General YAD Rules
• Upload one high quality digital image of the entry submitted for Constructed Items, Handicraft, Hobby Kits, Needlework, Photography, Pictorial Arts, Science and Education, and Sewing.
• The image should be of the entry against a solid white or colored background.
• In addition to a digital image, upload a short 360-degree video of the finished project for Constructed Items, Handicraft, Hobby Kits, Needlework, Science and Education, and Sewing.

YAD Craft Contests
Contestants may enter no more than five entries in crafts, each in a different category:

• Constructed Items
• Handicraft
• Hobby Kits
• Needlework
• Pictorial Arts
• Photography
• Science and Education
• Sewing

General Craft Rules and Judging Criteria
• Items must be made by the contestant.

• Items previously entered in SPJST youth competitions may not be entered.

• All craft entries and digital images must be submitted electronically.

• Contestants will submit one digital image for each entry. Please use a solid white or colored background when taking a photograph of your project.

• Entries featuring and/or promoting the use of any alcohol, tobacco, or drug product will not be accepted.

Tie Breakers
Ties will be broken for first place in all categories and for second place in royalty. If scores are tied after judging, the winner will be determined by reviewing the contestant’s scores. The contestant with the greatest number of first place scores from the judges will be the first place winner.

Pictorial Arts
• The entry being submitted for judging must be a freehand painting or drawing on paper, canvas, or poster board using paint, ink, pencil, crayon, chalk, or markers.

Judging Criteria
Level of Difficulty – 40 points
Does it seem too hard or too easy based on the method of preparation for medium used or the age of the contestant?

Science and Education
The entry size must be no larger than a standard project board – 36-inches in height by 48-inches in width.

Scientific experiment.

Research project.

Drafting project.

Collection in which each item is labeled and described. No live items, other than plants, allowed.

Judging Criteria
Level of Difficulty – 35 points

Creativity and Design – 30 points

Educational Value – 25 points

Neatness and Appearance – 10 points

Sewing
Items made by using the sewing machine such as clothing, pillows, and quilts.

No additions, such as glued-on appliques or paint are allowed.

Sewn-on accessories are acceptable.

Judging Criteria
Level of Difficulty – 40 points
Does it seem too hard or too easy based on the method of preparation for medium used or the age of the contestant?

Individual Talent Contest Rules and Judging Criteria
Contestants are invited to perform the talent of their choice — dance, dramatic presentation, gymnastics, instrumental, vocal, pantomime, and lip-sync — are all permitted.

Performance Guidelines
• For Individual Talent, the performance must be limited to three minutes or less. The time limit does not include the introduction.
• Contestants will not announce their name, lodge, or hometown in their introduction or at any time during their digitally recorded presentation.
• No outside assistance with talent acts is permitted.
• Performance, costumes, music, and props must be in good taste and age appropriate. If video is determined inappropriate, it will not be judged.

Judging Criteria
Technique (Level of Skill) – 40 points
Rendition (Creativity) – 25 points
Stage Presence (Poise/Personality) – 20 points
Extra Merit – 15 points

Group Talent Contest Rules
Contestants are invited to perform the talent of their choice – dance, dramatic presentation, gymnastics, instrumental, vocal, pantomime, lip-sync – are all permitted.

Junior Group – Ages Completed Kindergarten to 11 years
Teen Group – Ages 12 years to High School Senior

Performance Guidelines
• For Group Talent, the performance must be limited to five minutes or less. The time limit does not include the introduction.
• A group talent is defined as two to 15 individuals performing an activity together at one time or separately in support of the other members of the group, but group members cannot perform individually to the exclusion of the rest of the group. In other words, three people cannot sing three separate solos, each solo having nothing to do with the other two, and count themselves as a group, or two people sing portions of a song separately, then sing the last two or three notes together.
• A junior youth may compete with a teen group talent, but a teen youth may not compete with a junior group talent. The age of the oldest youth in the group determines the age category of the group talent.
• Contestants will not announce their name, lodge or hometown in their introduction or at any time during their digitally recorded presentation.
• Contestants must announce the name of the talent they will perform.
• No outside assistance with talent acts is permitted.
• Performance, costumes, music, and props must be in good taste and age appropriate. If video is determined inappropriate, it will not be judged.

