Guidelines and Instructions for Preparing & Submitting Your Hall of Fame Documents

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH INFORMATION (100 words limit)

Please note that you will not be allowed to update or edit your information once it is submitted. Therefore, we highly recommend that you edit and review your information before submitting.

To complete the Application Process, you must prepare and submit with your online application your (1) Biographical Sketch: a PDF version & a Microsoft Word Version) 60 words limit, (2) Full Biography -PDF version, 2000 words limit, (3) Hall of Fame Speech Video, MP4 format, 5 minutes max., and a (4) Passport-size Photo (180 X 180 pixels); JPEG format.

SECTION A. Guidelines and Instructions for preparing and submitting your Biographical Sketch

• Prepare your BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH following the example shown below. For the body of your Bio Sketch, use the following 1-3 letter abbreviated codes ht: sch: ed: g: h: pa: aa: oth: exactly as shown. Your final sketch should look like the SAMPLE OF A COMPLETED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH shown at the end of this section.
• Bold and uppercase the name of the applicant. Please Note that the numbers, e. g. [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9] shown in the KEY are only a guide for the type of information requested under each number and code. DO NOT include them in your final Sketch!
• The final Biographical Sketch must be in Times Roman 12-point. Note: You will be prompted to Upload two versions. A Microsoft Word version and a pdf version.
• The text must be right- and left-justified.
• The page margins must be 1 inch on all four sides, with the text right-/left- justified.
• Your Biographical Sketch must be prepared using Microsoft Word software.
• The contents of your biographical sketch must be factual and truthful.
• Your Biographical Sketch must not exceed 60 words of text.
• After completing and editing your Biographical Sketch, UPLOAD the information in the space marked BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH located at the end of the Online Membership Application Form. Your Biographical Sketch cannot exceed 100 words of text.
• Your submission attests that the information you have provided is truthful and accurate. Furthermore, you agree and accept that false or misleading information or entry will be grounds for disqualification and/or cancellation of your membership.

KEY FOR PREPARING YOUR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1. LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME
2. ht: HOMETOWN, STATE, COUNTRY
3. sch: NAME OF YOUR INSTITUTION, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY
4. ed: TYPE OF DEGREE OR DIPLOMA EARNED, followed by FIELD/AREA OF SPECIALIZATION/CONCENTRATION (e.g., Ph.D., Finance (for graduate with earned Postgraduate Doctorate, MS Chemistry (for graduate with earned Postgraduate Master’s), BSC Engineering (for graduate with four-year College & University degree), AA History (for graduate with two-year Community/Junior College degree), High School Diploma (for graduate with High School diploma/certificate).
5. g: YEAR OF GRADUATION
6. h: HOBBIES
7. pa: NAME OF PARENTS/GUARDIAN
8. aa: MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS RECEIVED (only those relevant to the category of your application; e.g., if you are applying with a Bachelor’s degree, you do not mention academic awards you received in high school.)
9. oth: OTHER NON-ACADEMIC AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS RECEIVED (only those relevant to the category of your application; e.g., if you are applying with a Bachelor’s degree, you do not mention academic awards you received in high school.)

Note: Applications that do not match the specific requirements mentioned in Sections A, B, C, and D will be rejected. The Biographical Sketch must use the abbreviated headings used in the sample. Your final version must look like the SAMPLE shown here.

SAMPLE OF A COMPLETED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (Colleges and Universities)
(Note: Final Sketch must be in Times Roman size 12 font)

KENEDY, JOHN KINLOCH; ht: Newark, NJ, USA; sch: The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; ed: BSC Nursing; g: 2013; h: swimming, pa: Joseph Doe and Mary Doe; aa: Best Scholar Award, 2011, oth: Maryland Youth Leadership Award, 2011.

SAMPLE OF A COMPLETED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (High Schools).
(Note: Final Sketch must be in Times Roman size 12 font)

WATT, JAMES TATE; ht: Towson, MD, USA; sch: Central High School, Towson, MD, USA; ed: High School Diploma; g: 2013 h: Traveling; pa: Peter King Doe and Rose Stewart; aa: Principal’s Top Student Award, 2012; oth: True Volunteers Award, 2010.

NOTE: Your Biographical Sketch should be well-written and concise and should highlight especially your academic accomplishments as well as other non-academic accomplishments. Please do not include your employment history. You may include significant athletic recognitions but not to overshadow your academic accomplishments. Remember, the objective of the Hall of Fame is to honor the best of the best in Academics, nothing else. Remember that this Sketch may be the only source of information about you that is available to the public. All biographical information for Hall of Fame members will be made available to the public through any media the Academic Hall of Fame chooses. You will not be allowed to update or edit your information once submitted.

SECTION B. Guidelines and Instructions for preparing and submitting your Full Biography (2000 words limit)

The Full Biography provides an opportunity to write in more detail about yourself in your own words. The information will be included/profiled in your Hall of Fame online page for the whole world to read, and so it is important that you pay extra attention to it and give serious thought to the contents. Emphasis should be put on your academic journey and accomplishments. Do not forget to include major academic honors, awards, scholarships, and recognitions you received. Your biography should be well-written and carefully edited, preferably by a professional. Remember, what and how you write reflect who you are. Readers of your biography should not doubt your exceptional academic abilities and accomplishments because you were unable to properly express yourself in writing.

Note:

• Your Full Biography must be written using Microsoft Word, Times Roman, Size 12 font and saved as a pdf file. Note: You will be prompted to Upload a pdf version.
• Pages must have 1-inch margins on all four sides, with the text right-/or justified
• Your Full Biography must not exceed 2000 words of text.
• The contents of your biography must be factual and truthful.

SECTION C. Guidelines and Instructions for preparing and submitting your Hall of Fame Speech/Video

The Hall of Fame Speech provides an opportunity to talk about yourself in your own voice. Like your Full Biography, your Speech will be included in your Hall of Fame online page for the world to view and listen to; therefore, it is important that you give much thought not only to the content but also to how you say it. It should be well-written, edited, and rehearsed. Avoid street slang. Remember, what you say and how you say it reflect who you are. Viewers of and listeners to your speech should not doubt your exceptional academic abilities and accomplishments because you were unable to properly express yourself verbally

Very critical to this aspect of your submission is the quality of the production/recording (audio-visual). The final output must be of good quality (TV quality); i. e., good audio sound, clear and bright video. Finally, do not forget to thank those persons and/or organizations who made your academic journey a success.

• Your speech must be converted/saved as an MP4 format.
• Your speech must not be longer than 5 minutes
• The content must be factual and truthful.

How to Begin Your Hall of Fame Speech/Video:

Your Academic Hall of Fame Speech must BEGIN with the following lines

The Academic Hall of Fame reserves the exclusive right as it sees fit, to use your submitted photo, biographical info. and recorded video, on its websites and publications and/or making them available to the media and the public. The Hall of Fame shall by your submission and membership also have the right to use your photograph (image) and/or names on its website/affiliate’s websites, and in the promotion of the organization’s mission and activities. In some cases, minor changes and/or corrections may be necessary to meet editorial /formatting needs.