, follow-up questions may vary depending on the candidate’s responses.

Will I (or someone from our Club) be able to sit in the interview room or view virtually with my candidate during their interview?

Staff members are not permitted to be with their candidate during the interview. BGCA team members will be there to assist and prep the candidate. 
 

Troubleshooting

Uploading

Various sections of the application require file uploads. Files over 10MB may have difficulty uploading, and users behind corporate firewalls or on poor internet connections may also experience difficulty uploading in some cases. 

Saving

You may click the "Save" button on any application page at any time. Whenever this button is clicked, your information will be saved whether or not the rest of the page or application is complete. It is highly recommended that you save often.

Expired Sessions

If you are logged-in but inactive for over an hour, your session may expire. Future actions, such as uploading, may fail until you log-in again. If you navigate to a new page or section of the application you will be asked to login, but please be aware that any information entered on a page while your session was expired will be lost.

Browser Compatibility

If you are using an old or unsupported browser, such as older versions of Internet Explorer (prior to version 10), the portal may not function correctly. We recommend Google Chrome, but recent versions of Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox are supported as well. If you have an older browser and are experiencing problems, we strongly recommend that you download Google Chrome here: Download Google Chrome.

Internet Connectivity

File uploads may fail if you are on a very slow or unstable internet connection. If you run into connectivity issues, please try again at a different time, or on a different computer and/or internet connection. If you experience persistent issues, please let us know.

Contact Us

Please reach out to the YOY Team at yoy@bgca.org.