Judging Criteria
Technique (Level of Skill) – 40 points
Rendition (Creativity) – 25 points
Stage Presence (Poise/Personality) – 20 points
Extra Merit – 15 points

Royalty Competition
• The SPJST State King and SPJST State Queen are considered to be the “youth ambassadors” for the Society. As such, they represent the SPJST at several public events during their course of their reign. More than anything, perhaps, the SPJST Royalty Competition is about presentation and poise and the ability to communicate effectively.

• Contestants may enter by completing the online registration for “Royalty” at spjst.org. Speeches, autobiographies, and headshot photos must be uploaded with the royalty entry. Royalty winners will be the 2021 SPJST Youth Ambassadors for the society.

• Compelling, confident public speaking is a crucial skill that is often not developed in a young person’s formative years; however, it can strongly impact how the young person views him/herself and how he/she develops and succeeds in school. The poise and increased command of public speaking that are gained from competing in this category at the district and state levels will not only help youth in school, but also empower them in any situation they encounter in life.

King and Queen Competition
King and queen contestants must be entering high school freshmen to high school seniors.

Competition Guidelines
• The District competition will be the speech presentation. Royalty speech content shall be presented in a positive manner (pre-recorded).
The State competition includes two interview questions and the speech presentation. Royalty speech content shall be presented in a positive manner.
• All contestants within a district will compete for the district titles. District winners will compete for State titles. State royalty competition will be Saturday, July 31 at the Frank W. Mayborn Convention Center in Temple.

Speech Topic
• The topic for the 2021 royalty speeches is: “SPJST – United We Stand!”
• The royalty speech must be in the contestant’s own words and not exceed three minutes. It will incorporate SPJST and make up 50 percent of the speech.
• The speech time limit is three minutes. A total of three points (one point by each of the three judges) will be deducted if a contestant exceeds the time limit. Time limit begins with the contestant’s first word.
• If any technical difficulties should arise during the state royalty competition, the contestant will have the opportunity to restart the speech.
• Contestants should not identify themselves in any way to the judges. Do not use district, lodge name and/or number, naming their District Youth Counselor (DYC), and/or youth leader when preparing the speech.

District Royalty Judging Criteria (Pre-Recorded)
Speech Content (includes adhering to the topic) – 40 points
Speech Delivery – 50 points
Stage Presence (neatness, poise, appearance) – 10 points

State Royalty Judging Criteria (Live)
Interview No. 1 – 15 points
Interview No. 2 – 15 points
Speech Content (includes adhering to the topic) – 30 points
Speech Delivery – 30 points
Stage Presence (neatness, poise, appearance) – 10 points

Contestant Guidelines
• Contestants must have participated in a previous YAD (or 2020 SPJST Youth Showcase) in order to compete in the Royalty competition.
• The attire for the district and state royalty contestants is professional (formal or business attire).
• Past SPJST State Kings and past SPJST State Queens are not eligible to enter.
• An SPJST queen candidate shall not be expecting or have given birth to a child. In the event such does occur during her reign, she shall relinquish her crown and all prizes.
• An SPJST king candidate shall not have fathered or be fathering a child. In the event such does occur during his reign, he shall relinquish his crown and all prizes.
• SPJST Royalty candidates who are being treated for the use of drugs or alcohol and/or convicted of an offense greater than a Class C misdemeanor (speeding ticket) prior to competition are ineligible to compete. In the event such does occur during his/her reign, he/she shall relinquish his/her crown and all prizes.
• Contestants will have no facial hair and no visible body piercings and/or tattoos during competition.

Dukes and Duchesses
Duke and duchess candidates must have completed kindergarten and may be up to 12 years of age. These young people will not compete during the online competition. They are designated by the king and queen contestants.