Championship Judging Day
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 1:30-6 PM
High school students enter the exhibit hall at 1:25 PM
Middle school students enter the exhibit hall at 1:55 PM
Public Viewing (TBD)
Exception: students who need to complete compliance requirements before judging should arrive and will be admitted 30 minutes ahead of time to get final approval and retrieve their badges.
Location
South Hall at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, at 435 S Market Street & Balbach (looks like a big blue & white tent)
Policy Notice Regarding Fair Attendance:
- Students must be present at the board to be judged. If on a restroom break, students should leave a conspicuous note at their board with an estimated time of return. For team projects, at least one of the authors must be present.
- Parents/guardians and mentors are not permitted in the Hall during judging. If the student has special needs please contact fair manager.
- Classroom teachers may sign up here beginning February to be Chaperones during the judging period 1:30-6PM.
What to Expect on Judging Day
Remember to wear your name badge. Dress for success, neatly and professionally.
Arrive promptly but not too early. The doors to South Hall open at 1:25 PM for grades 9-12 and at 1:55 PM for grades 6-8. Exception: students who need to complete compliance requirements must arrive 30 minutes early and check in at the Information Desk.
Be ready to stay at your project display until 5 PM
- There may be long periods between judges. Bring something to read while sitting quietly. (note: WiFi can be very slow when South Hall is full of students.)
- Bring a water bottle (water dispensers are available inside South Hall) and a snack because food is not available at South Hall. Keep your project area tidy.
- Students must be present at the board to be judged. For team projects, at least one student must be present. Leave a conspicuous note at your board with an estimated time of return if you take a restroom break.
During judging
You are expected to be at your project display from 1:30 PM (high school) or 2:00 PM (middle school) until at least 5 PM.
If you are not at your project when judges come by, you may be disqualified. Leave a note (with a time indication) at your project if you have gone to the restroom.
For team projects, at least one team member must be present for the project to be judged, but judges prefer to talk to all the team members.
You may be required to stay by your project after 5 pm so that we can complete judging. A few students may be asked to stay until 6:00pm if judges need more time with their projects. Judges will try to notify those students before 4:30 PM.
Judges will probably come to speak with you one at a time. There are 2 groups of Judges and both are important.
- Category Award Judges are judging for 1st, 2nd and HM awards in scientific categories. Please ask the Category Judges (wearing badges with blue ribbons) to add a green dot to your Compliance Checklist.
- Sponsored Award Judges (wearing badges with white ribbons) are seeking projects that meet award-specific criteria.
Remove project boards between 5:00 and 6:00 PM unless you are directed to stay for further judging.
